Sloppy nail trimming by groomer?

[Dirk]

I had my pup's nails trimmed at Petco a few days ago. When the groomer was cutting a nail, my pup squealed very loudly. The groomer said that my pup probably felt an uncomfortable sensation as he was cutting the nail and got scared. I thing my pup did feel a lot of pain even though he didn't bleed.
I wipe my pup's paws after he walks in the snow and when I dry that particular paw, he squeals a litle bit.

My question is, was it sloppy cutting? Shold I find a more professional groomer?

[jupiter11600]

I don't know what to tell you as my beagle is horrible with his nails... He will Scream like your cutting his leg off, before you even touch him with the clippers...

I can't even touch his feet without a fight and he has been this way since i got him 3 years ago (Shelter dog)

Maybe he knows he'll get poor me attention if he is dramatic?

[showpug]

I don't think there is really such thing as a "sloppy" nail trim unless the person butchers the nails and makes them bleed. With some dogs, a nail trim can be very hard, especially if the dog wont hold still.

Any reason why you don't cut your dog's nails?

[Dirk]

Showpug,

I guess I don't feel confident doing it myself. I have seen written instructions but that's not enough for me. If I saw someone cutting nails up close, maybe I would feel comfortable doing it.

[mrsgrubby]

I read once that the closer your get to the "quick fo the nail" the more the dog can feel kinda a pinching feeling.

I wouldn't trust anyone else to cut my girls nails, and taught them to lay perfectly still on their sides while I do it. My beagle was very hard to teach, and would squeal and bite in the beginning, but after some gentle training and lots of treats, she is the better of the two and will actually lay on her back with her legs in the air so I can cut her toes. LOL ...as long as she gets liver when I am done. LOL

Next time you are at the vets office, ask your vet to teach you how to cut them properly, but in the meantime, just work on having yoru dog let you hold and touch it's feet. You can even work on touching his nails/toes with the clippers even if you don't clip them.

Also, a good pair of clippers is worth every penny. I prefer the scissor kind, not the sliding guillitine kind.

Also, many people use a dremmel tool to grind their dogs nails. I occassionally do this too, you just have to be care to not let the dremmel burn them.

[Dirk]

mrsgrubby,

Great idea about having the vet show me how to do it. Thanks!

[jupiter11600]

Thankfully my vet does it free for me :-) we're there so much with our animals with "Issues" we might as well. It's not that I can't do it, it's that it's not worth my effort (Due to my own health issues) to fight barry to do it.... He may only be 35lbs but it's all muscle and not as much to hold onto!

But if your pooch will let you do it, Do it yourself! Your dog knows and trusts you better than anyone and you know its done right!

[Aussie Red]

Yes have your vet show you and I personally would not recomment pet smart or petco groomers. I have know to many young people Ie my stepdaughter get jobs there with very little or no knowledge juast show them you can cut their hair. I can groom my own shih-tzus too but would not attempt to say I know what I am doing for all dogs. I check a groomer out very carefully and watch them work. If they don't want to allow me to watch red Flag !!! I was for some reason uncomfortable with a groomer once and I left my dog but came back in ( Sneaked in ) without her knowledge to witness her ripping the knots out of a poodle with a comb while the dog was howling in pain and also saw he jerk it and smack it. Be careful with groomers.

[Novel_Weims]

Showpug,

I guess I don't feel confident doing it myself. I have seen written instructions but that's not enough for me. If I saw someone cutting nails up close, maybe I would feel comfortable doing it.

This may have been addressed already, if so, sorry. When I groomed and cut nails regularly, I encouraged owners to watch me trim nails. Ask your groomer if you can learn how.

ETA: OK, so its been addressed. Good to know I am in such wise company!

[dunroamintack@aol.com]

i think is he squealed when you wiped it and when it got clipped he may have injured it or have an injury brewing i would keep a close eye on it and maybe get it vet checked it might be a bruise or tumor starting or just a strain


I had my pup's nails trimmed at Petco a few days ago. When the groomer was cutting a nail, my pup squealed very loudly. The groomer said that my pup probably felt an uncomfortable sensation as he was cutting the nail and got scared. I thing my pup did feel a lot of pain even though he didn't bleed.
I wipe my pup's paws after he walks in the snow and when I dry that particular paw, he squeals a litle bit.

My question is, was it sloppy cutting? Shold I find a more professional groomer?

[Roxy's CD]

If he didn't bleed, I don't really know if there's such a thing as "sloppy nail trimming".

As mentioned, if you can see the gritty, usually white part, (the end of the quick) it seems that they can feel it more, and it's not neccessarily a comfortable feeling.

[BoB/335]

I'm new to trying to do these things myself but have been doing a lot of research lately. They say that a dull cutter will hurt. It's important to keep the clippers sharp. Once I get the knack I think I will switch to a dremmel and keep after them weekly or bi-weekly.