when and how to clip nails?

B.B.'s mom · 11-09-2004, 08:03 PM

i once heard a story ( or wives tail..not sure) that if you clip your dogs nails too short you can cut a major blood vessel and they could bleed..alot. Any truth to this? also when should i start? my puppy is only a few months old.

***Carrie*** · 11-09-2004, 08:26 PM

Yes. There is a blood vessle. In white nailed dogs, you can see it. If you clip it, it will cause a lot of pain and sometimes excessive bleeding. I don't clip. I use a Dremel tool which I've conditioned my dogs to be unafraid of. There are specific instructions on it's safe use, but when used correctly, it will not tend to squeeze the nail which also can pinch the quick, or that vein and it makes a nice, smooth, blunt nail.

Anyhow, if you clip, don't go shorter that where it begins to curve. If you just take a smiggen off but do it two times a week, it will cause the quick to recede more and you can get them fairly short. If you procrastinate and they get quite long, the vein will come out more to the end and you don't dare take off but a teensy bit at a time. You gotta' do it frequently. You can take an emory board (file) and smooth them out too.

If you have a pup, this is the best time to start. If the pup doesn't like something like that being done, just do it more. LOL. Make it a pleasant experience (as much as is possible) with treats after each nail (at first) then after each paw....something like that. Make a fuss over the dog, how wonderful he is and do nothing negative. If he squirms, don't scold. Just wait till he settles and praise him for holding still. You can even teach "hold it" for hold still. It's a command that I have used a lot with my Doberman, having to post his ears up, he had to hold very still, brushing teeth or anything else you need to do.

Good luck.

Someone on here is a groomer. They may have some better information for you. But here's a start.

Crossfire Bulldogs · 11-09-2004, 08:45 PM

Ditto and a HUGE bow to the Dremel gods!

lablover · 11-16-2004, 07:52 PM

Are you referring to a normal Dremmel tool sold at hardware stores or do they sell a special one for this purpose?

***Carrie*** · 11-17-2004, 07:30 AM

A normal Dremel tool. But you gotta be careful not to burn them and only hold it for 2 or 3 seconds on each nail at a time. Here's a site with excellent directions: Go to the menu on the left and look for how to dremel nails.

http://homepages.udayton.edu/~merens...awn/index.html

B.B.'s mom · 11-17-2004, 11:45 AM

Carrie,

my pups nails are almost microscopic. i'm not quite sure what a dremel tool is but it sounds scary !

***Carrie*** · 11-17-2004, 05:38 PM

Well, you have to either have good eyesight, your bifocals on, good light and a dog that will hold still. You can't have them wiggling around and you can only hold it on for just a couple of seconds, then move to the next one. I have Chihuahuas and a Lab besides my Doberman and they all get their nails Dremelled. I just like the smooth, filed, blunt nail that you get. But it takes some conditioning to get the dog trained and to be comfortable with the electric tool and a little practice. It's not hard. But for a tiny dog, the smaller madrel would be better. I just use the same on all the dogs. It's the attachment thingy with the sandpaper band around it. You'd have to look at that website I posted to see what I mean. It actually is more comfortable for the dog because it doesn't squeeze the quick when you squeeze the nail just before the clippers cut it. And you have less chance of making the quick bleed, although if you go too short you still can make it bleed. However, since it's a gradual taking down of the nail, you have time to take a peek and see how it's looking from underneath. You can tell when the quick is just about to be exposed, so you can stop.

RedHotDobe · 11-17-2004, 09:10 PM

Quote:

a HUGE bow to the Dremel gods!

I also bow to the Dremel gods! I don't know what I'd do without the almighty Dremel!

SizzleDog · 11-17-2004, 09:44 PM

I present this sacred offering to the Dremel Gods...

(Ilsa's beautifully manicured foot!)

But don't forget to wear protective eyewear... that nail dust HURTS!

animallover0200 · 11-18-2004, 06:33 AM

WOW...

