Nails....

[Babyblue5290]

Ok Lucas is ok with nail cliping, the only problem is I'm afraid of cutting the quick. I have been cutting them a little at a time each day to get them down cause I didn't for a long time out of fear of hurting him. But I was wondering, underneath each nail is the ....I guess meat stuff? It's like dark colored under each nail...does anyone know what I'm talking about and if it's ok to cut passed that point? Or if that's where your suppose to stop?

Also he has only a few white nails, a few pure black ones, and a lot of ones that are black on the sides with a stripe of white on the tops. Do the striped ones mean a deficency or something else or are they just another color?

 

[amymarley]

Nails can be of different color.... to be quite honest, I hate cutting nails too, of any animals, but I do it. I suggest you getting a bottle "quick stop"..you can always use flour, baking soda/powder if he starts to bleed. It happens with parrots alot because you can't see the quick as easily.

Also, incorporate a postive reinforcement with your nail clipping, that way, if he does get nicked, there is always a treat, and he will get over it faster.

If you really hate doing it, have a groomer do it, and watch them....some are great and some are bad, but I would bring a bag of goodies and either you or the groomer give it. Pref. the groomer, since they are the ones doing it, and you want your dog comfortable and happy and getting treated while this is done.
Good luck, AMY

 

[Pomp]

Perhaps try walking the dog more on cement? I live in the city and my dogs do a lot of cement walking and that files down their nail naturally.

 

[Babyblue5290]

Thanks Animalbiz
Oh I have been doing positive reinforcement with the clipping. Everytime I cut he gets a cookie immediatly after. He really has no problems with me cutting his nails. He just lays there and eats his cookies The only problem is me, but I'm working on it. I do it at the humane society a lot, but most of those dogs have thinner nails than Lucas or more white ones so it's easier to clip, but Lucas' nails are so darn thick! I have to use some muscle to cut them.

I'll get the Styptic powder (they have it at the humane society and I've been meaning to get some) today when I go to work (work at a petstore....go figure )

Also my supervisor at the humane society said she has a friend who is a groomer and is going to ask her to come down and give a little grooming lesson to a select few who do Bath brigade and I was one of those

Anyways, thanks for the advice

 

[Babyblue5290]

Perhaps try walking the dog more on cement? I live in the city and my dogs do a lot of cement walking and that files down their nail naturally.

good idea! Most of the sidewalks are dirt so he doesn't walk that much on cement, but down by the lake is some cement so we can go there THanks for the suggestion!

 

[corykins22]

if you dont like cutting them, i know the black nails are hard to do, you can dremmel them. thats easier i think, takes longer but its harder to get the quick. at least, i have never hit the quick when i have dremmeled. i work in a groom shop so i have to do it all the time. you can get a dremmel at a hardware store or walmart. i think they are like $10 or $15 maybe? its a little sander that just sands down the nails. its also better because then the nails are filed and not sharp.
but, if you still want to cut them with the clippers, go a little at a time. the further away from the quick the dryer the nail is, when you get close to the quick the nail is more moist.
i hope that helps.

 

[Babyblue5290]

if you dont like cutting them, i know the black nails are hard to do, you can dremmel them. thats easier i think, takes longer but its harder to get the quick. at least, i have never hit the quick when i have dremmeled. i work in a groom shop so i have to do it all the time. you can get a dremmel at a hardware store or walmart. i think they are like $10 or $15 maybe? its a little sander that just sands down the nails. its also better because then the nails are filed and not sharp.
but, if you still want to cut them with the clippers, go a little at a time. the further away from the quick the dryer the nail is, when you get close to the quick the nail is more moist.
i hope that helps.

Yeah that helps! That's good information to know! Thanks

The dremel thing is a bit hard. I think it would be all in all less stressful for Lucas if I just cut the nails since he doesn't mind it. Thanks though

 

[RD]

It is painful for dogs with very thick, hard nails to have them cut. When you have to squeeze really hard on the clippers to get it to cut through, it's crushing the nail beneath it and probably will hurt once you get closer to the quick.
Yes, you cut past the meat but not past the quick. you will usually see a little light colored arch in the center of the nail as you approach the quick, and when you see a little black dot in the center of the arch (sometimes it is white. it is easy to notice, either way, if you're looking for it) that is the quick.
I really would recommend trying the dremel. It takes a bit longer but it's painless for the dog and you can take the nails back farther with it.

