Globalpaw.com Dog Forum » General Dog Concerns & Questions » Dog Grooming Forum

[Vickytoria3112]

I have a dog who has long nails. I want to be able to cut them myself. However, I'm scared of getting too close to the nerve. Plus my dog's nails are black so I cant even see that part. I have 2 cats that I cut their nails every month but I can see that little nerve through their nails. Any suggestions?

[Cassiepeia]

Three suggestions.

1. Cut them a tiny bit at a time. So just a teensy bit off each nail, and have some antiseptic powder handy just in case (although you probably won't need it).

2. Take the dog to a groomer or vet and ask them to teach you how to do it. Get them to show you on a few nails and then do a few in front of them so they can tell you if you've got it or not.

3. Use a dremel. One of those electric sander things that are tiny. You can get ones just for pet nails, but what it does is grind the nail down instead of cutting it. It's easier than cutting. I used one on my last dog's nails (he was a Chihuahua - the one in my avatar) and it was great. But, just do a little bit at a time until the dog is use to it. If you google you'll find detailed instructions on how to dremel your dog's nails.

Hope that helps.

Cass.

[Ritz459]

What Cass said.

Practice is what makes it perfect. I used to be terrified of quicking a dog, but now that I've been trimming for a few years I'm much better at a.) avoiding cutting too close and b.) when I do cut too close, not panicking and just stopping up the wound.

When you cut black nails, just take a little off at a time. With practice, you can learn to estimate where the quick will be and cut just short of that point. Then start snipping away until you see a a black dot surrounded by white on the end of the nail. That is the beginning of the dog's quick and if you cut past that point bleeding insues.

Here is a very good illistration of what I'm talking about: Clipping a Dog's Claws

[Sheltiemama]

I don't cut the nails on my shelties or my foster dogs. I use a dremmel drill sanding drum to file them down. Cutting with a guillotine clipper or a scissor clipper can crush the nail and cause pain even if you don't get close to the nerve. The dremmel takes a small amount of nail off at each pass and you can see your progress before you get to the nerve and cause pain to the animal.

Hugs
Judy and the Rescue Squad

[Vickytoria3112]

Thanks everyone for responding. I'm going to try and cut the nails little by little with the dog nail trimmer. I already have that on hand. I'm a little tight on money now due to Christmas gifts. Once the Holidays are over I will be able to afford the filing machine that everyone talks about.

[dogsworldonline]

Has anyone tried that new pedi paws thing? My dog has black nails and I trim the myself but am always worried I will trim to far I don't want to buy one unless I am sure they work though

[Carrie]

I tired that Pedi paws thing when I left my Dremel in Seattle when I was visiting. I returned it, as it was a piece of garbage. It wouldn't even file down my Chihuahuas tiny, soft nails. They'd catch on that guard thing and it just doesn't have enough rpms to do much of anything. If you want to use a file, I'd recommend a Dremel. But you must learn how to do it properly because it too, can quick them if you go too far. And it can burn them if you hold it on for more than about 3 seconds. You have to go from nail to nail, just 2 or 3 swipes each and then come back to the first nail again. And you must condition your dog to not being afraid of it.....gradually.

Here is the best instructions and description of Dremeling I've ever seen and what I used to learn.
DoberDawn.com

[Al Kelly]

I have been using the dremel tool on my doberman for 3 yrs. It works great, trim both sides of the nail a little then the middle.

Al

[Doggie Joy]

What's a dremel? I have no clue what that is. My youngest dog lets me cut her nails, but the other one won't, so I'm stuck and she ends up with long nails. I considered the pedi paws but a news story on it showed that all it did was grind them down a bit and no one was really satisfied with it.

[dogsworldonline]

If you cant cut your other dogs nails take her to a groomer that's what I do for my little dog she bites if I try and cut her nails but the groomer i go to has no problems with her.