How Much Does It Cost To Get a Bird’s Nail Clipped? (Info)


Taking good care of your pet is important, and grooming is one way of caring for your pet. Grooming makes your pet bird look good and also prevents it from injuring you or other pets. You can take your pet bird to a vet for professional grooming.

So, how much does it cost to get a bird’s nail clipped? The price of having your bird’s nail clipped varies from one vet to the other. Most vets charge between $20 to $40. Their services may also include beak trims. The charge changes depending on your type of bird. Nails of different birds grow at a different rate; some have strong hard nails while others have soft nails. The more strength and skills a vet needs to clip your bird’s nails, the more they will charge.

Most birds are self-sufficient and can groom themselves from time to time. However, it is important to check them and ensure that their nails are the right length. Read on to find out more on how much vets charge to clip nails, how often you should clip your bird’s nails, and signs your bird needs a nail trim.

How Much Do Vets Charge To Clip Nails?

You have to spend a little more if you want to take good care of your pet. Most people choose their vets to clip their birds nails due to their proximity, availability, and costs, among others. The price set by the vet could indicate the service your pet is going to get.

The price set for clipping nails varies with each veterinarian. Most vets charge between $20 to $40 to clip a bird’s nails. The price is not fixed as most pets require different services. If your bird has damaged its nails, the vet might add additional charges for repairing the broken nails. Another thing that can influence the cost of clipping nails is the length. If you take too long to groom your pet, the nails will be too long, and the vet might spend more time clipping them than necessary, charging you extra.

Most people think clipping nails is easy, and they can do it by themselves at home. Therefore, if you choose to clip your bird’s nails by yourself, you might be in for a fight with your pet since they don’t enjoy this exercise.

Also, if you do it incorrectly, you might injure your pet and spend more money at the vet. Most vets have experience clipping nails and know how to deal with birds that do not like grooming. They can easily cut their nails and avoid injuring your bird.

A high price does not mean that the vet is good, but it is one way of judging their skills. You can also read online reviews and see if they are worth what they claim. If you are a quick learner, you can pay a vet to clip your bird’s nails and watch closely how they do it. You can buy the equipment and clip your bird’s nail at home. Just make sure you pay attention because one wrong move could severely injure your bird.

There are other alternatives to nail clipping, such as installing a hard surface such as concrete in your bird’s enclosure. Your bird will keep its nails short by scratching them on the floor while eating or walking around.

Clipping the nails of a bird is not an easy task. Birds have a blood vessel that grows in the middle of the nail known as a quick. You can see the quick easily in light-colored nails, but on dark-colored nails, the quick might not be visible.

Vets know the length of nails they have to clip without cutting the quick. Vets also have a styptic powder, which they can use to stop blood loss if they cut the blood vessel. Whenever possible, let a vet clip your birds’ nails because if you cut the quick and do not know how to stop the bleeding, you could endanger your bird’s life.

How Often Should You Clip Birds Nails?

Clipping or trimming your birds is very important. In the wild, birds can keep the length of their nails short by scratching on hard surfaces like the ground or trees when looking for food. In captivity, since they do not look for their food, their nails grow longer quickly.

You should clip your bird’s nails at least twice a year. However, you can increase the interval depending on how fast your bird’s nails grow. Some birds, such as parrots, require nail clipping every two months. Different birds grow nails at different rates; therefore, you have to check your bird’s nails and clip them whenever they get too long. You should not overdo it. Too much nail clipping can cause your bird stress.

You should regularly clip your bird’s nails because long nails can break at any time, and it is painful for the bird. Birds have blood vessels in the nails. During clipping, vets and groomers are always careful not to cut it. If the nail is too long, you cannot be sure where it will break off. It might break and your bird will start to bleed and be in a lot of pain.

Another reason why you should clip your bird’s nails is comfort. In captivity, birds will spend most of their time perched in their enclosure. If the nails are too long, your bird will have difficulties staying still while perched.

It will also be uncomfortable for you to handle your bird. Every time the bird lands on your finger or shoulder, it will scratch you with its long nails. This means that clipping nails is essential for both you and your bird.

Do not cut your bird’s nails too short. Birds need their nails for grip. Too short nails mean your bird will lack enough grip to stay perched. Nails are also part of a bird’s defense mechanism. When attacked, a bird will use its nails to defend itself.

Short nails will not do your bird any good in a fight and could make your bird insecure and stressed. If you are not sure how to clip your bird’s nails, take it to a vet or a professional pet groomer.

Here is a table detailing the duration after which a bird will need a nail clipping:

BirdsDuration
Parakeet4 months
Cockatiel6 months
Finch6 months
Lovebird6 months
Dove3 months
Parrot2 months
Table1: Different bird nail clipping duration

Signs Your Bird Needs a Nail Clip

Clipping a bird’s nail is a necessity that every bird owner has to do. You can either do it yourself at home if you have the skills, or you can take your bird to the vet. Here are signs that will indicate that it is time to clip your bird’s nails.

If your bird has longer nails than usual, it is high time you clip them. When you are holding your bird or feeding it, check how long its nails are. You can tell the nails are long when they start to curve inwards towards the feet. Clipping the nails will be a challenge. It is best to let a vet clip the nails if you are a new bird owner. You can watch the vet do it and ask questions if you want to clip your bird’s nails in the future.

If you notice your bird has difficulty moving around due to the long nails, then it’s time to clip them. Your bird will have problems walking, climbing, playing with toys, and staying still on perches. The proper length of nails should make your bird’s life easier, not hinder it.

Another sign is painful scratches on your hand. When handling your bird, you can let it perch on your finger or arm, depending on its size. If your bird can comfortably perch on your finger or arm without scratching you, then the nails are in the correct length. If you have painful scratches every time you handle your pet, it is time to clip those nails.

Scab patches on your bird’s skin are another sign that tells you it is time to clip its nails. Birds use their feet to scratch their bodies whenever they have an itch. Long nails will live scabs on the bird’s skin when it scratches itself too hard. In some rare cases, you will notice your bird is bleeding.

Another sign is a change in perching behavior. Your bird always has a way it perches, and if the nails become too long, your bird will change how it perches by either favoring one foot or refusing to use its perch. Long nails make perching uncomfortable, meaning it is time for you to clip those nails.

Finally

Clipping your pets is not an easy task. Pets such as cats and dogs hate nail clipping. Birds also do not like getting their nails clipped, but it is something that has to be done. Therefore, do not wait too long. A broken nail can be painful and dangerous to your bird’s wellbeing.

The prices of clipping your bird’s nails may vary with each vet. Some of the prices might also include other crucial bird grooming services like beak trimming and wing trimming. You should always check your bird’s nails to decide how often they need clipping. Be careful when using other alternatives to nail clipping. It is not advisable to use sandpaper perch covers because they do not keep the nails short and leave painful sores under the feet of your bird.

Bal Kang

Bal Kang is an owner of several pets including reptiles, cats and dogs. An avid writer, who loves to share her insights into caring for pets.

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