How do you trim their nails?

[serrelind]

This is my first puppy and I have no idea how to trim his nails? I'm afraid I'd hurt him? How should I do it? What should I use?

[Mitzis Mom]

We use a special tool you can find at a petstore. But maybe it would be good if someone could show you the first time like a groomer or your Vet bc it's a little tricky and you can easily draw blood. Good luck!

[sshaw]

I wait and let the Vet do it. Call me chicken, but I don't want to hurt him.

[Mitzis Mom]

Originally Posted by sshaw

I wait and let the Vet do it. Call me chicken, but I don't want to hurt him.

[TatumsMom]

I don't! I bragged when Tatum was a pup that she would let me do it with no problems at all but all of a sudden (and no, nothing traumatic happened), she wouldn't let me. Most of you here know what I mean by the horrible squirming and fighting they can do when you try so I just don't try anymore. She lets me do absolutely anything else but just not that. She seems to wear hers down enough that they aren't a problem and other than that, the groomer takes care of it. We don't go to the groomer on a very regular basis because I keep her hair long and layered but that's where she gets them done.

[LuvMySissy]

I recently bought a pair of cat nail trimmers. They are rounded like dog trimmers but open like scissors. My hubby holds her tight while I trim. We usually have to do it over two nights cause she squirms and screams so much. My other alternative is to pay the groomer to do it (but $12 to trim nails just seems a little much to me). I am determined that I will be able to do this with her, but time will tell.

[Tophersmom]

My groomer does it every 6 weeks when I gets his grooming done...call me chicken, I guess. Plus, I don't think he'd be patient with me, so he's by far better off this way!!

[chattiesmom]

I use nail clippers that look similar to sissors. They work great. With the pups, I wrap them in a towel if necessary to begin with, but ultimately they will sit in my lap quietly and still and let me clip the nails . I spend hours and hours teaching them that nail clipping is ok. I start by just holding the paw - when they are ok with that, then I go to touching the nail, then move on to touching the paw with the clippers, then the nail, and so on and so on. I am just patient and let the pup guide me in how fast or how slow to go with the training.

[YORKIE7]

If you are unsure,i would wait and let the groomer or the vet show you. My mum taught me how to cut claws when I first had Duke. I do all my babies now and have never had any problems. However I always keep a tub of 'Quick Stop' in the cupboard, its an antiseptic powder that you apply to minor cuts or bleeding nails and it stops the bleeding immediatley.

[jencar98]

Originally Posted by chattiesmom

I use nail clippers that look similar to sissors. They work great. With the pups, I wrap them in a towel if necessary to begin with, but ultimately they will sit in my lap quietly and still and let me clip the nails . I spend hours and hours teaching them that nail clipping is ok. I start by just holding the paw - when they are ok with that, then I go to touching the nail, then move on to touching the paw with the clippers, then the nail, and so on and so on. I am just patient and let the pup guide me in how fast or how slow to go with the training.

This is pretty much the same way we handled it with our cats from the beginning and now Ruby. It's like if you start out from the first day, they expect it just like brushing and it becomes routine. Our vet showed me how with basic nail clippers, but for the cats we have a different set of clippers, made for cats. Ruby has never given me much of a problem, but I was confident going into it, and I think that makes a difference, they sense any hesitation.

[serrelind]

Thanks everyone! To the groomer he goes! I have tried to just look at his nails and he kept figeting. Don't want to accidently do something I regret!

[Kizzys Mom]

I was the same way by Kizzy and I always let the vet do it. But now she doesnt have to go for a year except the spaying in August. So I bought the puppy nail clippers just like my vet uses and some gel that is suppose to stop the bleeding in case I should cut too close. I swore I would never try it but I braved up and did it a couple weeks ago and she actually did pretty good. and hey, I didnt even cut any too short. But I only clipped the very tips off. She yelped with almost every snip and scared me to death with the first one but after I saw I didnt hurt her and figured she was just scared, I had no problems with the rest and I just talked to her the whole time real sweet about what a good girl she was and getting a cheerio when we finished and she acted like she kinda understood. But she was use to getting them cut everytime she got her shots so maybe that helped. Anyway, dont know how she will do next time, but I was proud of her and myself after I did it. I just held her with my left arm across her back, under her stomach and held her paw in my left hand and did it. And of course afterwards she got several cheerios and praises for being a good girl.

[MyTrixie143]

I cut all of my dog's nails myself and start training them and cutting their nails the first day the come to live with me. I would have a vet or groomer show you first, after that it is really easy and alot cheaper than to have to go to the groomer's or vet's to get their nails cut.
Here are some sites that show you how to cut their nails.
This first one has great instructions and illustrations!! Oh and in case you cut the quick by accident, have quik stop or baking soda on hand to stop the bleeding right away!
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/dog_nails.asp
http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/nailtrim.htm

[Lacy's Mom]

I cut all of mine by myself and have never brought blood. You can see the "blood line" if you examine the nail. Take a look at the websites posted by MyTrixie. If you start at a young age it is very simple and quick. I use toe nail clippers (large ones) for humans and just snip off a bit every other week after a bath (nails are softer and less likely to split after a bath). Be sure and check her dew claws (if they weren't removed). This nail usually grows curved and can easily grow into the skin.

[Mya's_Mom]

Originally Posted by LuvMySissy

I recently bought a pair of cat nail trimmers. They are rounded like dog trimmers but open like scissors. My hubby holds her tight while I trim. We usually have to do it over two nights cause she squirms and screams so much. My other alternative is to pay the groomer to do it (but $12 to trim nails just seems a little much to me). I am determined that I will be able to do this with her, but time will tell.

I also use the scissor like cat nail trimmer and I wrap Mya in a blanket then expose one paw at a time. I let her rest between paws. It takes longer but it is less stress on me an her.