Nail Clipping Nightmare!

[yorkietalker]

Does anyone have tips for cutting nails? My pup is a nightmare about this nail clipping! Thanks for any advice out there!

[Stella's mom]

I'm terrified of cutting Stella's nails so I bought a Peticure petite which has worked well for us.

[tiffjunior]

Originally Posted by yorkietalker

Does anyone have tips for cutting nails? My pup is a nightmare about this nail clipping! Thanks for any advice out there!

i would like to know the answer to this as well.. I havnt clipped my dogs nails yet but i knowthat its time and i have no clue what to do..i was thinking about getting that pedicure thingy...

[Stella's mom]

Originally Posted by tiffjunior

i would like to know the answer to this as well.. I havnt clipped my dogs nails yet but i knowthat its time and i have no clue what to do..i was thinking about getting that pedicure thingy...

You can do a YT search on Peticure and will find info and opinions, there is also information on the Pedi Paws. I just like the Peticure because it's rechargable so I don't have to deal with buying batteries and also it has different size holes for their nails.

[phfgkl]

I bought a pedipaws and love it. The pedi paws you can cut big dogs nails with too, it was $19.99

[laciegirl]

I bought the peticure petite online, because we accidently cut our little Lacie's nails several times, and she fought us and we were afraid to do it. I took her to a Vet two times because they used the "dremmel" tool. It took four people to hold her she was so terrified. I started holding the peticure against her when I brushed her each day, then turned it on and held it close. I did this for a few weeks until she got used to it, then tried it on a nail. She didn't like it, so I just did it for a few seconds, gave her a special treat she get's only when her nails are being cut, and quit. I have been doing this everyday, doing two nails now. She hardly fights us at all now, I talk to her and reassure her all the time. There has been a huge improvement, so it pays to take it very slow and let them get used to it, and see it doesn't hurt. I have three suggestions, be sure the hair is cut around the feet, so it doesn't get caught, and I would not get the petite. The company suggests it for small dogs, but Lacie's nails are very hard, and I think the larger tool would be quicker. The third, is get the recharable one, not a battery one. It needs to have a strong charge to do the job so I plug it in every time I use it. I don't think the batterys would keep a strong enough charge, and by the time you keep buying batteries, you might as well get a good one. You will probably need someone to hold you pet, and another person to use the tool. I paid $18 each time at the Vets, so it pays for itself in no time. The one I got online, has a video on the site showing you how to do it.

[Ellie May]

Dremmels or tools like the Pedipaws work for some people but if the pup is really wiggly and impossible, the techs at your vet office can do it. If they can't, the vet wll probably be called in. If the vet can't, the dog will need to be drugged. It just depends on their cooperation level. Have you tried getting someone to hold your pup still while you cut the nails?

[laciegirl]

A dog should never be drugged just for nail clipping. Most Vets don't want to do it even to clean their teeth, unless another procedure is being done. Any kind of drug can have serious side effects, including death, just as in a human. The Vet I went to had several helpers hold my Yorkie, which was hard even then. I didn't want to put her through that agian, and got the tool myself. A dog can be trained if you have the patience. I posted how I got my little Yorkie to trust me and not be afraid, by taking a lot of time, and it is working. I agree you probably should have someone hold the dog, unless you have started it at a young age, and they haven't learned fear of it. I know some people can alone.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by laciegirl

A dog should never be drugged just for nail clipping. Most Vets don't want to do it even to clean their teeth, unless another procedure is being done. Any kind of drug can have serious side effects, including death, just as in a human. The Vet I went to had several helpers hold my Yorkie, which was hard even then. I didn't want to put her through that agian, and got the tool myself. A dog can be trained if you have the patience. I posted how I got my little Yorkie to trust me and not be afraid, by taking a lot of time, and it is working. I agree you probably should have someone hold the dog, unless you have started it at a young age, and they haven't learned fear of it. I know some people can alone.

I agree that it is not healthy to drug a dog for nail clipping but there is a time and a place for it. I know of a 50 pound dog that hates it and a vet and techs couldn't do it. Her dad has to lay on her and give her treats. If he couldn't for some reason, she would probably end up needing drugs. It is better than them growing around into her paw pads. She can be very nervous about certain tings...she's a rescue.

[msjagg]

My Aunt gave me a pedipaws 3 weeks ago. I used it on my Papillion first. When I used to trim his nails he screamed, yelled, threw himself around!! The neighbors would check to see who was killing the dog. When I used the pedipaws I touched his nails with it off first. He was laying on his back in my arma and quite relaxed. I turned it on and he did not make a peep. He had on his tee-shirt and pee'd on it. But no thrashing Sammy of old!!! I just love it. Baron goes to the groomer on Friday and I'm going to ask her to use it on him. This is only his second time @ the groomer's. I would like to see how he reacts for her first. I had no touble with batteries running low, it did a great job... Best Wishes, Baron's Mom

[Roseanderson]

I just finish going through the hollering and screaming with my little guy. He does that for both clipping and pedipaw but we have to get it done and I don't give up. I am sure that he will get used to it one day.

[trinabinabear88]

I got Emma when she was 12 weeks old and that was the first time I ever clipped her nails, she did awesome. But the second time i did it she was terrified of the clippers. It would take me hours to try and get her to be calm so i could cut them. So then i decided to take her to the pet store to get them cut and they said they couldn’t cut them because she was too wiggly and they were afraid they would hurt her. You wouldn’t think it would be so hard to control a dog that weighs only 5 pounds but it really is. So for about 9 months i have tried basically everything. So i just recently bought a nail dremmel. I actually got it at Wal-Mart and it is just a standard dremmel. Well i gradually introduced it to her and she still hated it but i was consistent and about 2 weeks ago i was able to file her nails in 2 minutes. I have done it a little every other day because they were a little long and she has done terrific every time. The only complaint i have is since mine is just a dremmel if I’m not careful her hair can get caught in it. It doesn’t anymore because she does not wiggle but if your dog is you should buy one with one. I would have too but i don’t like the one they sell at Wal-Mart that is not rechargeable and the peticure takes forever to get so i will deal. Now that i have the dremmel i will never ever use clippers again a dremmel is the best possible way to do it.

[LaurenThig]

My advice is cut them after you give a bath while they're kind of soft and make sure you have good clippers. Lily freaked out every time I cut her nails, but then I bought new/better clippers and she actually held kind of still. I really think softening them (after a bath) is a big help too because they don't make that hard "popping" sound.

[yorkietalker]

I appreciate all the input. When Bennett comes back from being groomed his nails are ragged - so I don't think they are doing a very good job at all! It's not his feet - I can massage feet and toes all day long and he loves it. It's just the nails so I am going to try the "filing" system and see how it goes. Thanks again for all the helpful ideas!!

[tobysmommie]

I get the strongest and hardest nail filer from nearby beauty supply center. The good thing is, Yorkshires have small nails compared to other bigger breeds so it's do-able to file their nails. Basically it's the same thing as pedipaws without scaring them with the machine. Try it.