korbin13 Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 I am helping a friend with an elderly dog that has long nails. I have cut the nails no problems (well a few, he doesn't like his nails being clipped but we wrapped him in a towel and it was over and done before he knew it!) How long in between cuts can I wait? Can I do it every few days or should I wait a least a week? He is a 15 year old JR cross. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 (edited) I can't answer for the clipping of nails, but I do understand that when you Dremel (grind) them, the heat produced from the friction (not that you should permit the nail to become painfully hot) causes the quick to shrink back. I also understand, though, that the longer a dog has been sporting long nails, the less chance there is of the quick moving back. So sometimes it is a case of having to trim frequently but only always back to a certain point. As to this, for me with my previous adopted girl who had not only long nails but they were like tree trunks, I just kept watching them and would trim them as soon as I could identify growth having returned. As mentioned, I could only ever take off the same small amount again, though, as her quicks would not shrink back. Hhhhmm .... I'm not sure any of this answers your question. But for my girl, if I could find the time to get to her nails, then I liked to do them once every 1.5 weeks. I found any earlier was too soon. But I'm not a groomer and I only have my previous girl to go by. Edited April 26, 2011 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dxenion Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Does this nail cutting guide help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
korbin13 Posted April 26, 2011 Author Share Posted April 26, 2011 Thanks Erny, they are quite thick as well. I do have a Dremel so I might try that in between cuts. He has a couple of white nails but they are mostly black, maybe if I keep an eye on the white ones and the quick in those ones it might give me an idea. Mmm, Dxenion, that guide says that if I do it every few days the quick should recede. It might be wise to do a trip to the vet, I think and then I can keep on top of it after vet advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Mmm, Dxenion, that guide says that if I do it every few days the quick should recede.It might be wise to do a trip to the vet, I think and then I can keep on top of it after vet advice. I think "should" is the operative word. As I remember reading, it might not in cases where the nail has always been left long. Is it that bad that a Vet would need to see it? I prefer Dremel when I'm really pushing to get the kwik (thought it was spelt 'quick' ) back. It is easier to see how close you are getting and you can get there bit by bit. For black nails, a trick is to wet the end of the nail you've been working on. I tend to use a bit of spit. It tends to show up the kwik better when it is wet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
korbin13 Posted April 26, 2011 Author Share Posted April 26, 2011 They are fairly long, the dew claws have started to curl. That's why I wanted to know how often I could clip some off. Having said that I did take a fair bit off by doing a small bit at a time. I might battle on for a few weeks with the clipping and dremelling and see how we go. When you are a fifteen year old dog, going to vet can't hurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 next question. What is the best way to stop bleeding when you do cut back to far? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dante Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 For bleeding nails, when the quick is cut, I use Styptic Powder. This will stop the bleeding very quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rottifan Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 (edited) I have a pair of sharp nail cutters and take the one amount off with a very fast clean action rather than clipping regularly and causing the dog issues from struggling or getting distressed over it. Condies crystals will stop the bleeding instantly, pinch it like salt and put on the nail after shaking off any drops of blood and all good! Dogs live in the moment - if it is quick and over with they will not be as distressed or upset over the whole ordeal than if they are restrained and tackled weekly, if that makes sense. I say this with the thought in mind that if the dogs nails are extremely long A LOT OF THE TIME the quik is that long that even if you take a little bit off, the nails will bleed. I've seen nails that long that it causes the dog walking difficulties if they are left like that and these old dogs end up lame and their lives are ended sooner than they should be as a result, it is most important to sort out the issue as soon as you can. If you are lucky enough to have the dog with white/clear nails and the quik has not grown right down then sure take little bit by little bit off! Ownership of anything comes with individual discretion and common sense, and without seeing the nails it is hard to say the best way to go. Dont relate everything about your dog to being like a human experience and life will be a lot easier for you - remember they live in the moment and then life goes on.....but the less struggling the better! Or see a good animal chiropractor afterwards to release pinched nerves. Old dogs need to be treated a lot differently Edited May 15, 2011 by Rottifan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 (edited) I have a pair of sharp nail cutters and take the one amount off with a very fast clean action rather than clipping regularly and causing the dog issues from struggling or getting distressed over it. Condies crystals will stop the bleeding instantly, pinch it like salt and put on the nail after shaking off any drops of blood and all good! You don't think a dog suffering pain from having its kwik cut would be more distressed rather than desensitising gradually without the pain?? Why would you expect the dog to trust you the next time around its nails were due a trim? If you did human nails, I don't think I'd want to come to you for a manicure, Rottifan. Ouch!! Edited April 29, 2011 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W Sibs Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 (edited) next question. What is the best way to stop bleeding when you do cut back to far? I use either Corn flour or soap to stop the bleeding. When I cut Emmy's nail to short and it started bleeding.. I shoved cheese in her mouth straight away (I always have it on standby for just in case) before she could react, put her paw in a bucket of flour.. she loved it. She thought she was getting cheese for putting her paw in a bucket.. a few days after I had that same small bucket next to the fridge and she walked over and put the same paw in there and looked at me as though she is asking 'do i get cheese now?' Edited April 29, 2011 by CW EW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
korbin13 Posted April 29, 2011 Author Share Posted April 29, 2011 I have a pair of sharp nail cutters and take the one amount off with a very fast clean action rather than clipping regularly and causing the dog issues from struggling or getting distressed over it. Condies crystals will stop the bleeding instantly, pinch it like salt and put on the nail after shaking off any drops of blood and all good! Ooh I don't know if I could do that! He is bit too old and fragile. He is going well with the dremelling, I am going to clip again on the weekend. Ha Ha CW EW, my two love cheese! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karly101 Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 Another quick way to stop bleeding is to drag the nail over a bar of damp soap. Just taking a tiny bit off every 2 weeks will help....I prefer that then causing bleeding which they do find traumatic and makes it much more harder the second time round! A really nice treat at the end helps a lot too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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