Trimming of the Claws

[RubysMom]

Does anyone have any tricks for trying to see the quick on your dog's nails? I think we're leaving Ruby's nails a bit too long, but even the vet said she couldnt see the quick on her nails. We've tried holding a flashlight near them, but has to be just the right angle, and Ruby's not too interested in holding the pose for us!
Also, other than snipping the tops off the nails, whats the best way to file them and get the trapped 'stuff' from the underside of the nailbed?
(I've read the info on using a Dremel tool for filing...sadly the Dremel tool is right up there with the vacuum cleaner for 'the-sound-of-the-enemy'!!)

[TimberWolf]

If your dog has black nails they are harder to see but nothing is impossible. If you are nervous and don't know where the quik is, look after you cut. The nail part will usually have a very tiny black dot inside of the white area (this is for black nails especially). If you don't see the little black dot, you haven't gotten to the quik yet. Cut very carefully though because if you cut the quik, your dog can bleed quite a bit. Use Quik Stop to clog the bleeding. You can get that at pet stores if you don't already have some. For clear nails you'll notice either a black or red/pink dot. The same thing applies with these nails. Just be careful when you look at the side of the nail, you'll see the quik through the nail but the end of the quik might be closer to the tip than it appears.

[Summer Magic]

If you can desensitize your dog to it the dremmel drill is the best way to deal with those black nails. It grinds them down very nicely and it's easier to control than a clipper.

[Jill Ramsey]

It used to be an absolute battle to clip Finnegan's nails. Since I have tried using a dremel, it's so much easier.
I tried desensitizing him to the clippers, but we still had to muzzle him and give him a tranquilizer (which I hated, but was necessary).

I have used the dremel twice, without the tranquilizer, but still have the muzzle on, and have done great both times.

[Susie B]

I never thought about using a dremel. What a wonderful idea!!!

Thanks,

[RubysMom]

Thanks Anne -
Is there any guideline to what is the right length for nails to be? Ruby's don't curl down too much but I'd say they are a good 1/2" long. I guess its all relative to the size of the dog, but they seem awfully long.
Hers aren't black, they're brown/pink, but so hard to see where the quick is, but I'll try your tip -thanks again!

[TimberWolf]

Thanks Anne -
Is there any guideline to what is the right length for nails to be? Ruby's don't curl down too much but I'd say they are a good 1/2" long. I guess its all relative to the size of the dog, but they seem awfully long.
Hers aren't black, they're brown/pink, but so hard to see where the quick is, but I'll try your tip -thanks again!

It's hard to say what they should be. generally nails should not be hitting the ground when they walk but if they are long and have been for a while the quik may have grown out a bit. You should just start at the tip and cut little by little until you see that little dot. It might pinch your dog a little sometimes it doesn't depending on how close you actually are to the quik. That will tell you how far to actually go. If the nails are still hitting the ground try cutting the nails to the dot and take your dog on many walks. in about 2 weeks, trim them again. Little by little the quik should go back a little. if not you can always ask your vet to cut the nails back during a teeth cleaning. The vets usually use a local anesthesia for teeth cleaning and that would make it easy to cut the nails to the more desired length. Otherwise, the nails would bleed a lot if you try to cut them short yourself and it would really hurt your dog. The vets would be able to control the bleeding and keep your dog healthy. If your dog's nails remain too long (they don't sound too long now but just so you know), they will crack a lot more often and bleed causing you to have to take him to the vets to get the nail removed if it cracks that badly. So please keep them trimmed as much as you can.

[Karen Pacheco]

hello

i actually cut my dogs nails myself, i had the vet do it once and never again, on her first cut she cut to short and made it bleed so when she put the stick to stop it from bleeding he got a little mean so from now on i do it myself, i have never cut him, he has black nails so its hard for me but i usually just cut the part that curves and its seems to work. also i have heard it u do cut the dog to use flour to clog it

karen

nemo- 2yr and 6 mths :dogrun: