Toenail length

[sugarmamma]

Sugar's nails actually HOOK under they are fairly short. I even had the vet do them when she was under in December....they still "hooked"

[RileyDC]

Originally Posted by Britster

Does anyone have close ups of their dogs foot? LOL. Odd question, I know.

I'm curious what the proper length of the toenail is supposed to be. I always feel like Jackson's are too long, even after the groomer cuts them, and then they grow back so fast.

How often do you cut your dogs nails? Jackson HATES his done and I'm always too scared to do it as I don't want to hurt him (though he's MUCH calmer for me than anyone else so I'd like to get better about doing it).

This picture was taken 2 1/2 weeks after professional grooming. Keep in mind, he WAS going down a kids slide so his nails/paws are more 'out' as he's trying to get some traction, LOL!

They look a little long, to me.....
but I don't know....... I have been taking Riley to the Vet about every 4 - 6 weeks and have them trim them there, at $15 a pop.
They always come out and say: He has had his Mani/Pedi.
LOL!!

[kalina82]

I'd have to agree that they look too long. I make sure Morgan's are very short. I took them back with a dremmel every few days till they were the length I wanted. Now i just file away the tips every week to keep them short.

[kjc]

More pics...sorry about the quality...

1.JPG

2.JPG

3.JPG


I still need to go shorter but I'll wait and check them in 2-4 days.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by sugarmamma

Sugar's nails actually HOOK under they are fairly short. I even had the vet do them when she was under in December....they still "hooked"

Got pics?

[candigirl]

Originally Posted by kjc

If his nails are long it may take three or four clippings over a month's time to get them this short. I actually look at the nail itself and as soon as the quick recedes a bit, I trim it again. On Peek a Boo, I've been able to do it as often as every 3-4 days. Just trim back up level with the quick and wait. That way you keep ahead of the nail growth.

I'll try to get more pics, but if you just take a sliver off at a time, you'll see a dark circle in the center of the nail. You can keep taking slivers off until the dark circle (the quick) occupies a little over half of the circumference of the nail without drawing blood (in most cases).

After each cut, watch the nail for a second or two. It may bleed, but will only be a pinhole sized drop that forms in the very center of the nail. This is time to stop, and the dog may be a little uncomfortable but not shrieking in pain. Cut the next nail but leave it a tad longer, so you don't draw blood.

After each trim job, the quick may toughen up and you may be able to cut further than the previous time, just always watch for any blood once you reach the quick.

I love this post, I cut Lexie's nail too short once months ago and it made me scared to ever attempt again. Her nails are black so I had no idea where the quick was. After reading this post I decided to examine her nails closely and realized I can see the quick really easily, it's s light reddish-beige line on the side of her nail. I started taking it down sliver by sliver and now no more clicking on the floor! she's always sneaking up on me now lil stinker

[kjc]

Originally Posted by candigirl

I love this post, I cut Lexie's nail too short once months ago and it made me scared to ever attempt again. Her nails are black so I had no idea where the quick was. After reading this post I decided to examine her nails closely and realized I can see the quick really easily, it's s light reddish-beige line on the side of her nail. I started taking it down sliver by sliver and now no more clicking on the floor! she's always sneaking up on me now lil stinker

Haha! Too cute! (my mental image)

[Britster]

I never got a chance to reply to this thread again!

The pics were great! Helped me a ton!

I have been slowly trimming them away. I can only get about 3 nails done per 'session' before he's had enough. But he's slowly been learning to allow me to grab his paw for longer periods of time.

I started with string cheese.... I held his paw for a second, gave a treat, etc. Then I grabbed it for 3 seconds, then treat. He actually started offering his paw to me. Then I placed the cheese on top of the nail clippers so he had to associate the clippers with food... it's definitely been helping!! He still HATES it but he's getting better (with me!) I am sure he will be a pain in the butt for the groomer again when she cuts them.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by Britster

I never got a chance to reply to this thread again!

The pics were great! Helped me a ton!

I have been slowly trimming them away. I can only get about 3 nails done per 'session' before he's had enough. But he's slowly been learning to allow me to grab his paw for longer periods of time.

I started with string cheese.... I held his paw for a second, gave a treat, etc. Then I grabbed it for 3 seconds, then treat. He actually started offering his paw to me. Then I placed the cheese on top of the nail clippers so he had to associate the clippers with food... it's definitely been helping!! He still HATES it but he's getting better (with me!) I am sure he will be a pain in the butt for the groomer again when she cuts them.

So glad the pics were helpful. Another tip: I always trim the nails from the side closest to the pad out, never side to side, which causes more pinching especially when the nail snips start to get dull.

That's so cute that he actually gives you his paw! Sapphire was getting a treat after each nail! Now we've got it down to a treat after each foot. Depending on her mood (and mine) I may only get two feet done in one sitting, then I do the other two the next day or two. I like to not be in a hurry, and if I don't get all four feet done, it's no big deal. I know eventually we'll get there, and the important thing is to be relaxed, and always end on a good note!

Also, once you get them to the length you want, it's so much easier to maintain them. Getting them to the right length can be a mess especially if you have to skip doing them a time or two.

And you're right, keep it all positive!

[107barney]

The nails on Jackson look a little long to me also. My three all have different kind of nails. Barney's naturally stay short, Daisy has one nail that gets very long and Teddy is Edward Scissorhands.

[Farleys]

The lenth of your dogs nails depends on your dog. There isnt a set length for all dogs. I actually think they look pretty good in the picture. But of my three dogs, they all are sooo different. They are all very very active, but only on keeps his nails worn down, but one of them his nails grow sooo fast, and they point out like yours, so they seem longer. But Just because you can hear them click on the floor doesnt mean they are too long for every dog. One of mine, no matter how short you can go, you can see his quicks, so its easy, they still click on the floor, its just the way his feet and nails are shaped. The other can go back far enough that they dont click. IT just depends on each individual dog.

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by kjc

So glad the pics were helpful. Another tip: I always trim the nails from the side closest to the pad out, never side to side, which causes more pinching especially when the nail snips start to get dull.

I'm not sure I understand this. Can you explain? Do you mean cutting it from top and bottom instead of side to side?

Originally Posted by 107barney

The nails on Jackson look a little long to me also. My three all have different kind of nails. Barney's naturally stay short, Daisy has one nail that gets very long and Teddy is Edward Scissorhands.

LOL!!

[kjc]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

I'm not sure I understand this. Can you explain? Do you mean cutting it from top and bottom instead of side to side?

Lol! Sorry! I cut from bottom to the top of the nail. I also flip the rotary grinder around so it hits the nail in that direction instead of top to bottom.

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by kjc

Lol! Sorry! I cut from bottom to the top of the nail. I also flip the rotary grinder around so it hits the nail in that direction instead of top to bottom.

Oh. I see. That doesn't help me, Uni hates the grinder. Thanks for explaining though, I see how that is a useful tip to those that do. I use clippers, very infrequently though. Seems like only her middle front nails ever grow, the others file themselves down. I haven't had them cut since her spay in Nov and I'm scared to do it. May just bring her to the vet to have the pros do it.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Oh. I see. That doesn't help me, Uni hates the grinder. Thanks for explaining though, I see how that is a useful tip to those that do. I use clippers, very infrequently though. Seems like only her middle front nails ever grow, the others file themselves down. I haven't had them cut since her spay in Nov and I'm scared to do it. May just bring her to the vet to have the pros do it.

I take Tinkerbell to the vet to get hers done.... she won't tolerate nail clippers or the nail grinder... she just recently started letting me comb the hair on her feet! She gets entirely too nervous about having her nails done!