SizzleDog! (as I bow) What a job!!! I'll have to try the Dremel. I have to to honeest I let Cora and Copper's nails grow out to much so I quess I will pull out the Dremel this weekend. I let you know what happens.

***Carrie*** · 11-18-2004, 07:05 AM

Beautiful job!!! Is this the same Ilsa from Helaynes board? If so, Hi! I go there too. Only I use my daughter's name, Emily. LOL.

Ilsa is gorgeous!!!!!!! And the goggles are perfect! LOL LOL LOL!!!

SizzleDog · 11-18-2004, 04:45 PM

yup, it's Ilsa... come on, how can you forget that mug?

***Carrie*** · 11-18-2004, 07:16 PM

LOL! Cute face.

Crossfire Bulldogs · 11-18-2004, 07:22 PM

ROFL LOVE those goggles!!!!!

theGOOCH · 11-19-2004, 11:39 AM

Another Dremel user here. I assume everyone uses the sandpaper attatchment? Wow, sizzledog! I haven't been able to trim Blitz's nails that close, but they are still pretty short

11-09-2004, 08:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
B.B.'s mom malti-poo Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 112 Rep Power: 76	when and how to clip nails? i once heard a story ( or wives tail..not sure) that if you clip your dogs nails too short you can cut a major blood vessel and they could bleed..alot. Any truth to this? also when should i start? my puppy is only a few months old.

11-09-2004, 08:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
Crossfire Bulldogs Sourmug Mom Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Snuggled Between The Snorts & Snores. Posts: 7,844 Blog Entries: 3 Rep Power: 284	Ditto and a HUGE bow to the Dremel gods!
	__________________ Get more out of Global Paw. Check out these great features. Global Paw Book Club -- Art Classes -- Woof Review I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief. ~ Gerry Spence As a member of Global paw staff my opinions are not necessarily those of the website or the owner.

11-17-2004, 05:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
*Carrie* Super Moderator Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: north panhandle of Idaho Posts: 7,415 Rep Power: 285	Well, you have to either have good eyesight, your bifocals on, good light and a dog that will hold still. You can't have them wiggling around and you can only hold it on for just a couple of seconds, then move to the next one. I have Chihuahuas and a Lab besides my Doberman and they all get their nails Dremelled. I just like the smooth, filed, blunt nail that you get. But it takes some conditioning to get the dog trained and to be comfortable with the electric tool and a little practice. It's not hard. But for a tiny dog, the smaller madrel would be better. I just use the same on all the dogs. It's the attachment thingy with the sandpaper band around it. You'd have to look at that website I posted to see what I mean. It actually is more comfortable for the dog because it doesn't squeeze the quick when you squeeze the nail just before the clippers cut it. And you have less chance of making the quick bleed, although if you go too short you still can make it bleed. However, since it's a gradual taking down of the nail, you have time to take a peek and see how it's looking from underneath. You can tell when the quick is just about to be exposed, so you can stop.
	Last edited by Carrie : 11-17-2004 at 05:43 PM.

11-17-2004, 09:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
SizzleDog Doberman Fancier Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 95 Rep Power: 75	I present this sacred offering to the Dremel Gods... (Ilsa's beautifully manicured foot!) But don't forget to wear protective eyewear... that nail dust HURTS!
	__________________

11-18-2004, 06:33 AM	#10 (permalink)
animallover0200 Vizslaiz Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Des Plaines, IL (Chicago) Posts: 173 Rep Power: 79	WOW... SizzleDog! (as I bow) What a job!!! I'll have to try the Dremel. I have to to honeest I let Cora and Copper's nails grow out to much so I quess I will pull out the Dremel this weekend. I let you know what happens.
	__________________ Double the trouble, and Double the love! Everything happens for a reason. Time helps heal all wounds *Enjoy life, because it only takes a minute or less to change it! Nichole

