Clipping nails... - YorkieTalk.com Forums

FajiDrei · 07-20-2005, 11:15 PM

I've been noticing that my little Spunky has been scratching himself pretty bad, because he has scab's on his head, and neck from where he scratches. So he needs his nails clipped... and Petsmarts booked till 2 weeks... has anyone clipped their puppies nails, and if you did what type of nail cutter did u use? I am much to afraid to do it myself, but he needs them cut. Maybe i should use a nail file and try to file them down a bit? Help!

jesscruz · 07-20-2005, 11:53 PM

just take him to the groomer at petsmart. you don't need an appointment just to get his nails cut.you can just walk in. i think they charge like 6 dollars or something. i usto take coco in every week but then i said i gotta do this myself and so i bought the clippers at petsmart and now i cut them myself! the groomer taught me that when cutting thier nails check to see if the nail is still chalky after your first cut if it is you can cut it a little more. once you see that it isn;t chalky anymore your done. but cut little by little the last thing you want to do is cut too deep. i strongly advise you to just go to petsmart as a walkin and ask themto cut his nails for you and watch how she does it. and i;m sure they will tell and show you what kind of clipper you should use. hope this helps

Bentley'sMom · 07-21-2005, 12:15 AM

I use the nail clippers that looks like a guillotine (sp?). It is the most common one sold... I wait until late at night when the boys are sleepy and then sit them on my lap on their back with their tummy and paws exposed. I then trim the nails on each paw and keep saying "good boy" and give them a treat when it is done. The first couple of times were horrible and it took a really long time, but now they are used to it. I cut their nails once a week and only cut the very tips to avoid hurting them. Good Luck!

Annadoodle · 07-21-2005, 02:55 AM

I need to do Sophie's also...

Thanks for starting this thread...and all the advice~

Makes me nervous....but..I will only take a tiny bit...

Deegan's mom · 07-21-2005, 08:40 AM

Yes, I use the ones that look like a guilotine too. (Most commonly sold).
It can be nerve racking in the begining, and the dogs will fight you 'til they get used to it. So if you are nervous, take them to get them done.

Otherwise, if you'd like to try it yourself, always have some stop bleed or if you don't have that cornstarch will suffice, prepared in case you make him bleed. If you do make him bleed put pressure by squeezing his toe, but not too hard, and put his nail into some stop bleed or cornstarch and continure with pressure until it stops bleeding.

Try only to cut the very tips of his nail off to avoid hitting the quick (blood). I just cut a very tiny piece off each week, so that I don't hurt him and so that he gets used to it too. This keeps the nails down.
Some people are uncomfortable doing this. It takes practice for you and practice for the dog to get used to it too.

FajiDrei · 07-21-2005, 10:58 AM

So i took My Spunks to Petsmart for his nails, and it was 8 dollars, and really fast, except that they didn't file them down. So, wow that was a struggle in itself trying to file them down. I was told to file them down from the top of the nail down, always going top to bottom. Argh, he put up a good fight, that's all i have to say.

jesscruz · 07-21-2005, 12:13 PM

hehehe sounds like a yorkie to me..lol

ReconsMomma · 07-21-2005, 12:46 PM

If you clip a nail too short and dont have stiptic powder on hand you can use baking soda.

spydergurl · 07-25-2005, 04:20 PM

Boy, all I can say is, "thanks for all of the good advice, peeps"! I have always taken them in to get their nails cut, but they hated it, because they hated anyone working on them except me. So, I bravely (or stupidly, should I say) tried it. I had the cute little guillotine looking things, and went for it. I just cut tiny tips off of each one, praying out loud for God to help guide me. And it's working! Whoo hooo! Now I am going to routinely do it once a week after their bath (figuring the water softens them so it's easier to cut), and they don't give me any trouble. Whoo hooo ...I am soooo excited!

bloopy · 07-27-2005, 08:08 PM

Hi everyone! Just thought I would add some things regarding nail clipping...

