Cracked nail.

[Tag]

I have a 2 year old shepherd/pyranese x whom we rescued last week. His nails are quite long and I would like to try clipping them myself. Is that something I can do? Any pointers would be very much appreciated.

Sam has one nail that is cracked lengthwise and the crack runs almost the whole length of the nail. I was considering maybe gluing it untill it grew out a bit and then clipping (?) Anyone run into this before? The idea behind gluing it would be to possibly prevent it from cracking further. Just a theory, I don't know if it'd work.

Does anybody know what might cause a cracked nail? I'm thinking his nails just got too long and he maybe snagged it on something. Could it be something lacking in his diet that maybe made his nails brittle?

Will regular walking on pavement, gravel or on bush trails keep his nails down?

Thanks in advance.

Tag - in Alberta.

[Carrie]

Just clip a little at a time, a couple times a week until you get them down. If you do a lot all at once you may cut the quick and it will bleed like a son of a gun and hurt. After a time, it should be safe to go to where it curves. Can you see the vein? Does he have white nails? Just little by little.

If he doesn't like his nails getting cut, or is afraid, make sure to make the experience as positive and fun as possible. I give treats and make a party when I do my 4 dogs nails. But I use a dremel tool instead of clippers. There's a thread somewhere on here about that if you're interested. If he's really afraid, you'll have to go slowly and get him use to it by just handling his toes, tapping the clippers on them and not cutting them for a few days. Just reward him for small steps as he comes to accept things little by little.

With the crack, I'd ask the vet if it's safe to use glue. It may burn him if it gets inside to the quick or makes contact with the skin. Maybe he has an idea of what to use. I'm pretty sure it cracked from getting too long and just hitting the pavement too hard.

You can add geletin to his food. The real, non flavored stuff....Knox. If he's a pretty big dog, one envelope on his food every day will help strengthen the nails. However, watch in case it gives him loose stools. Then in that case, give less or none.

Let us know how he gets on. Good luck.

Carrie

[Taz]

Taz has the same thing right now, here are some of the tips I was given

http://www.globalpaw.com/showthread.php?t=648 (Split nail)

[dollface]

You can have your vet/groomer show you how to trim nails, its very easy once you get the hang of it. Walking on cement/pavement will help wear his nails down. I wouldn't worry to much about the crack they usually do heal very nicely, just keep it clean. When they are long it can cause them to crack even break their nail, it also can cause the dogs to walk further back on their pad then on their toe part where they are suppose to walk and that can lead to problems. Your vet can trim them short and show you and you can just keep up on it once a week. It took me a year for Taz to allow me to cut all his nails in one sitting. He never liked his feet touched at all, so it was pet feet give treat once he was comfortably with that then it was cut one nail a day, then eventualy 2 nails a day, always praise/treat each time. Long going process but worth it in the end cause I can now sit down and cut all 10 nails with lil fuss and he looks forward to his treat. He was 8 years old and weighing 158-162 pounds can't very well argue with him if he didn't want his feet touched. They only get a treat once a day, some times not at all.

[Tag]

Ok, thanks guys. I found that post re. a cracked nail shortly after I posted that one.

Funny thing, Sam doesn't like his feet being touched either, his back feet more so.