My hamster's nails are getting really long?

I have a book on hamsters and here is what it says:

Both hamsters nails and teeth have a tendency to grow very long. The book tells you that the best way to handle this is to buy a pair of baby nail clippers. (Or the smallest they sell) Only clip the very ends of the nails, you don't want to scare him, and hold him very still. (This book says there is no chance of you trimming his toes of if you just cut the ends) If you have ever clipped an animals toe nails then you will no that holding them and clipping can be nerve racking if you're afraid of that then ask somebody else to hold him while you trim.

Sadly, unlike cats, hamsters can't really scratch down they're nail. About the only way to do it is to trim them. And trust me, if you're careful you'll wind up with a pile of all nails no feet.

Thanks!

Hope that helped!

(Don't clip the whole nail off only the very end. It could seriously hurt the hamster. Thanks Ratteses!)

His claws probably DO need trimming, but don't do it yourself - take him to a vet and let him do it, and he'll show you how, for next time. You mustn't try it yourself unless you've been shown how because if you accidentally cut into the quick (the red part) which is very easily done, it will hurt a lot and bleed. And with an animal as small as a hamster, bleeding can be very serious because they don't have much to lose. In future, if you give him some natural logs or wood (bought from a shop, not from the wild in case it's poisonous or has chemicals on it) to play on and climb around, his nails should wear down naturally and hopefully won't need trimming again.

If the nails are too long there's only 2 options, either you trim them yourself or go to a vet. A vet wont charge much at all to trim hamster nails. You can get little hamster nail trimmers, just snip off the end of the nail so you avoid the quick.

Whitney Blue's was correct...But I just have something to add. Don't clip the "quick." Her answer made it sound like you were supposed to cut it all off...NO, your hamster would be in great pain if you did that. The quick is a blood vessel in the toe and hurts badly if you cut it. It exists in dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats...etc.etc.etc.

by offering the hamster a about of chinchilla sand ( not dust ) either in the Cage or in a play pen the hamster can naturally wear down the nails a little

You need to clip the nails. At least just trim off the ends. If your too nervous to do that, try using a nail file.

try filing them down!