Groundhog Completely Loses It During a Nail Trim, and the Video Is Going Viral
A hilarious video of a groundhog losing their cool in dramatic fashion during a nail clipping appointment has gone viral, garnering more than 2.5 million views on TikTok over the past few days. This clip features two groundhogs getting their nails clipped at the groomers.
One of them remains entirely calm as their nails are clipped. But the other one is nervous as can be, fidgeting up a storm as they anxiously wait their turn, creating a scene that social media describes as "funny as it is totally theatrical."
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Like many viral videos involving furry animals, the behavior here is totally adorable and hilarious. The humor comes from the contrasting ways these groundhogs reacted to the nail clipper.
The first one is cool as a cucumber. Either the nail clipping doesn't bother them very much, or they've simply accepted that it's already happening and are going to roll with it.
However, the other groundhog totally loses it. They are in full-blown panic mode. There are several moments where they look away or cover their eyes, like a terrified audience member burying their face in their hands while watching a horror movie.
This groundhog's seemingly over-the-top reaction, combined with how nonchalant the other hedgehog reacts to getting their nails clipped, makes this video pure adorably hilarious Internet gold. It's no wonder it's gone viral.
Related: Great Pyrenees Shows Off Her Brand New Bows After a Trip to the Groomer
But, as cute and funny as this groundhog's behavior may be, it's also a scene that is likely familiar to many pet parents when they take their fur babies to the groomers.
But why is that? Why don't animals seem to like getting their nails clipped?
And what can pet parents do to make their furry companions more comfortable when they see them getting stressed or anxious before this necessary grooming procedure?
Why Animals Don't Like Getting Their Nails Clipped - And How To Make It Less Stressful for Them
According to the Great Falls Animal Hospital of Virginia, many animals, such as dogs, have an aversion to having their paws handled. This is a deeply seated natural instinct for them, because in the wild, an injured paw can mean death.
Also, it's important to keep in mind that animals, like dogs, have tons of sensory nerves in their paws that are critical for helping them navigate their surroundings.
With that in mind, it's clear why animals do not like getting their nails clipped. But, as this video showed, there are also some who don't seem to mind. After all, one of the groundhogs was totally chill while their nails were being clipped.
Related: Groundhog's Guilty Face After Being Caught Snacking in the Garden Is Everything
Chances are that this groundhog may have already undergone some desensitization or counter-conditioning to make them more comfortable having their nails clipped.
This conditioning involves first letting an animal get comfortable with their human touching their paws. Once they are comfortable with that, pet parents can gradually increase the length of time that they touch their paws until it's no longer a big deal for them.
Plenty of praise and high-value treats can be helpful during this stage, as well as the next one, which involves introducing and getting them comfortable with the nail clippers.
After they have become comfortable with both their human and the clippers touching their paws, it's likely that most pets will be as nonchalant about getting their nails clipped as the first groundhog in this video.
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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 1:15 PM.