nail trimming - how frequent is OK?

    • Moderators
    • Gold Top Dog

    nail trimming - how frequent is OK?

    Bugsy's nails grow super quick and nothing wears them down. I dremel them weekly, taking off 1/4 - 1/2 an inch each time but I am barely maintaining them.

    So how frequently can I dremel them? Is every other day OK for a bit to try to get them down?

    I take off significantly more from the front then the back but they all need it - HELP

    • Gold Top Dog

     I've dremeled as often as daily, to get nails back. Totally fine.

    • Moderators
    • Gold Top Dog

     thanks jennie - it feels like a never ending battle with his nails. I really am going to try and dremel at least every other day for a while and see if I can get those front ones shorter Hmm

    • Gold Top Dog

     Joint supplements have the unfortunate side effect of making nails hard, and long, LOL. I do my dogs' at least twice a week. They aren't as heavy, or as active as Bugsy, so I expect it. Small house dogs have vicious nails!

    • Bronze

    One of my dogs has super long nails with naturally long quicks.  I Dremel on average every other day and always have since he was a young puppy.  He still has the longest nails of any dog I've ever seen.  Sigh.

    • Moderators
    • Gold Top Dog
    Myra
    One of my dogs has super long nails with naturally long quicks.
    Bugsy too. Although a groomer once said he had 'dane' nails and they weren't too long. I find it amazing that so many people I know get their dogs nails done at a groomer once a month - he'd have claws like a grizzly if I did them once a month!

    He also has full pads so when he stands his nails don't touch the floor and you don't hear click, click but they seem like they should be shorter

    Starting the dremel every other day regime today and will move to every day if necessary

    • Gold Top Dog

    We dremel every third day so that everyone, except Brinxx, keeps very short nails.

    I have a breeder/friend who swears by Preparation H.  She dremels the nails, then applies it to the nail afterwards.  She swears that it causes the quick to recede.  I thought that she was crazy, but she has a new foster who had talons when it came to her.  Two weeks later, I saw the dog again & the nails are nice & short.  Not show short yet, but well on their way.  It might be worth a try.

    • Moderators
    • Gold Top Dog

     Interesting might try that - his nails have been long since we got him and I have tried to get them back but the quick isn't far away.  When that groomer said they couldn't do them shorter I was sort of frustrated. I know they will never be show short and I don't worry about that, I would just like them shorter especially the front ones. 

     

    • Gold Top Dog

    BEVOLASVEGAS

    We dremel every third day so that everyone, except Brinxx, keeps very short nails.

    I have a breeder/friend who swears by Preparation H.  She dremels the nails, then applies it to the nail afterwards.  She swears that it causes the quick to recede.  I thought that she was crazy, but she has a new foster who had talons when it came to her.  Two weeks later, I saw the dog again & the nails are nice & short.  Not show short yet, but well on their way.  It might be worth a try.

     

    Rascal has super fast-growing nails and insanely long quicks. I tried dremeling every day for a month to get them back, and no dice. I am totally going to try this! I've even thought of getting them cut back at the vet under anesthesia next time he has his teeth cleaned, but it just sounds too painful and I couldn't bring myself to do it.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Let me know if it works for you! 

    FWIW, I had Brutus's nails cut back when he was neutered/teeth cleaned/tumors removed.  They had curled under & were trying to grow into his pads.  He had no issues afterwards, & was trotting around the house the same evening.  I know that all dogs handle it differently, but, IME, it worked well.

    • Gold Top Dog

     They did Teenie's, at her first dental, too, and it was GREAT!

     

    When I dremel nails to shorten them, I do dremel slightly into the quick. That's the only way I've found to get them to recede (haven't tried the Prep H though, that's interesting!). I don't make them bleed, but when I stop, the tips are juuust into the damp part, and they're very rounded at the tip. I'll have to get a photo. Cresteds naturally have very long quicks, but Ena's are super short. I actually had to let her nails grow, a couple of weeks, before I showed her.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Casey's are very long too - with super long quicks... I'm gonna have to try that preperation h thing!