ROCKY MOUNTAIN KUNEKUNES

Hoof Trimming

Kunekunes may need their hooves trimmed. The easiest way to do this is to give them a belly rub and while they are laying down play with their feet. If one person is rubbing their belly another can trim the hooves without any troubles. We use horse nippers (for trimming horses feet). Dremmel tools can be used to smooth out any rough edges. Trim gently with out going to deep. You can actually see the line on the toes where it needs to be trimmed to. Kunekunes should stand up on their toes; they should not stand on their hocks.
I know some who roll the kunekunes onto their backs and trim the hooves that way. I would recommend a nice soft area to do this so you do not hurt their backs. Either way, trimming their hooves is an easy job. If you do not feel comfortable doing it, you could always have your veterinarian do it.

Tusk Trimming

Kunekunes tusk continue to grow. Boars tusk will need to be trimmed every 6-18 months. Barrows may need them trimmed on a yearly basis; gilts and sows can go years without trimming. Trimming their tusk requires a thin wire with handles. Tusk trimming is a little more difficult than hoof trimming and I would recommend three people for this job. Two are needed to hold him down and one to cut the tusk. To cut the tusk, put the wire on the inside of the tusk (close to the gum but not to close) and using back and forth motion (like sawing) begin to cut the tusk. Tusks should not be cut off flat but rather perpendicular to their growth. Tusk trimmers are handy to have on hand. One day my wife came home to find our boar had stuck his nose through the fence, sniffing at a gilt in heat across the fence, and he became stuck in the fence by his tusk. She ran and got the tusk trimmer I made and quickly cut off his tusk to free him.