Long toenails in 16 year old - YorkieTalk.com Forums

tutters · 01-20-2014, 07:29 AM

My Yorkie boy is now 16 1/2 years old. Diagnosed with chronic renal failure 1.5 years ago. Increasing dementia, but still knows me, his "sister", general area of potty pads, etc. However where once he was calm when he cleaned his eye gunk, and tolerated getting his toenails dremeled, he know has so much stress that I have to stop. His nails are clicking on the floor which, I know means too long, but I worry if I take him to the vet, either the trip or the procedure could throw him into cardiac failure. I don't know what to do. I suspect he may have a couple months at best.

yorkiemini · 01-20-2014, 07:59 AM

Golly that is a tough one. My gut feeling is for the amount of time he may have left with you, I would not put him through the office visit and trip. Might depend upon if the nails are bothering him when he walks and how much walking her does. There are some vets in my area that will make house calls, maybe that would be less stressful for him.

Good luck! Clearly, you have taken very good care of him - you are a good Yorkie mom!

tutters · 01-20-2014, 09:03 AM

Thanks. It is so hard watching him in decline and knowing when it is "Time". Especially heartbreaking when he ends up "lost" in a corner or under kitchen table. He somehow finds his way out during the day, and I hunt for him when I'm there.

Nancy1999 · 01-20-2014, 09:07 AM

There are some groomers that will come to the house, also, if you do it soaking his feet in some warm water first and then cutting a little at a time, is less invasive. Best of luck, it sounds like you've been a wonderful mom!

Yorkiemom1 · 01-20-2014, 09:11 AM

This is such a hard time that is beginning for you....I am so sorry....I have watched them "get lost" and end up under a table or desk, in a corner.....it breaks your heart......if I were you, I would do one nail a day....maybe just 2.....and then give him his favorite treat....if his nails are not relly long, I wouldn't put him through the stress of it all, especially if his race is almost run. If he was looking at another year or two, toenails would be a major concern....at his stage of the game, if those nails are not causing him discomfort or possible health issues with infection, etc, I would not stress him out like that.

AllDogBoots · 01-20-2014, 10:17 AM

Can he walk outside at all? Sometimes the concrete will file the nail down a little as he walks.

Nancy1999 · 01-20-2014, 11:13 AM

From my understanding, it can actually be painful for a dog to walk if his nails are overgrown.

tutters · 01-20-2014, 11:32 AM

Thanks all. I feel like I'm neglecting him, and it makes me so sad. Of course, I don't want to cause him pain (Christ, I never would). But if you saw how wild and scared he gets, you'd have a tough call too. I still have to do eye gunk every week, and that's really become a panic ordeal for him, too. Right now, too cold for him to walk outside.
I feel really bad, ok?

Nancy1999 · 01-20-2014, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tutters

Thanks all. I feel like I'm neglecting him, and it makes me so sad. Of course, I don't want to cause him pain (Christ, I never would). But if you saw how wild and scared he gets, you'd have a tough call too. I still have to do eye gunk every week, and that's really become a panic ordeal for him, too. Right now, too cold for him to walk outside.
I feel really bad, ok?

Do you think a mobile groomer might work? I'd interview several and find one who's really comfortable doing nails. Seriously, the attitude of the groomer is so important, I can't believe how calm Joeys groomer can get him when she cuts his nails.

erika1948 · 01-23-2014, 11:36 AM

Hi, my yorkie is 17, blind and deaf. I have the same issue. I did clip a couple of his nails but cut one too short but will now leave the rest until I take him to the vet the end of February. He will not let me clean the gunk around his eyes so most of the time he looks neglected but I, too, don't want to stress him out. He also gets lost in corners - one time behind a door, one time behind a standing poster in my room. I don't take him on walks right now, either - too cold. You are a good mom!

yorkiemom76 · 01-27-2014, 04:51 PM

Sorry about your old man. It's terrible watching them get old. Maybe you could try waiting until he's sleeping pretty well and then try clipping one or two nails until he wakes up. Then next time he's sleeping try to do a couple more. I have an old guy that's in kidney failure and I've found this approach works pretty well for giving him his SQ fluids. If he's awake, he puts up a terrible fight but if I can get the fluids started while he's asleep, he seems to take it much better. Good luck.

