7 replies to this topic

[MarlysMom]

I know its been discussed several times before. Yesterday we had to take Marley to the vet to have him put in a twilight sleep just to trim his nails. This was risky since he has a heart murmur and it was a last resort. Four of us holding and comforting him and still no cooperation. They took him in the treatment area and tried, no luck there either.
We have been playin with his paws, touching, massaging etc so he is much better about us handling them but the clippers (and dremel) are very stressful for him. He will even ignore a jar of peanut butter to avoid trimming.

My daughter & I do not get as frustrated as my husband & son when trying so I'd rather her and I do this when the boys are not around....the problem is that we are not strong enough to hold onto his wiggly self (he even wiggled out of a secure muzzle @ the vets yesterday). He also sees Bella lay around for hers without a care in the world. I'm thinking we are now going to have to try and trim 1 nail per day to get him aclimated.

Any suggestions on what else we can do to make this much less traumatic for him?

Thanks!
Kim

Edited by MarlysMom, 21 June 2009 - 01:33 PM.

[baron'sma]

I have 2 dogs who HATE having their nails cut. Baron (90# Dobe) and Bailey (35# mutt). I bring out the tools (nippers and dremel), and leave them on the floor let them check them out. Then I go and lay on the floor with them. I put the arm that I am laying on under his head and then I put my head on his. Then I take my body and drape it over him like I am hugging him. I take my left leg and put it between his hind legs. Then Joel (my better half ) comes and clips and drills. When we first started this technique we had to use treats, feeding them to him as he got his nails trimmed. Now we dont use any treats but I still lay with them. With Bailey we have to use a soft muzzle still but way better than it was. I know that this sounds really involved, but it worked for us. Took us about 3-4 months of treat trimming to get to this point. We used the small puppy treats and broke a bunch in half, and with every nail they got a half.

[bumpster]

Dude didn't like getting his nails trimmed either. I would do as many as I could (sometimes only two or three nails) before he got too fidgety. Then he'd get a treat. I can now do all four feet at one sitting. He still doesn't like it but will do it for the treat that comes after.

Darcy will just flop over and put her feet in the air.

We won't even talk about Liddy!

[jmnodwell]

I'm thinking we are now going to have to try and trim 1 nail per day to get him aclimated.

You took the words right out of my mouth... No rules say they all have to be done at the same time...

If he knows how to shake with his paws, you can teach him to "wipe" it on a board and then attach sand paper and he will trim them himself...

[KellyB]

Try using a very corse emery board for human to file them.


Kelly

[CathieRenee]

Darcy will just flop over and put her feet in the air.

That's pretty much what Zeusieee does.
You could try starting out with the emery board, then work up to the clippers and dremel.
I would suggest using a flexi shaft attachment on the dremel. It does cut down on the motor noise and vibration.

[Stacie]

If all else fails - use the sidewalk - it is the natural way to file your dogs nails down - and this will mean lots of running and stopping and starting again. It does work just a bit slower than the whole dremel thing. Does your dremel have a slow speed? Lilo, Chico and Sable are great for the nail thing. Magnum just cowers and shakes like I'm beating him the whole time. I make him get on the couch in a laying position - lay on him and hold his paw in front of me - if you dremel from the top down and with the feet in front it's much easier and quicker for you and maybe for Marley too. If you have to muzzle use a basket muzzle so he doesn't stick his nose in the grinder as most dogs try to do. If all else fails bring him to me at the Petsmart in Taylor - I am always willing to give it a whirl...just make sure you bring his rabies paper. Plus - I'm sure it will be cheaper than doing the twilight thing at the vets. Call ahead to make sure I am there - 734-374-8106 ext. 2. I have lots of difficult dogs come in for their nails.

[Melinda]

Do you use the guilitine type or the scissor type? I didn't know better and was using the guilitine type. My dog used to be terrified. Since I switched to the scissor type, after she regained my trust, I can say, "Roll over and let me cut your nails," and she flops over and lays still while I trim away. Just a sugegstion.