Is it wise to clip my rat's claws?

I have a rat that is in need of having a clip job done on her claws-is it a wise idea for me to cut them? If so how short should I cut them, and how do I cut them?
Answers:
If you have trouble holding onto your squirming ratty then claw clipping is a two-person job. You can use a pair of baby nail-clippers for this purpose, but if you are squeamish then a vet can show you how it's done and do it for you until you feel comfortable with the procedure.
Clipping rat claws
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Sharp claws have been an ongoing problem for rat-keepers and sometimes their ratties :) A rat's nails are long and sharp and that's normal. Some people have tried putting a brick or a rock under the water bottle, but reports have come back that the claws now seem sharper. Some people might suggest sandpaper, but sandpaper is a very dangerous product to use with rats. Any tiny cut resulting from the sharpness of the sandpaper will allow a bacteria to settle in the wound and this results in Bumblefoot...very difficult to treat.
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Are you allergic to the rat's scratches? Some people get large, itchy, welts. This is an allergy to the protein in the rat's urine. This is easily remedied by wiping the rat's feet with a wet cloth before you play with him.
It's neither wise nor unwise to clip a rat's claws. It's your preference and done only if the claws are a problem for the owner. Me, I just put up with this mild allergy.
spazrats
"my life has gone to the rats"

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Get a pair of baby fingernail clippers and only clip off the very tip. You will probably need someone else to hold the rat for you. You could put a rock or something in the cage for them to wear down their nails on too.

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I have not done it yet but i am going to go get a baby nail clipper and trim mine and my brothers rats nails but when you i suggest doing when they were sleeping so they don't move as much

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Is is wise..well that depends...if you are comfortable with doing it, then it should be fine ( it's wise if you are going to get it's nails clipped either way and you don't want to spend $30 to have a vet do it )...If you are afraid of it and don't think you can do it, then I would say no it's not wise...
When I clip my rats nail, I use a cat claw clipper, it's shaped better for the claws than baby clippers are.
Have someone hold onto the rat...hold the rats body close and tight agains theirs.
Pull one leg out and have them hold it still at the base while you hold the foot.
With your other hand gently pull apart one toe at a time and clip the nail...with most rats, you can see a pink quick in their nail...it's a thin pink line that goes from the base about half way up the nail...
Make sure you DO NOT hit the quick, it's painful for them and can be hard to control the bleeding ( some have to be taken to the vet to make the blood stop, others bleed a drop then they're done )
If you aren't sure or cannot see the quick then clip only the very tip of the nail, just enough to take off the sharp point.
If you are uncomfortable when it comes down to it, then it's best to take it to a vet, even if they do not specialize in small animals, most will clip their nails and show you how to do it.
I hope this helps.GOOD LUCK!!