Clipping nails

Cole · 07-30-2007, 04:49 AM

Hi everyone, I wonder if you can help me.

I am wondering who here clips their dogs nails, and is it simple to do? I've heard horror stories about owners clipping nails and cutting the toe.

If anyone could give me any advice, I was thinking about clipping Coles nails myself.

Thank you.

animalcraker · 07-30-2007, 04:58 AM

I clip my dogs nails by myself at home, but if you're unsure of how to do it or nervous about doing it, then you may need a groomer or vet to show you how to do it.

Shell&Jas · 07-30-2007, 05:21 AM

I trim many dogs nails being a vet nurse, and at first it can be a bit scary but it does get easier. It is definitely a good idea to get a vet to show you how to do it properly.

The hardest thing is usually when a dog has black nails. This makes it very hard as you can not see the quick (soft pink part within the nail, which is obviously much easier to see with white nails). If you cut this they will bleed. With any of these black nails be very careful and only clip a small amount.

I find it a good idea to get your dog used to having their paws touch and played with, this makes it a lot easier when you have to clip their nails. It always helps to have someone help hold your dog as well whilst doing it and of course treats afterwards

.

Cole · 07-30-2007, 07:13 AM

Thank you, he doesn't mind having his nails trimmed or his paws touched.

The only reason I ask is that he went to the groomers to be trimmed a couple of weeks ago, i paid £17.00 (which i think is mayber $30-35.00 - is this normal price?) and when they dropped him home, they hardly looked like they'd touched them. In fact, they seemed to have just filed them off on both sides to make them into a really sharp point.

Don't get me wrong, money is not an issue to put his health and well being first, but to be fair, i do begrudge taking him somewhere where they don't do the job properly - its the nearest one to me and I dont know where there is another near by. Looking at the job they did on Cole and my mum and dads two dogs, I dont think that they're trained in grooming.

So I thought that maybe I'd try myself, but he does have black nails. Think best thing for me to do is book him at the vets for them to do it properly. I dont want my inexperience to end up hurting him.

Thanks again!

briteday · 07-30-2007, 12:32 PM

Where I live in the states that would be a bit high. No matter where I've lived the vets only charge me $5-7 US to trim nails.

Find a groomer or a vet you trust to show you the first time. But yourself GOOD trimmers, not the cheapest ones on the shelf. It seems that really good groomers that I trust all suggest the guillotine style vs the scissor style. Once you have mastered that you might want to move on to a rotary tool that grinds down the nail. You don't have to buy the name brand Dremel, there are lots of other brands out there. We have an online store called PetEdge but I don't know if they ship internationally.

Also, good website...

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/clientED/dog_nails.asp

Durbkat · 07-30-2007, 12:46 PM

My vet will trim snoopy's nails for free, he better do it for free for charging $24 for a vet visit when all he did was give him his shots today. lol Snoopy has white and black nails, weird I know, so I won't trim his nails as his nails can wait till a vet visit.

poodleholic · 08-01-2007, 04:18 AM

I hate clipping, so dremmel instead. Easier on the dog AND me!

DivaDog · 08-01-2007, 05:53 AM

Briteday - I think that price is for nails AND a groom -and I dont know what the dog is but you wouldnt get a groom out of me for less than £20 - and thats for a very small dog. So it sounds cheap - but prices do vary from area to area. But they clearly didnt do the dogs nails properly.

lovemygreys · 08-01-2007, 09:31 AM

I use a dremel to trim all of our dog's nails. If I were to take them to a groomer or other place to have them trimmed, I'd want them to also use a dremel (or other handheld rotary tool). Makes for shorter nails with no sharp edges.

Durbkat · 08-01-2007, 10:12 AM

diva, well here in the us a nail trimming is $5 to $7 and grooming is a seperate price.

briteday · 08-01-2007, 02:39 PM

Yes, $5-7 US is just for the nails being trimmed. To groom the papillon (bathe, blow out, ears, trim) is around $50 US. But since getting the papiloon I have gotten much better at doing all of the grooming at home. The papillon is easy because she doesn't have any fur undercoat and she fits in a dishpan in the kitchen sink to bathe. And since learning to use the dremel style tool for nails, the rest is a breeze.

nrhareiner · 08-01-2007, 05:24 PM

I do all my own triming. Both canine and equine. Saves a lot of $$. The dogs get trimed about every 5 days and the horses every 4 -5 weeks. Now that is a lot of work.

Heidi

poodleholic · 08-02-2007, 01:50 AM

Quote:

The only reason I ask is that he went to the groomers to be trimmed a couple of weeks ago, i paid £17.00 (which i think is mayber $30-35.00 - is this normal price?) and when they dropped him home, they hardly looked like they'd touched them. In fact, they seemed to have just filed them off on both sides to make them into a really sharp point.

This is what I found, too, when I sent my dogs to a groomer. They barely touched the nails. I bought the mini mite cordless dremmel, and learned how to dremmel their nails (excellent tutorial on www.doberdawn.com) .

Cole · 08-02-2007, 09:06 AM

Thanks for the advise, the £17 I was charged was just for the nails trimmed - or put it this way, he didn't smell or look like he'd been bathed. He's a Staffy/Lab cross.

Can anyone advise where (in england or America that will ship overseas) to get a dremmel from, and what price is a good one to pay (obviously im new to this so dont want to be ripped off)

I am getting another dog tomorrow, so would save a fortune it pets bills, luckily for me theyre both short haired to minimal grooming - although they do like baths and being brushed!

briteday · 08-02-2007, 12:03 PM

One of the most comprehensive sources in the US is PetEdge.com. They cater to groomers so they carry quite a selection and wide price range. Shipping international...I don't know.

DivaDog · 08-02-2007, 12:35 PM

Nails are always included in my groom price. I dont do just nails because working as a mobile groomer it isnt cost effective for me to make a journey just to charge say £5 for nails - and if I charged anymore they might as well just go to the vets.

Cole · 08-03-2007, 06:05 AM

Where abouts are you based DivaDog?

DivaDog · 08-03-2007, 07:53 AM

I am down south, Hampshire.

lovemygreys · 08-03-2007, 10:15 AM

We bought our Dremel at a big chain home supply store (Lowes, which you probably don't have over there). Dremel is just a brand, so all you need to look/ask for is a handheld rotary tool. They do sell some marketed for dogs (same thing you'd buy at the hardware store, just a different color) but it's usually the variety I don't like (only has high or low setting). I really like the Dremel that has a fully adjustable setting so I can set it for the right speed based on the dog's nails. Here's a link to a quick write up I did on our site: linky. It's not as comprehensive as doberdawns site (I figured, why re-invent the wheel), it's sort of the cliff notes version

echo8287 · 08-06-2007, 11:16 PM

I trim my dogs hair and cut their nails. I also do my daughters dog. You must be very careful when trimming their nails with a clipper. I cut my daughter's Yorkie's nails last weekend. They are black and I got them all cut and on the very last one cut it in the quick. I felt so bad. I was just taking a very minimal amount off each one, that is why it doesn't look like they cut much off your dogs nails. If you keep them cut more frequently the quick will subside some. On black nails it is still very hard to see. I also use a cordless Dremel tool with the 120 grit wheels.If you use a Dremel you cannot hold it on the nail but a couple of seconds, friction will heat the nails up. David