01-20-2014, 07:29 AM	#1
tutters Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Chicago Posts: 58	Long toenails in 16 year old My Yorkie boy is now 16 1/2 years old. Diagnosed with chronic renal failure 1.5 years ago. Increasing dementia, but still knows me, his "sister", general area of potty pads, etc. However where once he was calm when he cleaned his eye gunk, and tolerated getting his toenails dremeled, he know has so much stress that I have to stop. His nails are clicking on the floor which, I know means too long, but I worry if I take him to the vet, either the trip or the procedure could throw him into cardiac failure. I don't know what to do. I suspect he may have a couple months at best. __________________ Sandy Kiri (b. 2010) , Buster (b. 2011) and Jake (1997-2014)

01-20-2014, 07:59 AM	#2
yorkiemini Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: USA Posts: 4,285	Golly that is a tough one. My gut feeling is for the amount of time he may have left with you, I would not put him through the office visit and trip. Might depend upon if the nails are bothering him when he walks and how much walking her does. There are some vets in my area that will make house calls, maybe that would be less stressful for him. Good luck! Clearly, you have taken very good care of him - you are a good Yorkie mom! __________________ . Cali , and Cali's keeper and staff, Jay No, not a "mini" Yorkie - She loves to motor in her Mini Cooper car

01-20-2014, 09:03 AM	#3
tutters Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Chicago Posts: 58	Thanks. It is so hard watching him in decline and knowing when it is "Time". Especially heartbreaking when he ends up "lost" in a corner or under kitchen table. He somehow finds his way out during the day, and I hunt for him when I'm there. __________________ Sandy Kiri (b. 2010) , Buster (b. 2011) and Jake (1997-2014)

01-20-2014, 09:07 AM	#4
Nancy1999 I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Arizona Posts: 25,396 Blog Entries: 2	There are some groomers that will come to the house, also, if you do it soaking his feet in some warm water first and then cutting a little at a time, is less invasive. Best of luck, it sounds like you've been a wonderful mom! __________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills – Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America – Breeder Referrals

01-20-2014, 09:11 AM	#5
Yorkiemom1 Rosehill Yorkies Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 9,462	This is such a hard time that is beginning for you....I am so sorry....I have watched them "get lost" and end up under a table or desk, in a corner.....it breaks your heart......if I were you, I would do one nail a day....maybe just 2.....and then give him his favorite treat....if his nails are not relly long, I wouldn't put him through the stress of it all, especially if his race is almost run. If he was looking at another year or two, toenails would be a major concern....at his stage of the game, if those nails are not causing him discomfort or possible health issues with infection, etc, I would not stress him out like that. Last edited by Yorkiemom1; 01-20-2014 at 09:13 AM.

01-20-2014, 10:17 AM	#6
AllDogBoots Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Delray Beach, FL Posts: 7,984	Can he walk outside at all? Sometimes the concrete will file the nail down a little as he walks. __________________ I'm Karen - Devoted Mama to the Drama Boyz - Cooper & Max www.alldogboots.com

01-20-2014, 11:13 AM	#7
Nancy1999 I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Arizona Posts: 25,396 Blog Entries: 2	From my understanding, it can actually be painful for a dog to walk if his nails are overgrown. __________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills – Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America – Breeder Referrals

01-20-2014, 11:32 AM	#8
tutters Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Chicago Posts: 58	Thanks all. I feel like I'm neglecting him, and it makes me so sad. Of course, I don't want to cause him pain (Christ, I never would). But if you saw how wild and scared he gets, you'd have a tough call too. I still have to do eye gunk every week, and that's really become a panic ordeal for him, too. Right now, too cold for him to walk outside. I feel really bad, ok? __________________ Sandy Kiri (b. 2010) , Buster (b. 2011) and Jake (1997-2014)

01-23-2014, 11:36 AM	#10
erika1948 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY Posts: 137	Long toenails Hi, my yorkie is 17, blind and deaf. I have the same issue. I did clip a couple of his nails but cut one too short but will now leave the rest until I take him to the vet the end of February. He will not let me clean the gunk around his eyes so most of the time he looks neglected but I, too, don't want to stress him out. He also gets lost in corners - one time behind a door, one time behind a standing poster in my room. I don't take him on walks right now, either - too cold. You are a good mom!

01-27-2014, 04:51 PM	#11
yorkiemom76 YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Ohio Posts: 364	Sorry about your old man. It's terrible watching them get old. Maybe you could try waiting until he's sleeping pretty well and then try clipping one or two nails until he wakes up. Then next time he's sleeping try to do a couple more. I have an old guy that's in kidney failure and I've found this approach works pretty well for giving him his SQ fluids. If he's awake, he puts up a terrible fight but if I can get the fluids started while he's asleep, he seems to take it much better. Good luck.