11-09-2004, 08:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
*Carrie* Super Moderator Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: north panhandle of Idaho Posts: 7,415 Rep Power: 285	Yes. There is a blood vessle. In white nailed dogs, you can see it. If you clip it, it will cause a lot of pain and sometimes excessive bleeding. I don't clip. I use a Dremel tool which I've conditioned my dogs to be unafraid of. There are specific instructions on it's safe use, but when used correctly, it will not tend to squeeze the nail which also can pinch the quick, or that vein and it makes a nice, smooth, blunt nail. Anyhow, if you clip, don't go shorter that where it begins to curve. If you just take a smiggen off but do it two times a week, it will cause the quick to recede more and you can get them fairly short. If you procrastinate and they get quite long, the vein will come out more to the end and you don't dare take off but a teensy bit at a time. You gotta' do it frequently. You can take an emory board (file) and smooth them out too. If you have a pup, this is the best time to start. If the pup doesn't like something like that being done, just do it more. LOL. Make it a pleasant experience (as much as is possible) with treats after each nail (at first) then after each paw....something like that. Make a fuss over the dog, how wonderful he is and do nothing negative. If he squirms, don't scold. Just wait till he settles and praise him for holding still. You can even teach "hold it" for hold still. It's a command that I have used a lot with my Doberman, having to post his ears up, he had to hold very still, brushing teeth or anything else you need to do. Good luck. Someone on here is a groomer. They may have some better information for you. But here's a start.

11-16-2004, 07:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
lablover Labrador Retriever Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 56 Rep Power: 81	Are you referring to a normal Dremmel tool sold at hardware stores or do they sell a special one for this purpose?

11-17-2004, 07:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
*Carrie* Super Moderator Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: north panhandle of Idaho Posts: 7,415 Rep Power: 285	A normal Dremel tool. But you gotta be careful not to burn them and only hold it for 2 or 3 seconds on each nail at a time. Here's a site with excellent directions: Go to the menu on the left and look for how to dremel nails. http://homepages.udayton.edu/~merens...awn/index.html

11-17-2004, 11:45 AM	#6 (permalink)
B.B.'s mom malti-poo Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 112 Rep Power: 76	Carrie, my pups nails are almost microscopic. i'm not quite sure what a dremel tool is but it sounds scary !

11-18-2004, 07:05 AM	#11 (permalink)
*Carrie* Super Moderator Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: north panhandle of Idaho Posts: 7,415 Rep Power: 285	Beautiful job!!! Is this the same Ilsa from Helaynes board? If so, Hi! I go there too. Only I use my daughter's name, Emily. LOL. Ilsa is gorgeous!!!!!!! And the goggles are perfect! LOL LOL LOL!!!

11-18-2004, 04:45 PM	#12 (permalink)
SizzleDog Doberman Fancier Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 95 Rep Power: 75	yup, it's Ilsa... come on, how can you forget that mug?
	__________________

11-18-2004, 07:16 PM	#13 (permalink)
*Carrie* Super Moderator Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: north panhandle of Idaho Posts: 7,415 Rep Power: 285	LOL! Cute face.

11-18-2004, 07:22 PM	#14 (permalink)
Crossfire Bulldogs Sourmug Mom Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Snuggled Between The Snorts & Snores. Posts: 7,844 Blog Entries: 3 Rep Power: 284	ROFL LOVE those goggles!!!!!
	__________________ Get more out of Global Paw. Check out these great features. Global Paw Book Club -- Art Classes -- Woof Review I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief. ~ Gerry Spence As a member of Global paw staff my opinions are not necessarily those of the website or the owner.

11-19-2004, 11:39 AM	#15 (permalink)
theGOOCH Doberman Pinscher Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH USA Posts: 753 Rep Power: 97	Another Dremel user here. I assume everyone uses the sandpaper attatchment? Wow, sizzledog! I haven't been able to trim Blitz's nails that close, but they are still pretty short

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