What to do about long nails?
- Thread starter Buddy'sParents
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I would also suggest that you definitely don't just "live" with it and be afraid of quicking him - I've never quicked Dora or Kim and unfortunately with Kim's long hair; I've had some really long toes lately. Ooops; guess I should tell you that I dremel; and I didn't buy the expensive kind; just the kind that our local hardware store sells; the store brand.
I agree with the other posters that if it doesn't seem to be working anymore; buy more barrel drums with sanding paper. Don't use the stone (too hot).
If you are able to; look at the toe as you do it and you can see the quick appear; before you bleed it; it appears as a little dot in the centre of the toe. Another thing you can do (all this is shown quite well on the aforementioned doberman site) is dremel off the top of the nail; where the quick doesn't appear so fast and then the remaining quick has less nail to feed and recedes quicker.
I also think this is an awesome idea because I believe (can't find anything to prove it of course); but i think you could cause some lameness issues by throwing the dog's paw backwards off the toes; possibly straining tendons etc. Again can't back it up (but maybe there is research out there).
I agree with the other posters that if it doesn't seem to be working anymore; buy more barrel drums with sanding paper. Don't use the stone (too hot).
If you are able to; look at the toe as you do it and you can see the quick appear; before you bleed it; it appears as a little dot in the centre of the toe. Another thing you can do (all this is shown quite well on the aforementioned doberman site) is dremel off the top of the nail; where the quick doesn't appear so fast and then the remaining quick has less nail to feed and recedes quicker.
I also think this is an awesome idea because I believe (can't find anything to prove it of course); but i think you could cause some lameness issues by throwing the dog's paw backwards off the toes; possibly straining tendons etc. Again can't back it up (but maybe there is research out there).
Not much I can add to this. As Blazes are the same (atleast it sounds like) as buddy's. His are right at the quick, the tiniest if tiny clips off's would result in quicking him.
Even non vigerous excersise on concrete will wear down the nails. ALL of our walks we do in our neighboorhood are on concrete. Trail walks are hard rock and dirt. and easily wear down his nails to where they are. I dont make him run on concrete, but you say it would have to be hard running excersise to wear them down. I doubt the OP would jepordize her dogs by forcing them hard work on concrete.
Even non vigerous excersise on concrete will wear down the nails. ALL of our walks we do in our neighboorhood are on concrete. Trail walks are hard rock and dirt. and easily wear down his nails to where they are. I dont make him run on concrete, but you say it would have to be hard running excersise to wear them down. I doubt the OP would jepordize her dogs by forcing them hard work on concrete.
T
I never once implied or said the OP would harm her dogs. I simply commented that I personally disagree and hate when professionals encourage people to exercise dogs specifically on concrete instead of trimming or dremeling nails. IMO, it is not worth the damage that could be done, and I just truly hate when professionals encourage it. That was the vice I had. I never said anythign insulting, nor would I, to the OP. I was only trying to offer helpful advice as the rest have done, as well as warn that exercising on on concrete alone without trimming or dremeling is probably not the best choice. It is a long process, and it can be scary to think you might accidentally cut your dog, but regular trimming or dremeling is absolutely necessary when the nails become too long. Trust me.. it took over 2 months to get my brother's dog's nails back to an okay length. They were to the point they were curling underneath the pad, and the quicks were very, very long. I had to visit twice a week to trim them regularly (our dremel broke), and there was once or twice in those many times I knicked it enough that a small dot of blood would show. The dogs certainly didn't like it, but I knew it was necessary.
The only other option I'm personally aware of is that when the dogs go under for teeth cleaning, if their nails are long, black and hard to trim, I ask the techs to do it while the dog is under. If they do have to cut the quick to get them back to appropriate length, the dog is under and won't feel it.
My dogs may just have hard nails, or I am lucky that my animals are not exposed to as much concrete, but I've never had them walking on concrete alone do the trick.
It is to my understanding that there must be excessive amount of exercise done on concrete to actually buffer down the nails. Now, when I say excessive, that certainly can be swayed by the fact that my dogs are likely on concrete a lot less than someone that may live in a city and must walk their dogs on concrete multiple times daily. I also said what I said due to the fact that it is something you hear professionals directing people to do frequently, to exercise more on concrete, and I just feel that is a poor thing for them to do, instead of properly instructing how to maintain good nail length, as I just personally cringe at teh idea of exercising my dogs on concrete any more than necessary.
The only other option I'm personally aware of is that when the dogs go under for teeth cleaning, if their nails are long, black and hard to trim, I ask the techs to do it while the dog is under. If they do have to cut the quick to get them back to appropriate length, the dog is under and won't feel it.
My dogs may just have hard nails, or I am lucky that my animals are not exposed to as much concrete, but I've never had them walking on concrete alone do the trick.
It is to my understanding that there must be excessive amount of exercise done on concrete to actually buffer down the nails. Now, when I say excessive, that certainly can be swayed by the fact that my dogs are likely on concrete a lot less than someone that may live in a city and must walk their dogs on concrete multiple times daily. I also said what I said due to the fact that it is something you hear professionals directing people to do frequently, to exercise more on concrete, and I just feel that is a poor thing for them to do, instead of properly instructing how to maintain good nail length, as I just personally cringe at teh idea of exercising my dogs on concrete any more than necessary.
