I think this is something I should be learning to do. Chepi usually has them done for free at day care but I decided to try the vet nurse today. She just did the front as the back nails were not touching the floor - 15 pounds for about 3 mins work. Am I in a minority? Do most people do them themselves? I used to do my cat's with no trouble but you can see the quick easily with them; with Chepi I'd really have to be careful to just trim a little.
I have my pup's done when he is bathed and ears cleaned... I would be scared to do his nails myself, frankly. Cost for me is $50 dollars for bath, nails and ears. But it's not the vet or vet's assistant that does them but the groomer.
I have just started doing Molly's. I have a pair of clippers which have a plate at the back so (theoretically) you cannot clip off more than you need to. I just do them a couple at a time. I don't pay someone to do my nails, so I am blowed if I am paying for the dog to have a manicure
There was a recent thread on this....:http://thelabradorforum.com/forum/need-help-with-your-labrador/labrador-health/247037-clippng-nalls I started to do Charlie's, but then paid £8 in PAH and it was worth it, I thought. It was an awful faff at home and took me ages. Plus, I'm not sure I didn't feed him more than £8 in seabiscuits per nail.... It was done in about a minute in the groomers, with no more than 5 bits of cheese. Plus it was a trip out for him and we are working on heel around PAH anyway.
I do Lady's one at a time but she hardly ever needs them doing. With black claws it is hard to see the quick but I just clip a millimetre or so of the very ends. The vet does them if asked at her fairly regular visits if I'm having trouble.
I've never clipped Juno's nail but would have either the vet do them during a visit which would then be free of charge or visit one of my local pet parlour - just need my dictionary on hand to overcome any language problems . For me the cost of clipping outweighs the faffing around and worrying doing it myself
I have some some clippers but I haven't got the guts do it myself!! My sister used to do murphys as they were clear and so it was easy to see the quick but we don't do Maisie's as they are black. As part of my healthy pet club membership at my vets her nail clipping is included. So I just pop in with her (or recently just get it done when in there anyway!)
I do Obi's but he only really needs the dew claw clipped. He has good foot conformation so his claws all wear evenly. And we walk on concrete paths a lot which keeps them worn. It is easy to do but there's no shame in paying someone if you're not comfortable with it or can't do it quickly.
I've gradually got better at doing them......I use the guard on the clippers too and just take off a very little at a time. I'd happily pay someone to do it too though.....as long as they aren't overgrown it eally doesn't matter
I never used to have to clip Charlie's nails at all - until very recently, I could say the last time his nails were trimmed was when the breeder snipped them before handing him over at 8 weeks. But this time when on rest, his nails seemed to get too long. They were changing the way his paws looked on the floor. So I thought they needed trimming...the vet and the groomer don't really agree with me, they don't think his nails look too long. I have taken photos of his paws when he is standing on a hard surface though, and his nails are too long. I can hear them on some surfaces when I never could before. I have also been able to compare the recent photos with photos of his paws from earlier times, and the change is definitely his nails. Reading a bit around the subject, most owners of top performing agility dogs (and so on) keep nails very short - it is better for their posture and so on. Comparing Charlie's nails with photos of these dogs, his nails look too long.... So, I am on a mission to get them shorter. Even though he does at least an hour on pavement a day - it seems like that was enough to keep them short when they were short, but not enough to wear them down once they became too long.
My understanding is the quick recedes as they're trimmed so a little nibble every few days should sort them out.......do choccies have black nails? Or can you see the quick?
Black nails. Chepi's need doing every 6 weeks. They start to make her middle toes cross over. I think I will invest in clippers and get the vet nurse to train me.
I did all my own nail trimming until doug Developed SLO. I do all the others but him now but because the regularly walk on hard surfaces they only really need the dew claws trimming. I do tidy up the others but they dont often need clipping. I also have a dog nail file which works really well and is good for taking off any rough edges that might catch and not as upsetting as clippers. I know some people use a dremel drill to smooth out claws rather than clip. Dougs nails are a problem and I have to take him to the vet to have his done as it just too painful for him to have me do it and the vet can often do any removal of nails if Doug needs it. He often has to have anti biotics when he's had a nail cut due to his SLO as on cutting as his nails can split and and his qucks can often just drop out of his pad.
It was at first he lost all his nails and his quicks stank off infection and rot once we found out was it was he was better. He went through so much pain couldn't walk. Such a lovely dog. He's nearly fourteen now I thought we were going to loose him when he was about 5 due to complications form this condition. it makes me smile everyday when I think he's still here.
Brave Doug xxxx I know it's something I could do if I put my mind to it but frankly the thought of snipping the quick and making blood scares the pants off me.....in being nervous I'd probably do exactly that and traumatise both Dexter and I forever .....the groomer does them and our vets has started doing a mobile grooming service...the van comes and parks outside your house!
I'm a farm kid...so trimming nails on any kind of animal is just second nature to me...goats, cats, dogs, horses...have done them all. My Bella has brown toes and nails...I don't trim hers all that often - but my guard dog needs hers done more frequently since she is never on pavement. Both of them just sit there with a martyred expression while I lift each foot and trim them quickly...usually either in the front yard or laying on the couch...LOL somewhere I have a picture of my last lab, Izzy, sitting on the couch next to me, and me filing her nails with an emery board...LOL She was a bit of a diva at times!
No, no never, ever again! I am also a farm girl, routinely trim nails, and remove spurs from some seriously HUGE cockerels. So thought nothing to clip what I though was a tiny bit of nail from Casper. Well blood just spouted! I was horrified...Poor Casper, he was so good, but boy did it bleed. In the end, in a bit of a panic, I just threw some organic spelt flour over his paw (all I had in the cupboard) Casper just sat there, very calm....covered in flour...looking at me a bit perplexed. . It did stop the bleeding though.
