Not many of us need to break out the power tools for a toenail trim. For the parrots at Best Friends, however, it’s part of their standard benefits package at the sanctuary. Parrot claws grow into sharp points that help them grasp perches and hold food. If they grow too long, however, the toes can become a problem. They start curling inward and even pricking their own feet. Not to mention that it makes it harder for a person to handle a parrot when the bird has razor-sharp claws. Ever ram the back of your hand into a cactus? It’s a little bit like that.

In the wild, parrots can keep their claws—and beaks—trimmed naturally. Bouncing around the jungle all day and digging food out of tree trunks will do that for you. In captivity, though, it’s a different story. They need some help. And the vet tech’s tool of choice may seem surprising. They use a dremel (a tool typically used for sanding and polishing)! Sound extreme? There’s a good reason for using it, as it turns out.

Imagine having a nerve supply in your fingernails. You’d have to have anesthesia just to clip them. Birds do have a nerve supply in their claws, but it’s located above the tips. This area is called the quick. Stay below the quick, or blood supply, and the bird doesn’t feel a thing. Cut into the quick and they start to feel it in a big way. The trick is that the quick is kind of an invisible line. You never know if you’re going to cross it. A dremel allows the vet tech to proceed with caution, filing away teeny, tiny bits at a time so the bird is safe, healthy and happy. (They also use the dremel on beaks as needed.) How’s that for a day at the salon?

Story by David Dickson
Photos by Gary Kalpakoff

Love parrots? Please consider sponsoring a <a href=" https://www.bestfriends.org/donate/sponsorRandom_bird.cfm?source="; target="_blank">Best Friends parrot.</a> They rely on your support for their ongoing care at the sanctuary.