Nail Clipping Question

[StillandSilent]

Both of mine are very good about having their nails clipped. I still can't figure out why Radar squeals when I cut Lilly's nails and not his, but whatever. The problem is Lilly's dewclaws. They are very tight to her legs and they grow very quickly. I don't really have any flexibility in them to get them clipped.
If I push them back toward her body, it is very hard to see what I am clipping, and since her nails are black, it is hard enought to start with. She only has dewclaws on the front. What do the rest of you do with dewclaws that are placed that tightly?

 

[otch1]

If it's a matter of fur covering dewclaw and not being able to extend it out far enough in order to see what you're clipping... recommend using a nylon sock when you do nails. Press them through the nylon exposing only the nail and then dremel, if you have one. If not, clip while carefully extending nail a bit with your finger between bone and digit. As for length, just tip dewclaw once a week until you're able to get it shorter. As this nail never has contact with the ground, you'll often find the quick has grown out to the full length of the nail and it takes awhile to get this back.

 

[beth2]

I see a lot of dogs that have the same problem. (Im a groomer).
These nails can be a challenge to safely cut due to them curling back into the dogs' leg so tightly sometimes. And They just dont want to extend out like the other nails can when you need to cut them. With most dogs I have found that cat/bird nail trimmers are great for reaching into tight spaces that regular nail clippers cant reach safely. Like otch1 said, try to tip the nails once a week to back the quick up....or try keeping them filed down with a nail file and do it often.
Good luck.
(If your dog is long haired and you try a dremmel type nail trimmer...make sure the hair is clipped away from the nails first...it can really hurt if the coat gets caught up in those things!)
Great idea with using a nylon sock Otch1 !!

 

[demanddesign]

Like Beth says, Eddies dewclaws are exactly the same and i file them down every second day with a small nail file, it keeps the short and also rounded so it doesnt scratch if he jumps up on you. On the rare occasion that i used to forget and they grew too long i used human nail clippers which fitted at an angle and were able to snip easily.

 

[LB2007]

If you cut the quik does it hurt the dog or just bleed? My boy has black nails also, he got them cut at the vet yesterday but I dont want them getting so pointed. If you file them with a regular human nail file will this also push back the quick?

 

[MafiaPrincess]

Some dogs, it hurts like h*ll if you quick them accidentally. Others barely notice.

Take a lot of filing to get much nail off I'd think. But with a small dog, you never know it might help you. It's good for rounding just clipped nails though.

 

[LB2007]

My next question is this, there is some white poweder that is put on the quick when it is cut, what is that called and what is the chemical make up as I live in Europe and will have to ask for it by the name then the chemical make up, as long as it is not Anthrax, LMAO

 

[OutlineACDs]

Its called styptic powder.

 

[LB2007]

Its called styptic powder.

do you know the chemical make up as they do not have this here but by its chemical make up they can possibly order it for me?

 

[LB2007]

Well I checked and was shocked, they do not have this, what they use here to stop the bleeding on dogs is some hot iron thing Gruhhhh. I wonder if someone will send me a tiny drop since his feet are so small? I will pay for it.

 

[MafiaPrincess]

I often use corn starch honestly. I rarely quick my dogs, but the few times I have.. it's handy and it works. I'm surprised they don't have some form of styptic powder.. It's used by men when they cut themselves shaving too..

 

[happyhound]

Well I checked and was shocked, they do not have this, what they use here to stop the bleeding on dogs is some hot iron thing Gruhhhh. I wonder if someone will send me a tiny drop since his feet are so small? I will pay for it.

http://www.sitstay.com/store/health/grooming3.shtml

Scroll down to Kwik-Stop Styptic Powder. From your other threads I think you mentioned you aren't in the US? Either way, shipping shouldn't be too cost prohibitive for something so small even if you aren't in the US.

Another tip for clipping nails, cut at an angle (from the top of the nail after the quick towards the tip of the nail) and before chomping down on the nails, apply some pressure with the clippers to "test" for the quick. If the dog flinches or verbalizes their discomfort that isn't the "norm" (one of mine flinches at the sound of the clippers after her nail has been clipped) then find a different place to clip the nail.

 

[LB2007]

I often use corn starch honestly. I rarely quick my dogs, but the few times I have.. it's handy and it works. I'm surprised they don't have some form of styptic powder.. It's used by men when they cut themselves shaving too..

Oh, they offered me this at the pharmacy but it is not the same name, they said it is a powder men use when they shave, so I guess it will work then? I thought it had to be a dog product

 

[MafiaPrincess]

Should be the same thing. Speeds up clotting. If you ask a non dog person, they'd tell you the use for styptic powder is for men when they cut themselves shaving. My mom laughed a few weeks ago actually. She saw it at petsmart said wtf. Told her what do people use it for..

 

[LB2007]

You know, there is another thing that they use to stop the clotting also but I dont remember the name.

 

[noludoru]

Flour is also useful in a pinch--it doesn't work as well so I wouldn't use it regularly, just as a fallback.

 

[irenafarm]

You should be able to order this sort of thing online very easily. It's not a restricted product as far as I know - I think it's basically what they used to call alum. Here's some info on it. http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/151073 Looks like you can get it anywhere they sell men's shaving stuff - there's powder formulations that contain painkiller also, I like those. I do the nails on rescue Border Collies and it can be like clipping kangaroo nails. I use this stuff quite frequently!

Actually the hot iron thing will sting a lot less than the bleed stop stuff. Styptic powder hurts! I tried to get my hubby to use styptic instead of dabbing toilet tissue on his face, but he's a whiner about it.

 

[heartdogs]

You know, there is another thing that they use to stop the clotting also but I dont remember the name.

There's a gel product. For dogs, one of the brands is called Clotisol.

 

[Beth82]

Another tip for clipping nails, cut at an angle (from the top of the nail after the quick towards the tip of the nail) and before chomping down on the nails, apply some pressure with the clippers to "test" for the quick. If the dog flinches or verbalizes their discomfort that isn't the "norm" (one of mine flinches at the sound of the clippers after her nail has been clipped) then find a different place to clip the nail.

Do you have any advice for a dog who flinches every single time? My Beauty had a nail cut too short once as a puppy, and she's never forgotten it. She always seems to expect the clippers to hurt.

 

[lives4dogshows]

My next question is this, there is some white poweder that is put on the quick when it is cut, what is that called and what is the chemical make up as I live in Europe and will have to ask for it by the name then the chemical make up, as long as it is not Anthrax, LMAO

You can use flour and get the same effect. I nicked a dog really bad once and he was still bleeding profusely half an hour later, I called the vet and that is what they said to do. It worked but I woudn't recommend using it on your patio...I had flour stains there forever! Who would have thought...

Hope that helps...sorry I'm late in this thread.