Am zonked out now after 3 days of financial analysis. Will use my time effectively when I'm at normal work tomorrowMeeeeee! And the Monty Mooster. Will post tomorrow about what I'm hoping to achieve and our 'issues'
The Bavarian July Toe and Teeth Challenge - with prize drawing!
- Thread starter Emily_Babbelhund
- Start date
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Yay!
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
Maybe us....toothbrushing may be appropriate.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Fiona has got me thinking I may finally go out and buy a new Dremel. I haven't had one for years since it was too much to carry when I only had a suitcase. Now with the car, I could manage it and it would be so much nicer than the guillotine clippers that I have now. Plus an outing to the local hardware store would be a good SD public access session. 
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
The Micro that I have has a handy light at the end. It's great for really seeing the nail even in darker corners.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Gentle reminder that we start our teeth brushing and/or nail clipping extravaganza tomorrow. Please join in if you haven't already. Also remember you get five 'grace days' so if you miss a few days (hey, it happens) you are still in the running.
If you're already 'in', here again is the spreadsheet that @snowbunny created to help you keep track. Optional but very helpful!
Nails and teeth challenge
If you're already 'in', here again is the spreadsheet that @snowbunny created to help you keep track. Optional but very helpful!
Nails and teeth challenge
So here is my plan. Teeth every day. I'm buying a new baby toothbrush tomorrow and already have the toothpaste. I'm going to start small and build up slowly in time as he's really not a fan of it.
Nails. Fortunately they are slow growing and has only ever had them clipped under GA . Apart from a horrendous experience 3 years ago when I took him to a groomer and even taking off small bits, she caught the quick. It was horrible. At his recent MOT our vet said they were ok and if we tried to clip them we'd probably catch the quick... But one nail seems to be wearing at an angle so I'm pretty sure it's too long. I'm ruling out clippers so need to buy a Dremel, I think there's a new thread where one has been recommended? But in the short term, im going to do simple building up of touching his paws and nails (which he is not keen on) and then using an emery board on them. Actually, as I don't need to take a lot off them, this might even be enough. I know I will be too nervous myself to use clippers so am not even considering them. I'm going to keep a diary and take a photo every few days of it to show progress.
Nails. Fortunately they are slow growing and has only ever had them clipped under GA . Apart from a horrendous experience 3 years ago when I took him to a groomer and even taking off small bits, she caught the quick. It was horrible. At his recent MOT our vet said they were ok and if we tried to clip them we'd probably catch the quick... But one nail seems to be wearing at an angle so I'm pretty sure it's too long. I'm ruling out clippers so need to buy a Dremel, I think there's a new thread where one has been recommended? But in the short term, im going to do simple building up of touching his paws and nails (which he is not keen on) and then using an emery board on them. Actually, as I don't need to take a lot off them, this might even be enough. I know I will be too nervous myself to use clippers so am not even considering them. I'm going to keep a diary and take a photo every few days of it to show progress.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
If you're going to do nails, having styptic powder on hand is really helpful. Not that you ever want to hit the quick, but if you do, the powder (just a tiny bit to the end of the nail) stops it. Otherwise, as you know, it's like a fountain of blood that goes on forever.
I really prefer the Dremel (going to do some online shopping today) but even with guillotine clippers you can take the tiniest chip off at a time. Better to take a teeny bit off every day than tackle the whole nail.
Not sure if it's true, but my first Rottie breeder used to tell me to tackle overlong nails every 2-3 days, a tiny chip at a time. The quick, she said, will then retract over time until eventually you've got the whole nail under control without ever hitting the quick. Again, not sure if it's true, but I've hit quick probably less than 5 times in 20 years of cutting black nails...so there may be something to it!
I really prefer the Dremel (going to do some online shopping today) but even with guillotine clippers you can take the tiniest chip off at a time. Better to take a teeny bit off every day than tackle the whole nail.
Not sure if it's true, but my first Rottie breeder used to tell me to tackle overlong nails every 2-3 days, a tiny chip at a time. The quick, she said, will then retract over time until eventually you've got the whole nail under control without ever hitting the quick. Again, not sure if it's true, but I've hit quick probably less than 5 times in 20 years of cutting black nails...so there may be something to it!
Yes I think this was what my vet was trying to say , it needs to be done over time.
Do you think a strong, rough emery board would be enough to take them down over time? As they are so slow growing I don't need to progress quickly. Im just thinking he will really dislike the sound of the Dremel too and only having to work on the feel of the emery board would be easier.
I think I’ve read similar about the quick retracting over time @Emily_Babbelhund , probably on this forum (?) - and a tiny bit at a time is a great idea. As is the styptic powder.
Great plan @Natalie , thank you for writing it out so clearly - it’s encouraged me to do the same
I’m hoping to trim one nail a day - but the main aim is to get a consistently calm, comfortable response to foot handling. Trimming doesn’t matter so much as whether Kipper is comfortable. At the moment we’re a little variable, and I’m pretty sure that’s down to irregular handling sessions. So consistency is the key for us, and this Bavarian challenge is heaven-sent!