If you have someone who can hold your pup down on a hard floor, and you push gently on the middle of their paw, their nails will become exposed. Then, you can clip easily, but remember to praise them a lot, and give them a treat when you are done. Instead of filing them, you can just take them for a quick walk on cement - this will soften the edges right up!

You just reminded me that I have to give Rex a little trim right now! Thanks!

jesscruz · 07-27-2005, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bloopy

Hi everyone! Just thought I would add some things regarding nail clipping...

If you have someone who can hold your pup down on a hard floor, and you push gently on the middle of their paw, their nails will become exposed. Then, you can clip easily, but remember to praise them a lot, and give them a treat when you are done. Instead of filing them, you can just take them for a quick walk on cement - this will soften the edges right up!

You just reminded me that I have to give Rex a little trim right now! Thanks!

i have never heard of this method...i would think that it would make it more stressful on your baby because your restraining him or her, and dogs tend to get more agitated when they are restrained.

Marie · 07-27-2005, 08:51 PM

I cut Gucci's nail and is a task. You can try to clip them whe his sleeping. Good Luck.

StewiesMom · 07-27-2005, 09:00 PM

I push on the middle of the paw too so the nails are easier to see and you can do it more quickly. If i don't restrain Stewie, he will run away and his nails will never get clipped.

Also, I better do it right the first time because if I don't, I don't have another chance to catch him and trim them up again for a while.

jesscruz · 07-27-2005, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bloopy

If you have someone who can hold your pup down on a hard floor

this is what i was reffering to, holding your dog in your lap and what not is okay,and restraining them gently, but to have someone hold them down on a hard floor?sounds kinda ruff to me, i guess i'm very lucky that coco just sits there and lets me do whatever i want

bloopy · 07-27-2005, 09:45 PM

Oh my God, I don't do it roughly! Shame on you for thinking that!

A hard floor means not on carpet, as their nails would get buried in the carpet. And restraining him means my husband holding him down and stroking his back while I clip.

I am probably one of the most gentle people when it comes to my little baby, so please don't think I would ever hurt my little Rex.

07-20-2005, 11:15 PM	#1
FajiDrei Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: La Quinta, CA Posts: 14	Clipping nails... I've been noticing that my little Spunky has been scratching himself pretty bad, because he has scab's on his head, and neck from where he scratches. So he needs his nails clipped... and Petsmarts booked till 2 weeks... has anyone clipped their puppies nails, and if you did what type of nail cutter did u use? I am much to afraid to do it myself, but he needs them cut. Maybe i should use a nail file and try to file them down a bit? Help!

07-20-2005, 11:53 PM	#2
jesscruz YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: seaside,ca Posts: 1,763	just take him to the groomer at petsmart. you don't need an appointment just to get his nails cut.you can just walk in. i think they charge like 6 dollars or something. i usto take coco in every week but then i said i gotta do this myself and so i bought the clippers at petsmart and now i cut them myself! the groomer taught me that when cutting thier nails check to see if the nail is still chalky after your first cut if it is you can cut it a little more. once you see that it isn;t chalky anymore your done. but cut little by little the last thing you want to do is cut too deep. i strongly advise you to just go to petsmart as a walkin and ask themto cut his nails for you and watch how she does it. and i;m sure they will tell and show you what kind of clipper you should use. hope this helps __________________ mommy's little baby coco bear

07-21-2005, 12:15 AM	#3
Bentley'sMom YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 299	I use the nail clippers that looks like a guillotine (sp?). It is the most common one sold... I wait until late at night when the boys are sleepy and then sit them on my lap on their back with their tummy and paws exposed. I then trim the nails on each paw and keep saying "good boy" and give them a treat when it is done. The first couple of times were horrible and it took a really long time, but now they are used to it. I cut their nails once a week and only cut the very tips to avoid hurting them. Good Luck! __________________ Tricia - Bentley and Griffin's mommy Seattle Yorkie Meetup

07-21-2005, 02:55 AM	#4
Annadoodle A Yorkie Touched My Heart Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: "soon to be" MO Posts: 1,550	Those Scary Nail clippers! I need to do Sophie's also... Thanks for starting this thread...and all the advice~ Makes me nervous....but..I will only take a tiny bit... __________________ Melissa & "Sophie Girl" Support Our Troops Supporting Courtney's Fight