 

[Babyblue5290]

It is painful for dogs with very thick, hard nails to have them cut. When you have to squeeze really hard on the clippers to get it to cut through, it's crushing the nail beneath it and probably will hurt once you get closer to the quick.
Yes, you cut past the meat but not past the quick. you will usually see a little light colored arch in the center of the nail as you approach the quick, and when you see a little black dot in the center of the arch (sometimes it is white. it is easy to notice, either way, if you're looking for it) that is the quick.
I really would recommend trying the dremel. It takes a bit longer but it's painless for the dog and you can take the nails back farther with it.

But Lucas hates noises like that, the feeling I'm sure would not be nice at first, and I'm afraid of power tools near Lucas . That's the major concerns. I know the first two is easily fixed with desensitizing and taking it slow for a while with lucas and giving him positive reinforcement, but me being afraid of the power tool..........I guess I could get over it.

Anyone with a dremel who was nervous about it, is it less nerve recking than the nail cutters?

 

[Boxer*Mom]

I think it is because using the dremel it's a lot harder to quick them. At least for me anyway. Plus the nails are nice and smooth afterwards, no splitting or sharpness like with clippers. I have thread on here about the same thing actually, good links on how to do it.

 

[amymarley]

I will SOOO agree about the pavement or cement. When doing Animal Shows in Atlanta, our dogs were kept in a kennel (very nice) type enviornment that was far from our theater. We had to go get them, walk them to the theater, and back at the end of the day. In the 8 years we were there, NOT once did any of our dogs ever had their nails clipped.
As for our other shows, like the indoor ones with the housing in back, they had to be. So, really the best thing I think for both you and your dog is to walk everyday, your dog will love it and it will be good for you too.
Otherwise, all the above posts work too! Good luck.
Amy

 

[milo]

it mite be easlier if she had clear nails and you can see the quick as its pipnk but with black claws its like guessing really i normaly take the tipps off or chancing it and clipping abit off but i havnt had ne probs yet lol! *fingers crossed* lol

 

[Babyblue5290]

I will SOOO agree about the pavement or cement. When doing Animal Shows in Atlanta, our dogs were kept in a kennel (very nice) type enviornment that was far from our theater. We had to go get them, walk them to the theater, and back at the end of the day. In the 8 years we were there, NOT once did any of our dogs ever had their nails clipped.
As for our other shows, like the indoor ones with the housing in back, they had to be. So, really the best thing I think for both you and your dog is to walk everyday, your dog will love it and it will be good for you too.
Otherwise, all the above posts work too! Good luck.
Amy

See I walk him everyday (some days shorter times), but the problem is most of the area's other than the roads are dirt. The only place I can really walk him without getting hit by cars is the park, in the woods, or on this hill, but all of those places are mainly dirt. We have alot of dirt paths and not a lot of cement paths. But I'll try to get him running more on the cement we can find and I'll look for a dremel and see how that works out Thanks

 

[Babyblue5290]

I think it is because using the dremel it's a lot harder to quick them. At least for me anyway. Plus the nails are nice and smooth afterwards, no splitting or sharpness like with clippers. I have thread on here about the same thing actually, good links on how to do it.

Ok good! Then I'll def. look into it! Thanks

 

[amymarley]

I also like dremels, they do fine work and less harsh to the dog. I also have a tool, that I only used a few times. I don't have it in front of me, but looks like a big pen, white and basically is a (totally gonna spell this wrong) cauterizes the nail. You press a button and the two tips that are connected heat up, fast and fierce...you can then go across the nail. I am not a big fan, but a distributer gave it to me. It could prob. be good for parrot nails and cats, but the heat scares me some. Again, I am no fan of nail clipping or wing clipping..but I do it.

I do it for all my friends pets. Maybe take your dog to the mall and walk him/her in the parking lot.

Bottom line, I have seen dogs that are sooo o.k. with having their nails clipped, others hate it. Just try to make it quick, simple and give a reward. Or take them to someone, and make them "the bad guy"! lol.....as long as they are good with your dog.
Good luck, Amy