Nail clipping

[edzbird]

I've not trimmed Coco's nails for ages, he had become a bit averse to it. All calm this morning so thought I'd do his front paws. 2 middle ones each paw - all good. 2 outer ones on each paw - all good. Dew claw left paw - all good. Dew claw right paw and he pulled his paw back. Oh well. Ah wait, blood. blood. The Brave Boy didn't even yelp, just that flinch.

Sent them out to play while I cleaned up. Went out to play with them. We came back in and had some fish cubes...blood. blood. blood. Thought I'd read that cornflour would stop the blood. Dipped his bloody foot in a tablespoon full of cornflour. White everywhere. Then...blood. blood. blood. More scrubbing.

I think it's stopped now...I'll crawl around for a final scrub after my coffee.

Coco never yelps. I stand on his paw, he just looks disappointed. I stand on his tail, he gives me a look. Now I cut his quick...he's giving me sad daggers but he didn't cry. His nails still need trimming - I wonder how he'll be next time?

Really really need to sort Meg's out, they are SO sharp. She sits, lets you hold her paw but as soon as the clippers come near she really pulls away.

 

[Cath]

Yes, they say corn flour works. Poor brave CoCo

 

[HAH]

Gah, it's tough but I think happens so easily. This is still very much a work in progress for us, I haven't spent consistent time on it for months. We could do a regular thread on cooperative care for nails if that would help?

Cornflour works if it's not a big job, I've used it before. I've also heard of styptic powder being good for this purpose. I've just read up about it, it seems magical! Apparently it uses Anhydrous aluminium sulfate as a vasoconstrictor to stop the blood flow. Every day's a school day eh..?

 

[Ashley]

Hopefully he's ok with his nails in a few days! Lots of treats for being brave!

I actually clipped Quinn's nails for the first time ever yesterday - I have paid a groomer or the vet for years because I've been too nervous to do it because they are black. She was so good but I only did teeny tiny pieces until I work up the nerve to do more. She used to be scared to the clippers, along with many other things (ears, eye drops) but she's so zen these days, she lets me do just about anything. I will be spending months on Prim - we got to her dew claw only with lots of peanut butter on a lickit mat. Her nails are clear - so much easier!

 

[Stacia]

I clipped Rourke's claws and caught his dew claw and it bled and bled and bled and bled, so in the end I put a bandage on it. He doesn't like having his nails clipped but I find if I ask him to sit, with me on his right side and I put my arm around his neck to reach over to his left paw, he accepts it. He then puts up with me doing his right claws without my arm around his neck. He used to lie down while I did it, but something happened, I must have nicked him and so he pulls his paws away.

 

[Shaz82]

I did the same to Maisy's dew claw and there was blood everywhere, I just can't get near her with the clippers now. I can sit and hold her feet and fiddle with her toes fine but if I am holding the clippers it is a different story, hers are needing a trim too so something to look forward to. I have several pots of styptic powder and a styptic stick ready in different places when I attempt it, just in case.

 

[Atemas]

I can clip Red’s nails but need F to hold her as she will offer a paw and then retract. We have found a system that works for us and I just clip a small amount off each nail. There’s no way I could do it alone

 

[Ashley]

I got over confident and cut Quinn's quik it's a total blood bath...like Coco, she didn't flinch or make a peep. I brought her outside and she lifted that leg, so back inside to with a cloth to wait it out. It's back to the groomers for nails in this house! I feel so bad.

 

[Loraseal]

I clipped Hunter's once when he was a puppy but not since then. I think because we walk alot om pavements and less soft ground it helps keeps his nails short.

 

[kateincornwall]

I have to clip Nellys dew claws this morning and am dreading it . Unfortunately she has back paw dew claws which need doing frequently , I have the styptic powder at the ready as it is a nightmare x

 

[edzbird]

Good luck. My new pot of styptic arrived in the post yesterday. I am ready to try again.

 

[Ashley]

I need to get the powder - hours after the incident we went for a walk and when we got home she bled everywhere again, and a bit again this morning. I don't know how i went so short! I booked Prim in for nails today - not trying again for awhile! Does it hurt them when you cut too short?

 

[snowbunny]

If you're cutting the quick, the chances are that you're taking too much off at a time. Use really sharp clippers and take off the smallest sliver - think the thickness of a pencil sharpening. Doing this will both reduce the amount of pressure you're putting on the nail, which can cause discomfort and negative reactions in the dog, and also will allow you to see the change in texture as you trim back. Between the quick and the hard nail is a layer of softer nail. As you're cutting (with your super-sharp clippers), you will feel the difference, and you can see it, too, even in black nails. It's a different texture and a colour to the rest of the nail.
Also, don't cut straight across the nail. Imagine you're sharpening a pencil with a knife, you don't cut straight through, you take slivers off the sides. Do the same here. Angle the clippers so you're cutting each side, and the top, to create a point.

Oh, I just found this Kikopup video on it which describes it better than me. Shadow actually lays upside-down to have his done now LOL

If you watch from 1:40 you'll see the shape of the cut and just how little she's taking off each time. There is zero chance of cutting the quick doing it like this, as you can see.

 

[HAH]

I love Kikkopup, thanks for the video @snowbunny