07-21-2005, 08:40 AM	#5
Deegan's mom YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Windsor, ON Posts: 1,271	Yes, I use the ones that look like a guilotine too. (Most commonly sold). It can be nerve racking in the begining, and the dogs will fight you 'til they get used to it. So if you are nervous, take them to get them done. Otherwise, if you'd like to try it yourself, always have some stop bleed or if you don't have that cornstarch will suffice, prepared in case you make him bleed. If you do make him bleed put pressure by squeezing his toe, but not too hard, and put his nail into some stop bleed or cornstarch and continure with pressure until it stops bleeding. Try only to cut the very tips of his nail off to avoid hitting the quick (blood). I just cut a very tiny piece off each week, so that I don't hurt him and so that he gets used to it too. This keeps the nails down. Some people are uncomfortable doing this. It takes practice for you and practice for the dog to get used to it too. __________________ Jayde, Deegan & Trooper ~Be the change you wish to see in the world - Adopt a rescue pet~

07-21-2005, 10:58 AM	#6
FajiDrei Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: La Quinta, CA Posts: 14	Clipped em' So i took My Spunks to Petsmart for his nails, and it was 8 dollars, and really fast, except that they didn't file them down. So, wow that was a struggle in itself trying to file them down. I was told to file them down from the top of the nail down, always going top to bottom. Argh, he put up a good fight, that's all i have to say.

07-21-2005, 12:13 PM	#7
jesscruz YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: seaside,ca Posts: 1,763	hehehe sounds like a yorkie to me..lol __________________ mommy's little baby coco bear

07-21-2005, 12:46 PM	#8
ReconsMomma BANNED! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Janesville WI Posts: 2,483	If you clip a nail too short and dont have stiptic powder on hand you can use baking soda.

07-25-2005, 04:20 PM	#9
spydergurl YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 516	Boy, all I can say is, "thanks for all of the good advice, peeps"! I have always taken them in to get their nails cut, but they hated it, because they hated anyone working on them except me. So, I bravely (or stupidly, should I say) tried it. I had the cute little guillotine looking things, and went for it. I just cut tiny tips off of each one, praying out loud for God to help guide me. And it's working! Whoo hooo! Now I am going to routinely do it once a week after their bath (figuring the water softens them so it's easier to cut), and they don't give me any trouble. Whoo hooo ...I am soooo excited!

07-27-2005, 08:08 PM	#10
bloopy Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 29	Easy clipping for y'all! Hi everyone! Just thought I would add some things regarding nail clipping... If you have someone who can hold your pup down on a hard floor, and you push gently on the middle of their paw, their nails will become exposed. Then, you can clip easily, but remember to praise them a lot, and give them a treat when you are done. Instead of filing them, you can just take them for a quick walk on cement - this will soften the edges right up! You just reminded me that I have to give Rex a little trim right now! Thanks!

07-27-2005, 08:51 PM	#12
Marie Mom loves Gucci Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: New York City Posts: 6,427	I cut Gucci's nail and is a task. You can try to clip them whe his sleeping. Good Luck. __________________ Huggies, Gucci and Marie http://www.dogster.com/?132187 "I have been egged"

07-27-2005, 09:00 PM	#13
StewiesMom Stewie Rox the Sox Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 6,306	I push on the middle of the paw too so the nails are easier to see and you can do it more quickly. If i don't restrain Stewie, he will run away and his nails will never get clipped. Also, I better do it right the first time because if I don't, I don't have another chance to catch him and trim them up again for a while. __________________ Kristy & Stewie

07-27-2005, 09:45 PM	#15
bloopy Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 29	Oh my God, I don't do it roughly! Shame on you for thinking that! A hard floor means not on carpet, as their nails would get buried in the carpet. And restraining him means my husband holding him down and stroking his back while I clip. I am probably one of the most gentle people when it comes to my little baby, so please don't think I would ever hurt my little Rex.