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How to trim: dog nail thread

Hector

Well-Known Member
This thread is super helpful! I'm usually only able to cut 2 nails at a time before he gets up and walks away. He hates the sound of the Dremel and won't have anything to do with it. There needs to be a muffler for that thing.

And the picture of the dog's nails in the last post--yuck! I have never seen dog nails so long!!!

Those are not the worse of the worse that I've come across.
 

Hector

Well-Known Member
Most overgrown nails are on small, indoor house dogs. Horrible, horrible nails. The dog with the nails that are curling inwards has super long quicks so there's not a lot I can do for him. The nails on the gray dog has nails that bends and grows sideways. Those nails no longer serves its purpose. I offer to do his nails for free every week, but the owners never contact me and I have to go over there and take it upon myself. I should go over there today, sigh. I just want to scream sometimes when I see these nails.

curling.jpg prince 1.jpgprince.jpg
 

Hector

Well-Known Member
Quick tip: if you have a very food focused dog that doesn't get easily frustrated, walk off, or resource guards against you, you can offer a stuffed kong (frozen or not) or a chew treat while you trim the nails. Have the dog in a down position while you work away at the back ones and the front too if the dog allows it. You can also try wedging the kong under your foot or knee when you get to the front nails.

Here is an example of what I'm talking about - only back nail demo. I froze wet dog food in a collapsed silicone dog bowl. She did surprisingly well. Usually, I have a hard time getting her back nails with clip&treat method. I used to restrain and muzzle this dog and still wasn't able to get all her nails done.

Just a heads up, it's a long boring video.

[video=youtube;IuP7wmnt2Ps]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuP7wmnt2Ps[/video]
 

Hector

Well-Known Member
Okay I tried out my own tip with Ginger's front nails and it didn't work lmao.

I found a silicone ice mould yesterday and filled it with canned dog food and froze it. So I tried to get a hold of her front paw while she was eating - nope, she wouldn't stay down. I tried bending the paw over while she's eating - nope just backs away. I tried just putting the clipper blades over the nail - nope, she gets up and moves away. I tried lifting the leg and bending the paw over with her standing - nope, she loses her balance. Finally, I figured or "remembered" a way that will get her to cooperate. I used to do this with a jar of baby food, but it's so tiny! Normally, I do clip/treat, but what I noticed was that methods had to be switched up AND front nails can only be done with her in a sitting position.

DSCN4403.jpgDSCN4404.jpg


Here's a short vid and don't watch it if you can't stand dog teeth scraping plastic.

Gingers front nails - YouTube
 

Hector

Well-Known Member
She seemed happy enough. Job done. Good idea!

Thanks.

I want to share some after dremel pics. The grinder is a pretty awesome tool for dog nails.

His nails are already pretty short, but short nails can be even shorter. This is what I have to do in order to get them not to click, but I really don't see the purpose of doing that in this case.


hanging

DSCN4444.jpg

sitting

DSCN4468.jpg


standing

DSCN4475.jpg


quick, grind around to expose

DSCN4456 (2).jpgDSCN4456.jpg
 
Looking good!

I was determined to find the clippers I know I already have and can't find em...SO I guess I really am going to buy a new pair =/

My tractor supply nor my local wal-mart had millers forge clippers. I'm gonna just get them online I think. Now where did i put that old dremel i bought 2 years ago from harbor freight lol...
 

Hector

Well-Known Member
Looking good!

I was determined to find the clippers I know I already have and can't find em...SO I guess I really am going to buy a new pair =/

My tractor supply nor my local wal-mart had millers forge clippers. I'm gonna just get them online I think. Now where did i put that old dremel i bought 2 years ago from harbor freight lol...

Or just get a file, any file (machine or human) or attach a piece of sandpaper on a piece of wood and start filing!
 
Yeah but that's work! I'll find it. I usually put things in places where i "wont lose them"... My wife usually knows where these places are better than I do. I'm gonna have to just ask her to look for me lol. I can't find shit on my own.
 

Oscar'sMom

Well-Known Member
Awesome job Hector....nails look good. Oscar doesn't sit super well for his front nails and I feel like over time his front nails have stayed a little bit longer while his back nails look really good. I clipped his nails this morning while he was chewing on a bone but he got frustrated when I did his front paw because he couldn't hold it still. I'll try something frozen or holding with my foot next time. I need to post pictures of them and get some advice on the length....how often do you clip Hector?
 

Hector

Well-Known Member
Awesome job Hector....nails look good. Oscar doesn't sit super well for his front nails and I feel like over time his front nails have stayed a little bit longer while his back nails look really good. I clipped his nails this morning while he was chewing on a bone but he got frustrated when I did his front paw because he couldn't hold it still. I'll try something frozen or holding with my foot next time. I need to post pictures of them and get some advice on the length....how often do you clip Hector?

Thanks Oscar's Mom.

For the front paws, have you tried with him sitting on the ground and you sitting on couch or chair and have him place his paws on your leg and then clip/treat? You can also do what I do with Ginger on the front ones. I bend the paw back and clip and then treat and repeat. Make sure you let him see the treats first or even give him a couple before you start.

If you think Oscar will stay still with stuffed food toy stationary, you might want to look into something like this.

Pet Supplies : Chase n Chomp Sticky Bone Pet Chew Toy : Amazon.com


Hector's nails don't grow too fast so I clip them once every 3-4 weeks.
 

Hector

Well-Known Member
Here's some freaky close ups of a piece of nail that's been cut off of Ginger. Her nail shape is almost tube like. It has pretty much the same thickness for the whole length. Hector's is more "normal" looking and the cut off pieces won't look the same and because the soft tissue section between the nail and the blood vessel is very short. Ginger, however has a thicker section of the soft tissue and that's what you'll see in the pics. First pic is the end that touches the ground. Second pic is the soft tissue end. Pics are magnified of course.
 
Thanks to this thread I have like 0 negative thoughts while trimming my puppies nails. They both have black nails too but now I know what to look for and have much more confidence.
 

Victoria93

Well-Known Member
In the almost 3 years since we have had Kato our corso, we have never clipped his nails. We live in the suburbs and walk on pavement, we walked so much that the sidewalks would sand down his nails. He recently got diagnosed with hip dysplasia and we avoid any hard surface when walking so i will soon have to cut his nails because no more pavement. Any advice on clippers the ones i have are either not sharp/strong or i have no muscles because i can't cut one of his nails with all my strength lol
 

Hector

Well-Known Member
In the almost 3 years since we have had Kato our corso, we have never clipped his nails. We live in the suburbs and walk on pavement, we walked so much that the sidewalks would sand down his nails. He recently got diagnosed with hip dysplasia and we avoid any hard surface when walking so i will soon have to cut his nails because no more pavement. Any advice on clippers the ones i have are either not sharp/strong or i have no muscles because i can't cut one of his nails with all my strength lol
I'd recommend the red handled millers forge kind you can get on amazon. The key is to cut in small sections and not in big chunks. Also clipping them after giving the dog a bath or when the dog has been outside walking on wet ground helps a lot because it significantly softens the nail.
 

Hector

Well-Known Member
All the original pics are gone. If anyone wants to see some examples, just ask what you want. I'm too lazy to repost the pictures and I'll try to get some new ones. In the meantime, found some videos that are pretty good. [video=youtube;nqrYmrQ-lq4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqrYmrQ-lq4[/video]