NAIL TRIMMING

The nails of your glider are made to cling to branches, and climb trees.  Left untrimmed, your gliders nails can catch on things in their cage or on your clothing while they are playing.  This can cause a rip or tear injury to their fingers or toes and could leave them open to infection or worse self mutilation.  Un-trimmed nails can also make small punctures in your skin which could cause a skin rash. 

Trimming the nails of your glider is one of the most important things to learn, not only for you, but for your gliders safety as well.

                                  SUPPLIES NEEDED:
                                                                 A single ply pouch

(you can also use your regular sleeping pouch)
Cuticle Trimmers

lots of yummy treats
Corn Starch, Nitrate Stick, or Blood Stopper

It is best to trim your gliders nails in the morning, when they are tired. Some gliders will allow you to trim their nails quite easily as they become used to the process. Place your glider in the single ply pouch (unless using your regular pouch).  Give your glider some yummy treats in the pouch.  Take one of your gliders hands and pull it up until it's outside the top of the pouch and then hold the pouch closed with the same hand that is holding your gliders hand.  This will take a little getting used to but once you have the hang of it, you will be able to hold your gliders hand and the pouch closed with ease!  Take the cuticle trimmers in the other hand and clip off the very end of each nail. Be careful not to cut too much of the nail. It will bleed if you cut off too much. Should bleeding occur, use cornstarch, nitrate sticks or blood stopper to help clot the blood and stop the bleeding.

There are also other things available to help keep your glider's nails trimmed.   There are commercial trimming tracks that can be purchased for the stealth and the Wodent Wheels.  I have all stealth wheels and purchase my own water proof sand paper (I recommend 220 grit).  I cut it to size and attach it around the outside of the running track of my stealths. I secure them with small plastic nuts and bolts that you can buy at the hardware store.   Placing the sandpaper tracks in your wheels will not eliminate you from having to trim your gliders nails but it will help lengthen the time between trimmings.