Nail Trimmers

[The Spotted Devil]

I just bought a new guillotine style nail trimmer to replace my very, very old one and I hate it! Clearly you get what you pay for but it really squashes the nail rather than making a clean cut - particularly on the delicate cat claws (not so delicate when they're sharp!). Unfortunately I threw my old one out so I'm stuck with these.

Any suggestions on brand please? Happy to pay extra dollars for something that lasts. I trim claws on 3 cats and 2 dogs every 7-10 days so it would get a fair bit of use.

[gsdog2]

I just bought a new guillotine style nail trimmer to replace my very, very old one and I hate it! Clearly you get what you pay for but it really squashes the nail rather than making a clean cut - particularly on the delicate cat claws (not so delicate when they're sharp!). Unfortunately I threw my old one out so I'm stuck with these.

Any suggestions on brand please? Happy to pay extra dollars for something that lasts. I trim claws on 3 cats and 2 dogs every 7-10 days so it would get a fair bit of use.

<img src='http://www.dolforums.com.au/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thanks.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

I use human nail clippers on my 7mth Ragdoll. I prefer them for size as opposed to the larger clippers I use for the dogs. They cut without any problems and with her tiny claws I found them easier to handle

Edited April 3, 2013 by gsdog2

[BC Crazy]

Another vote for human nail clippers. I find them easier to manage as I have small hands & have very little strength in my hands due to work injuries.

Cut both my BC's nails every 2 weeks with no dramas. Less likely to cut the them too short IMHO :)

Edited April 3, 2013 by BC Crazy

[Staff'n'Toller]

In the biz we use these: Kruuse heavy duty

They stay sharp for a very very long time (as long as you don't use them to cut other things )

Let me know if you want some, I can order them through work.

[smooch]

I also use the human ones, Smooch hates the guillotine style, think it might be the slight squeezing on the nails. With the human ones he is fine.

[HazyWal]

http://www.petbarn.com.au/dogs/dog-grooming/nail-trimmers/purina-petlife-nail-clipper.html

I bought some similar to these at Petbarn about a month a go. I think they were this brand but they are stainless steel. They are super sharp as poor little Maddie knows when I cut one nail a leeeetle bit too short last time I think I should've got new glasses as well

[Salukifan]

The Shear Magic ones are good.

Or better still, get a Dremmel.

[pie]

I like the gripsoft ones but I use the sidecutter style. They last ages and I do my dogs' nails every two weeks or so. Have heard good things about the shear magic ones though. Given up on buying any from the supermarket, they are pretty much always rubbish and not sharp enough

[silentchild]

I also use human clippers for my cat.

For the dog I use a dremel and I love it, it's so much easier and less stressful for the dog too.

[pie]

I don't know how people can use human clippers, my smallest dog's nails can't fit in them and they are very squeezy rather than cutty?

[gsdog2]

I don't know how people can use human clippers, my smallest dog's nails can't fit in them and they are very squeezy rather than cutty?

I've never used them on any dog I've owned - even a Toy Poodle. A cats claws are much finer than a dogs - more like a human than a dog.

[poodle3081]

The best brand to get in either guillotine or scissor style is Resco

[karly101]

Another vote for the Kruuse ones... at work we use them and they stay sharp for a long time and can handle the toughest nails! I hate the guillotine ones.

[minimax]

I don't know how people can use human clippers, my smallest dog's nails can't fit in them and they are very squeezy rather than cutty?

That's what I find - they seem to "squash" the nail rather than cleanly cut it. I only used human ones a few times when I was desperate, but it didn't look like it did nice things to the nails.

The dremel is my favourite, but unfortunatly I have one girl that needs a straight jacket just for her nails to be done, so the dremel takes too long :/

[smooch]

I don't know how people can use human clippers, my smallest dog's nails can't fit in them and they are very squeezy rather than cutty?

That's what I find - they seem to "squash" the nail rather than cleanly cut it. I only used human ones a few times when I was desperate, but it didn't look like it did nice things to the nails.

The dremel is my favourite, but unfortunatly I have one girl that needs a straight jacket just for her nails to be done, so the dremel takes too long :/

I use the human ones the same way as I would my own nails, go round the nail. Smooch doesn't like anything that squeezes the nail. He also doesn't like the noise of the dramel even though its not very noisy.

[BC Crazy]

Same here smooch. You kind of nibble away with the human nail clippers & I find they work very well. However if the dogs nails are long you'd have to use good quality nail scissors first to take off the excess length.

[The Spotted Devil]

Thanks everyone! Very helpful and I will look into the suggestions. My Dally's nails are very thick so I'm not sure human clippers would do the job but a good idea for the kits in particular. I can't see myself using a Dremel to be honest. Most of my lot love having their nails trimmed and there is always a queue when I pick up the clippers...the cats and Em lie upside down on my lap and it's just another excuse for one on one cuddles :laugh: The cats generally start purring and Em would if she could. Zig doesn't love it but calmly puts up with it, if only for the biscuit he gets at the end.

Thanks again :)

Edited April 4, 2013 by The Spotted Devil

[becks]

mikki scissor style available from pet shops

had mine for years in the shop, they last well and the dogs donlt mind them

[kayla1]

I've used the shear magic and they were good. Didn't like the gripsoft ones because when I pressed down to cut the nail, there was a small gap where the handles close together, and I caught the skin of my hand in there a few times...which hurt a bit! I'm using the herm sprenger ones now and they're pretty sharp.