Speaking of nails... question?

JacksonsMom

JacksonsMom

Active Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2009
Messages
8,694
Points
36
Location
Maryland
So, the groomer came this past Thursday and this is as short as she got Jackson's nails.





I know it's because I don't keep up with them in between. But I'd like to get them to be able to be shorter and I know that involves clipping little bits off at a time and kind of "building up" that quik, right?

I honestly can't even tell when I should stop, so that's why I took these pics right after groomer left, for my own reference, but I still don't really SEE anything on his nails that would teach me THAT'S as far as I can go... if you know what I mean.

So would a dremel would better for something like this? If I were to begin dremeling his nails, how often would you say I should do it, to begin getting those nails to go shorter back? Once a week? I don't want to do to short. On Thursday, it'll have been a week, if I were to dremel them a bit, would I hold it on each nail, for what, just about 3 seconds or something?
 
I would definitely dremel, it's much easier to take them back that way (no dramatic chopping of nails = less hair raising. Thank you dark nailed dogs). I'd probably start with every 3rd day, if you can. I don't really hold it in one particular spot, as it can get hot. I just kind of round it about the tip, and then take it off, repeat.
 
Oko said:
I would definitely dremel, it's much easier to take them back that way (no dramatic chopping of nails = less hair raising. Thank you dark nailed dogs). I'd probably start with every 3rd day, if you can. I don't really hold it in one particular spot, as it can get hot. I just kind of round it about the tip, and then take it off, repeat.
Click to expand...

Ok thanks! Maybe I'll try tomorrow then. I would think the same thing about dremel vs. clippers.

iriskai said:
I only dremel my guys (I don't like the compression action of clippers, or the rough edges) and I honestly don't have much of a guideline as to what I do. Instead of explaining it, this is my favorite 'guide' for dremeling.
http://www.doberdawn.com/doberdawn/dremel.html
Click to expand...
Ok thanks! I watched a few videos too, but this is a great link.
 
Yeah I only dremel because if you pay attention you can get right up to the quick without actually quacking them which helps get it to recede. I would do it ever other or every third day. I do twice a week on my guys and I'm not trying to work quicks back.
 
As far as how to know when to stop cutting, I describe it to clients like an m&m. Lol. Which is still confusing without a reference to look at, but... you'll have the soft, meaty area in the middle, and then a thin white circle around it. It's like if you bit an m&m in half, you'd see the chocolate and the ring of candy coating around it. :p

I don't really like dremeling much but I clip weekly just to maintain.
 
Definitely dremel. If for some reason you do hit the quick, it's a lot less blood vs. regular clippers (maybe a drop or two vs. OMGMAKEITSTOP).

I dremel my dogs every 3-4 days, that's just our routine, I'm not trying to get quicks to recede or anything.
 
Since we are discussing dremeling...I have an actual Dremel tool. Like, for shop work. Would it have too much power to use on dog nails? I don't want to grind off a nail. O.o
 
*blackrose said:
Since we are discussing dremeling...I have an actual Dremel tool. Like, for shop work. Would it have too much power to use on dog nails? I don't want to grind off a nail. O.o
Click to expand...

My first one was Dremel brand, the one I have now is.. WEM I think.. variable speed. But yeah, I prefer the 'real' power tools. :)
 
*blackrose said:
Since we are discussing dremeling...I have an actual Dremel tool. Like, for shop work. Would it have too much power to use on dog nails? I don't want to grind off a nail. O.o
Click to expand...

That's actually what mine was originally bought for haha. It's a Dremel brand, cordless. It's awesome.
 
I don't dremel, it's just something I've never done, nothing against it.
If you're just going to use regular dog nail clippers, just keep cutting bit by bit until you see a dark dot in the middle. The bigger the dot the closer you are to the quick.

IMG_5970.jpg
 
I've always used a regular Dremel power tool with a hose attachment thingy. It has variable speeds. I use a faster speed on my son's dog with big, hard, thick nails and a middle range for my little dogs. I don't hold it on but instead sort of make quick swipes...about 3 or 4 then move onto the next nail. I have quicked them and I think it hurts but it won't bleed much because it cauterizes them. So, keep peeking to see if you can tell when to stop. I see a little circle and a little bit of white...must be the quick starting to show through. They usually let me know by flinching if I'm getting too close. To get them back shorter, do just a tad every 3 days or so until they're back where you want them, then probably once a week will do.
 
I think I might just try using a dremel now. I was afraid to before because I thought it might be easier to hit the quick by accident, but it sounds like it's less nerve wracking than using regular clippers.
 
When cutting the nail, clip where the nail starts to curve. As pictured above, stop when you see a dark dot in the middle.
 
You can see in the pictures that there is a "bulge" underneath the top of the nail that is rounded and almost seems like a separate part of the nail. That is the quick growing under the nail- so you can dremel or clip up until that point.

I have this dremel, I believe, with a flex shaft. The flex shaft is awesome so that the loud device isn't right near the dog. It's a few feet away on a pillow. :)

I love it. It's so much quicker than the battery powered devices, and you don't have to worry about replacing batteries every few months at $20 a pop.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 112 (members: 0, guests: 112)
Robots: 41
Back
Top