Cutting toenails - Page 1

Your approach to cutting toenails...

And if they growl or ??

Simple Rule: Cut 'em til they bleed...

Here's a nail clipping diagram:
http://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/60358031211/pet-nail-clipping-guide#.U0X5VVfdn9M

For both of our dogs, it's platz and trim but we handle their feet, ears, hold their muzzle, show their teeth, etc. daily so they are comfortable being handled.

It's best to start them right away grinding as baby puppies. Have one person hold and apply food while the other grinds. Perfect pedicure is not necessary, just getting all toes done as fast as possible with no bleeding is  needed. Decrease the restraint and food over time until they hold still by themselves and then you party.

starting an older dog usually requires two people, food, and a pinch collar with leash. Again go as fast as possible in the beginning, use lots of food, collar correct as needed, severe collar corrections for any aggression, decrease restraint and food with time. Never grind to bleeding unless the dog jumps suddenly and it can't be helped.

i grind once a week .

I'm a retire dog groomer and the biggest mistake i see people making is they hold the foot up in the dog's face and attempt to clip the nails. This is a big No, No! Instead lift the foot and turn up so that your looking at the pads. Holding the leg in a natural position slightly behind the dog's shoulder.

Like this in the photo.

In this photo you can see how long my dog's nail were. This is about 2 weeks between clippings.

Here's i'm gauging how much nail i want to remove. The tips are dead and can be safely cut.

Here's is a close up of a white nail. You can clearly see the live pink area and the dead white area. Black nails are a littler harder to gauge. If in doubt be conservitive and just nip off a little bit.

Here you can see how much nail was removed. The top nail was longer then i thought and i knicked the quick. But she didn't feel a thing.

Here's is how i hold the back foot to clip them. I support the dog's rear when i have the leg lifted.

My tools of choice. I use a dremel when i worked for the vet, but at home i use an acrylic nail file to smooth down the cut edges. And i prefer the scissor type nail clippers,

If you have any question please feel free to ask.

Fry

Thank you all sooooooooo much; obviously have had an issue and am trying to solve;  just wanted more options.  Thx  Nan

I have used a cordless dremel for the past 3 years on my dogs and love it. So do the dogs. With my pup I started trimming her nails with the dremel shortly after I got her. At first I just let her get used to the noise and then my husband held her while I trimmed. I did a little trimming everyday until she became completely relaxed with it. She got lots of praise and treats. Now  I trim weekly. I would never go back to using clippers. 

I let a professional do it, LOL. I've quicked the last 2 dogs I've trimmed and felt horrible. Nothing a little cornstarch can't fix, but still.

If I do do it myself, I just take off the very end. Thankfully, my dog's nails stay fairly short by themselves, so I don't have to do it that often. I grab a handful of kibbles and give her one for every clip I do, so she gets "paid" for being good.

I use a tool that grinds them down, And Prince is always muzzled ,,,though he doesn't seem to mind it most of the time,,I does a very nice job,,,

Taz doesn't growl at me, but he does fidget.

Even though I use Fry's methods  (although I prefer a

different sort of clipper).

When he is being particularly stroppy, I just do a couple of

toes at a time, and come back to do a couple more tomorrow,

and again, until they are all trimmed.

I used to have to do dozens of dogs nail clipping, never

got bitten - it is true IMO that if you make a point of touching

dogs all over, regularly, they become more accepting when

you need to do grooming or medical treatments.

I hear great things about the Dremel and similar devices, but never

got around to using these myself.