Freedom
Posted : 4/18/2012 7:40:03 PM
Most vets will trim nails while a dog is under for another procedure, at no charge. Worth asking for sure.
If the quick is long, and in cutting the nail you cut the quick, the nail AND THE QUICK start growing from there. The "trick" - so I've been told, lol - is to trim as close to the quick as possible, without actually hitting the blood vessel. This is where some folks feel using a nail grinder is helpful (I don't have one, don't know). Once the nail is trimmed close, this is when the quick retreats.
Walking the dog on the street, sidewalk (asphalt and concrete) or playing ball in a basketball court (outdoors, fenced) are supposed to be good for wearing the nails down.
My flock are rescues, and 2 of them - Willy and Tasha - did not have a good start in life, and are not used to having nails trimmed. I've tried, I can NOT do it. Just 2 months back, finally gave in and have started working with a groomer. The first time, she trimmed the nails slightly, gave them lots of treats. She works where I take Willy for Agility, so then next 2 weeks, we stopped by and she gave them treats, no nail work. Week after that, she clipped nails again. Another 2 weeks with just stopping in for treats. Today we went in and she used the grinder. We return in 2 weeks and she will just clip the nails a bit. I have strick instructions through all of this: regular walks on the street, and I am not to even TRY to do their nails myself.
The other thing to keep in mind: dew claws are not going to be worn down, they must be clipped / trimmed /ground. Make sure the vet (vet techs usually do the nails) knows you want those clipped, for sure. Again with mine being rescues, some have their dew claws, and some don't. One of Tasha's was almost growing into her when we started w/ the groomer.