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Tessa . . . seriously? You were gone from the forum for so long and all I've seen from you since you've been back have been very snide and rude remarks. So arrogant at such a young age . . . your parents must be proud.
BP, concrete doesn't work for all dogs, especially ones with long toes (hare foot, as foxy said . . . I've never heard that term but I love it!), due to their physical structure and how they move. Wally had tip tap toenails, and I would literally scrape the tiniest bit off once a week (barely enough to be considered a nail clip). Unfortunately I couldn't dremel him because he was so opposed to it, but hopefully you can dremel without a complaint!! Filing should help to recede the quick faster (which is why your vet suggested the concrete) because the heat of filing causes the quick to recede faster than just a nail clip.
Another option, which IMHO should be a last ditch option, is having your vet put him under and quick him, then cauterize each toenail. Personally I would only consider that as a last ditch effort because I can only imagine the pain that comes from it. But if they get to the point where they will compromise his structure/comfort it IS an option that's out there.
BP, concrete doesn't work for all dogs, especially ones with long toes (hare foot, as foxy said . . . I've never heard that term but I love it!), due to their physical structure and how they move. Wally had tip tap toenails, and I would literally scrape the tiniest bit off once a week (barely enough to be considered a nail clip). Unfortunately I couldn't dremel him because he was so opposed to it, but hopefully you can dremel without a complaint!! Filing should help to recede the quick faster (which is why your vet suggested the concrete) because the heat of filing causes the quick to recede faster than just a nail clip.
Another option, which IMHO should be a last ditch option, is having your vet put him under and quick him, then cauterize each toenail. Personally I would only consider that as a last ditch effort because I can only imagine the pain that comes from it. But if they get to the point where they will compromise his structure/comfort it IS an option that's out there.
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Yeah, I am very well aware of the ability to put them under and do it that way... but I'd really rather not. That will absolutely be the last thing to cross my mind.
That will absolutely be the last thing to cross my mind.
EXCUSE me missy, I did not ask for your advice on where to run my dog. Half our yard is concrete and a trail we frequent happens to be gravel, I can't wish it away, it's there! I simply do not appreciate your comments, they are quite rude.
I CAN'T trim because the slightest trim causes him to bleed or were you too quick to jump to judgment to read that **** far?
Good grief.
I CAN'T trim because the slightest trim causes him to bleed or were you too quick to jump to judgment to read that **** far?
Good grief.
I agree with others who've said just to dremel a little bit off each nail frequently. Keira just had surgery last Monday, so we had hers taken way back at the same time since she was already under (they weren't long long, but for some reason they were much longer than we normally kept them). If you can't get them back, then getting a vet to do them under anaesthetic or a tranquilizer would probably be what I'd do... but obviously as a last resort. I hope you're able to get them back under control!
I'm going through the struggle of getting Ozzy and Enzos pushed back myself.
I don't have a dremel, but I have heard it is a ton easier to get them done that way.
What I do is clip the very tips off, then clip the edges of that back. Then, I take the top part of the nail off at an angle, and do the edges again. I then clip little, like, shaves I guess of nail, until I can see a little moist disc in the nail. If you clip any farther, you'll quick the dog. This is what I have to do with Enzo, who has all black/brown nails.
Ozzy, has ONE white nail that I use to judge the rest of his nails by. I still cut as close as possible to the quick, but its a bit easier to keep from quicking him than it is Enzo.
Also, I don't have quikstop or whatever it is, but I've read flour works just as well, and I do use that if I happen to quick Enzo, who flails like a wild fish sometimes.
I don't have a dremel, but I have heard it is a ton easier to get them done that way.
What I do is clip the very tips off, then clip the edges of that back. Then, I take the top part of the nail off at an angle, and do the edges again. I then clip little, like, shaves I guess of nail, until I can see a little moist disc in the nail. If you clip any farther, you'll quick the dog. This is what I have to do with Enzo, who has all black/brown nails.
Ozzy, has ONE
white nail that I use to judge the rest of his nails by. I still cut as close as possible to the quick, but its a bit easier to keep from quicking him than it is Enzo.Also, I don't have quikstop or whatever it is, but I've read flour works just as well, and I do use that if I happen to quick Enzo, who flails like a wild fish sometimes.
Yea, I've used cornstarch before.
I know it's possible to quick them, I just want to avoid it at all possible.
We're going dremel shopping today.
Thanks everyone!
I know it's possible to quick them, I just want to avoid it at all possible.
We're going dremel shopping today.
Thanks everyone!
Using my method, I haven't quicked Enzo in quite a while. It's just difficult to keep her nails short. I'm going to pick up a dremel EVENTUALLY, lol, but so far, haven't.
I hate quicking them. I always feel terrible.
I know my dad uses a Dewalt dremel, and he's never had a problem with it. (But he's a general contractor, and generally doesn't use it for stuff other than what it was intended
)
T
I use that same method CharlieDog. It's rare for me to actually make them bleed, but I know I get close.. but getting close is really the only way to make quick recede.
We used to order more grooming supplies more regularly from PetEdge magazine when we were showing, but haven't bought quickstop in a long time. Cornstarch is what we always use and have handy. Works just as well for a cheaper price!
We used to order more grooming supplies more regularly from PetEdge magazine when we were showing, but haven't bought quickstop in a long time. Cornstarch is what we always use and have handy. Works just as well for a cheaper price!