We had a good practice run today (this definitely doesn’t count towards the challenge, more of a warm up!) - here’s the evidence:
Great plan @Natalie , thank you for writing it out so clearly - it’s encouraged me to do the same
I’m hoping to trim one nail a day - but the main aim is to get a consistently calm, comfortable response to foot handling. Trimming doesn’t matter so much as whether Kipper is comfortable. At the moment we’re a little variable, and I’m pretty sure that’s down to irregular handling sessions. So consistency is the key for us, and this Bavarian challenge is heaven-sent!
We had a good practice run today (this definitely doesn’t count towards the challenge, more of a warm up!) - here’s the evidence:
Thanks for posting that photo @HAH, do you class that a tiny amount ? To me that would be a big piece and pretty sure that would result in a squealing Monty and lots of blood!I think I’ve read similar about the quick retracting over time @Emily_Babbelhund , probably on this forum (?) - and a tiny bit at a time is a great idea. As is the styptic powder.
Great plan @Natalie , thank you for writing it out so clearly - it’s encouraged me to do the same
I’m hoping to trim one nail a day - but the main aim is to get a consistently calm, comfortable response to foot handling. Trimming doesn’t matter so much as whether Kipper is comfortable. At the moment we’re a little variable, and I’m pretty sure that’s down to irregular handling sessions. So consistency is the key for us, and this Bavarian challenge is heaven-sent!
We had a good practice run today (this definitely doesn’t count towards the challenge, more of a warm up!) - here’s the evidence:
View attachment 8243
Yes, this is us. He really has an aversion to this, he has arthritis in his ankle joints which may or may not be a contributory factor.
No, I don’t at all - that nail and the same one on the other foot are overlong, and it was really clear (pale nails) that it wasn’t close to the quick. Plus I went really slowly and Kipper was cool with it, so off it came. Other nails will be a lot more conservative - it’s that tension between wanting to reduce nail length (which is over-long because I haven’t done it enough) and keeping it easy for both of us. If I can do both then win-win, but I’m anticipating it’ll be a far slower rate of progress generally, that was just a bonus long one
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
Am I right in thinking arrowroot powder also works to stop bleeding if it occurs?
I am hoping to do teeth brushing.
I am hoping to do teeth brushing.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
I've never tried that but if it works for you and Monty, why not give it a try?
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
If you take of tiny slivers at a time - and I mean tiny, less than a millimetre - then you really won't touch the quick, because you will notice the texture of the nail changing. The quick (fleshy part) is encased in a soft shell, which has no nerve endings, and then the hard nail on top. As you trim back, you will see the nail texture and colour change. When you're on that soft shell, you can stop.
The quick will only recede if it's exposed. Of course, to expose it, you have to get close to it. The recommended way is to trim the nails in a slightly different way to normal - rather than trimming them flat across the nail, trim them on the sides and the top so they form a "point". This will be naturally worn back much more quickly, as the soft shell is exposed on more sides. Some people continue to trim the soft shell to actually expose the quick. I do not, and don't think it's necessary; none of my dogs have overly long quicks, so they don't need to recede. I just use this method to get the nails as short as possible.
If you trim bigger chunks off the nail, even where you can see the position of the quick, you are putting a lot more pressure on the nail, which can make it very uncomfortable for sensitive dogs, and you also run a greater risk of the nail splitting. If you do use clippers, it's recommended to use a file of some description afterwards to smooth off the edges so that they are less likely to catch on something and rip.
Whether emery boards work or not will depend on your dog's nails. They were far too slow on Willow, but OK for Shadow. A metal file worked better for both, before I started Dremelling.
The quick will only recede if it's exposed. Of course, to expose it, you have to get close to it. The recommended way is to trim the nails in a slightly different way to normal - rather than trimming them flat across the nail, trim them on the sides and the top so they form a "point". This will be naturally worn back much more quickly, as the soft shell is exposed on more sides. Some people continue to trim the soft shell to actually expose the quick. I do not, and don't think it's necessary; none of my dogs have overly long quicks, so they don't need to recede. I just use this method to get the nails as short as possible.
If you trim bigger chunks off the nail, even where you can see the position of the quick, you are putting a lot more pressure on the nail, which can make it very uncomfortable for sensitive dogs, and you also run a greater risk of the nail splitting. If you do use clippers, it's recommended to use a file of some description afterwards to smooth off the edges so that they are less likely to catch on something and rip.
Whether emery boards work or not will depend on your dog's nails. They were far too slow on Willow, but OK for Shadow. A metal file worked better for both, before I started Dremelling.
I've just found a large file that you use for getting hard skin off feet
it's much stronger and coarser than an emery board so will start with this. I think part of the problem is my anxiety and hence hesitancy about hurting him... Having had them clipped and bleed before he is unsurprisingly not keen for them to be messed with.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Yes, this is exactly the way that my Rottie breeder taught me. Less filing/clipping as the the shape promotes the nail wearing down naturally toward the quick.
Very good explanation of the whole thing - as usual.
- Location
- Argyll & Bute, Scotland
- Location
- Argyll & Bute, Scotland
This is how I do them as you recommended this before Fiona. I do however still cut the shell as Charlie does have long quicks. The thought of using a Dremel sends shivers down my spine!
I'm not doing the nail a day just wanted to say this method does work! xx