Doggie Nails

    • Gold Top Dog

    Doggie Nails

    Hi all,
    I just noticed when I was trimming Angels nails that on the underside, where the nail joins the pad part, there are small tears in the skin. Her nails are quite long and I think that this is the reason why. When she walks you can tell that they are to long. With the other dogs, I have their nails quite short and I don't hear them clicking when they walk.
    My question is, is there anyway that the quik will retract.
    Any ideas on what to do would be appreciated.
    Thanks
    • Puppy
    I would get her nails trimmed, see if there is  difference and if there isnt I would get her to the vet right away.   they are so dependent on their little paws :-)
    • Gold Top Dog
    You can trim a couple times a week small slivers of nail from each toe...Dremels work MUCH better for this gradual work. I never trim with clippers these days, Dremel is my friend!
     
    It will take a bit but they will gradually go back. They may never "not click" tho because more than length goes into that. Thickness of the pad and "knuckling" of the foot...those are also very important factors. A dog with a hare foot may always click clack...a dog with a cat foot can have quite longish nails and not click clack...etc.
     
    Or, you can take her to the vet and they can do a laser cut and cauterize the quick....not fun, not cheap, but this is what they do in extreme say, neglect cases where the dog cannot walk....and some show folks, esp is "feet breeds" do it too. Not a popular option, nor one I'd choose, but thought I'd throw it out there because it is an option at many clinics these days.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Thanks Gina.
    She is an Italian Greyhound that I rescued about 3 weeks ago. She came in very bad shape, a mammary tumor, underweight, rotten teeth and holes in her jaw from where the K9s use to be. She has gained 1+ pounds and had surgery on Tuesday to remove the tumor and had extensive oral surgery to remove and clean her teeth plus grafts to cover the holes in the bone that led into the sinus cavity. It's nice to see her eat and drink without stuff getting in her sinus cavity.
    I will take your advise on trimming a few times a week.
    It is beyond me how people can neglect the care of a dog in such a way.
    Thanks again!
     
    • Gold Top Dog
    ahh! I recall now [:)]
     
    IG's have hare feet like many sighthound types....so she may always click...but  am sure they need trimming and care if all that other stuff was going on....gawd people are horrible at times....good on you taking her in [;)]
    • Gold Top Dog
    On this note can someone give me some pointers on trimming. I have always used regular nail clippers, but Sara's are so think I can't cut them as short as I would like. I am going after lunch to buy a  real dog clipper and I just want to know how well they work. I know how far to cut, since I have been doing it for a long time. I also trim the rabbits. But I am having to do Sara's so often just because I can't get them short enough.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Angel, you can buy trimmers with a guard on them so they only take off a bit at a time and you just keep trimming until they are as short as you want them to be. I have the same problem with Omni, my lab X's nails. When I cut her nails they fly like bullets. I have found that the ones with the guards work nicely. They kinda look like little scissors and they are really sharp.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Thanks so much. I picked up a pair today. (why do they call them a pair of clippers/scissors, you only get one)
     
    They are so great, much easier.