Nail Clipping Instructions Discussion
 

Click, Click... it's that sound again.
Time to get those nails trimmed!

Trimming your pets nails can be scarey. Some pets know if you feel anxious and will react the same way. For these pets, it may be best to bring them in to the clinic and have the technicians trim their nails. If you pet tries to bite you, or if it becomes a huge ordeal it may be best just to schedule your pet an appointment.

If you would like to try to trim your pets nails at home than this information will hopefully help you.

First thing to remember: DON'T BE NERVOUS! Your pet can feel that from you! If you are nervous, your pet will be too. This can make it difficult to trim their nails. Now that you and your pet are calm. Have someone assist you by holding your pet. If you are able to do this by yourself, than get into a comfortable position for both of you.

For dogs and cats that have the "white" or "clear" nails it should be easier to see the "Quick". The quick is the blood vessel (see diagram above). This should appear to be pink in the clear nails. This is what you need to avoid when you trim. Place your clippers on the nail, avoiding the pink area, and cut. The best place to cut is on an angle. This angle should take the tip off the nail. The tip is the curved, sharp part of the nail. There! One nail done... now you can continue with the same technique to them all.
Attachment 208343

For those animals that have the "black" or "dark" nails it is a little harder to see the blood vessel. In fact, you probably wont see it at all! Don't worry... you will follow the same guide line as to where to trim. Take the tip off and cut on the angle. You should see a dark area in the center of the nail. This dark area is the quick! If no dark area is seen, only white, you may wish to stop (knowing your safe) or you may wish to take a little more off the nail, that choice is yours.

Attachment 208344

What happens if you make it bleed? Don't panic. Your pet may react, and that's normal. Keep your pet still so that you may stop the bleeding.
First apply pressure to the nail (where the blood is coming from).
Second apply some quick-stop to the nail.
If you don't have quick-stop, don't worry. Apply some flour to the nail and continue to add pressure. Watch the nail closely to observe if it continues to bleed. Once the bleeding has stopped, you can let your pet up. Watch where your pet walks closely. The nail may continue to bleed a little after your pet walks on it. If this occurs, apply pressure and a little more flour and keep your pet still and calm for a little longer.

After you have completed the nail trim, give your pet a treat and reward him with lots of praise.
When first starting to trim your pets nails, you may only be able to trim one paw at a time, don't be discouraged, just reward your pet and have patience. Remember your pet may be nervous too!

If your pet becomes difficult to trim nails on, don't continue. You want to have a good relationship with your pet and the stress of this is not needed. Please call your veterinarian's office and schedule an appointment with the technicians to trim your pets nails.

Good instructional video:

You are so helpful, thanks.

That is awesome information...I can do anything to my patients...but not my puppy!!!

This is the best instruction/guidance that I have had for nail clipping, much appreciated, thank you!

I have three dogs. Two of them give me no problems with nail clipping but the third omg. My husband tries to hold her but she cries and squirms, I can't even hold her foot still. Any suggestions, besides using the vet?

Nail Clipping
 

Than you so much! Yorkies have dark nails and it is so hard to clip without cutting the quick. Your techniques and advice are wonderful! Roxie and Sasha thank you too! I would love to get a dremel to file, how much do they cost? Where can I get anything on sale! I saw some at pet stores, but they want almost $80.00 for them. How long does the motor last on something like that? Is it a smart investment, or will i have to buy one every year?
Carie

Thank you
 

Wow Jenn Great thread:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: I really need help with Daisy. LOL

Poor Girl HATES nails done!
I wish mine would stay that still to get nails done:confused:

Thanks for this post!!! I was planning to cut Meeko's nails today and was a little nervous.

great post!

Wow, thanks!

I've been doing Peanut's nails myself, thanks to great instruction by DH. This made me see that he did, indeed, give me GREAT instruction. Peanut still hates it, though. :(

Wish me luck, after watching the video I am going to give it a try. Thanks, Dee

Thanks that was great !!! I will b trying it out.
bark @ u later
manina, miley, and max

I would really like to see this video but it says it's private :(

For me too.

Even though this is an older thread it's a really great post. I'd like to have seen the video & I'll see if I can't find another but in the meantime could someone answer this please? Do you file the edges off (with an emory)rounded after you trim the nail?

just in time
 

was getting ready for the big nail caper when your instructions came up. Just what I needed and just in time. My yorkies thank you (and so do I)

I do:)

nail clipping instructions discussion
 

well wish me luck i will try this on bella hope everything goes ok

Has anyone seen or tried the nail trimmer that detects where the quick is? It acts like a stud finder. This would be perfect if it works. Has anyone had any experience with this nail trimmer?

Worried.
 

Her nails have gotten quite long and as I look at them from the frontat the tip i see white under nails. Is that the quick?
HELP

Where do u get this nail trimmer
 

Wow !!! Never hear of this nail trimmer, who made's it, and where can I buy it ??????
bark@ulater!!!!!!
manina,miley:aimeeyorkmax:aimeeyork

Received video - What to do next
 

:confused: Really good instructions for nail clipping. I'm getting ready to clip Teppi's nails & I knew about the quick but your instructions & the 2 pictures clarified things more. I would like to watch the video but it says "This is a private video. It you have been sent this video, please make sure you accept the sender's friend request". I don't know a great deal about computers so what do I do to accept. I saw where you can sign up for a YouTube account. Is that what you mean by accepting sender's friend request? Is that what I have to do to watch the video & does an account with YouTube cost anything to me? I know nothing about YouTube except where I read some rules & regulations where you sign up. Is this an account that I will be able to watch videos that I'm interested in, especially about dogs? I'd appreciate it if you would get back to me with the answers to my questions. Thanks, Pam

You can buy this trimmer at Petco. I bought one and returned it because it was rather large and didn't work well for my dog. My dog doesn't like to have her nails trimmed and once the trimmer detected the quick, she moved and I would have to start all over again and again. So, it wasn't worth it to me. Even the Petco manager told me it didn't work well and that people were always bringing them back. I just try not to trim below the curved part of the nail. This is just my experience.

My nail trimming process:
1. Get keys
2. drive to store
3. watch while heroic people hold her sqirm and scream and try to trim nails
4. bribe shameslessly---treats for her, coffee for me
oh the drama!

Ditto !!!!!!
bark@ulater!!!!!
manina,miley:aimeeyorkmax:aimeeyork

I'd like to see the video also...but it says it's private. :(

I found a awesome Dremel at one of those small mom and pop pet stores in our area. It is quiet and very easy to use. These are made to sand down the nails. Not for cutting them. The dremmel I got is rechargeable, came with extra little sanders too. This is a regular sized one, and it was only $20.00. Suzi has had her nails done by the groomer, and that is what they use. But, when I tried to use the new Dremel on her at home, on our groomer table she freaked out. I do not know what her problelm was, she was not having it. Now, my Shih Tzu was more of a concern because her nails got so long one was growing into her paw, and this new groomer told me if she could not trim that nail then she needed to be seen by the vet. The groomer was able to trim her nails, safely, thank goodness. So when I founf this Dremel , I used it on Miely, and she was really easy.
Using a Dremel you can see it acctually sanding the nail , it is pretty cool.

Can't watch the video it say "Private", do I have to be a donating member to watch it ?????????:confused:

Can't watch video either. My Tessie hates for me to touch her feet and will not let me cut her nails. She is very nervous anyway. I usually have her groomed., but started, grooming her myself. Any ideas to calm her down, and has anyone used the pedipaws for dogs, saw it at Petsmart. They want $19.00 to cut and file her nails. Thanks for any advice.