Re: The real ? is how do you get them to let you!!....

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Posted by Teresa on September 28, 1998 at 14:40:28:

In Reply to: The real ? is how do you get them to let you!!.... posted by Iguanamomma on September 28, 1998 at 11:38:42:

Working at a vets office, I know the routine for dogs and cats very well. What you are actually seeing-if you're lucky enough to have an animal with light colored nails- is the blood supply to the nail. It's not a nerve, however it does hurt them a bit if the nail is cut too low. It will bleed a bit and this can be stopped with a product called kwik stop or you can just use flour. You just pat it onto the nail where it's bleeding and hold it there for a second or two. They say that for dogs and cats you need to start the trimming right when you get them so that they get used to it and always make it a pleasant experience. If that means that you trim one nail a day then that's what you do. For Nordica, the Guide dog pup, I combine nail trims with tooth brushing. He just lives to get his teeth brushed so he will tolerate sitting through getting a foot trimmed then doing some teeth. I alternate back and forth between the two until they are all done. Some animals just never get used to this though and it does take 2 people or for some dogs sedation. I guess you just have to see what works best for you and, in this case, your ig. I saw something on another site about a trimmer that sears the nail shorter. The woman said that you then don't have the sharp edges like you can get with regular trimming. I'll see if I can hunt down the site again.

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: Working at a vets office, I know the routine for dogs and cats very well. What you are actually seeing-if you're lucky enough to have an animal with light colored nails- is the blood supply to the nail. It's not a nerve, however it does hurt them a bit if the nail is cut too low. It will bleed a bit and this can be stopped with a product called kwik stop or you can just use flour. You just pat it onto the nail where it's bleeding and hold it there for a second or two. They say that for dogs and cats you need to start the trimming right when you get them so that they get used to it and always make it a pleasant experience. If that means that you trim one nail a day then that's what you do. For Nordica, the Guide dog pup, I combine nail trims with tooth brushing. He just lives to get his teeth brushed so he will tolerate sitting through getting a foot trimmed then doing some teeth. I alternate back and forth between the two until they are all done. Some animals just never get used to this though and it does take 2 people or for some dogs sedation. I guess you just have to see what works best for you and, in this case, your ig. I saw something on another site about a trimmer that sears the nail shorter. The woman said that you then don't have the sharp edges like you can get with regular trimming. I'll see if I can hunt down the site again.

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