dsm
Grey Puppy
Posts: 89
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Post by dsm on Jan 21, 2009 22:58:36 GMT -5
Just curious to know what everyone does for nail care.
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sandysfarm
Grey Lover
positive reinforcement is theElegantSolution
Posts: 676
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Post by sandysfarm on Jan 21, 2009 23:05:40 GMT -5
cuts 'em...
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Post by Heather (& KC) on Jan 22, 2009 6:36:08 GMT -5
So far it's been a vet thing but perhaps the first time he steps on my bare foot I'll dig out my guillotine clippers!
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Post by leeden on Jan 22, 2009 8:00:14 GMT -5
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Post by samrob on Jan 22, 2009 8:39:29 GMT -5
We use the dremel. we do weekly, otherwise it takes too long to do four dogs.
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Post by jiffer on Jan 22, 2009 9:28:48 GMT -5
I cut them with scissor-style clippers. I voted for once a week, but that's wrong. When they first come home, it's once a week until the nail gets clipped back far enough, then I move to an every two week schedule. This is so their nails don't get forced back too far as they do need them for grip.
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gunnersmom
Hound Nut
GUNNER--the greyhound that started it all
Posts: 1,950
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Post by gunnersmom on Jan 22, 2009 10:37:56 GMT -5
I used the Dremel on Gunner's nails as he HATED the clippers. Maui and Murphy both bite their nails and do a very good job at keeping them trimmed!!!
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ghoundcrew
Grey Lover
The Poochachos: Smitty - Stinger
Posts: 759
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Post by ghoundcrew on Jan 22, 2009 12:06:42 GMT -5
Smitty uses the sidewalk, after he does his biz, he walks to the sidewalk and does a kicky-scratchy action on the cement with all four paws. I took them to a groomer once, Stinger was cool and Smitty nearly ate the hands of the groomer (he has all black nails) so I haven't been back. They both get done at the Vets each spring and Sting has lost a couple of nails running around the back yard on the ice etc. Sting's are quite long, like Talons....and the quick has progressed almost to the end of the nail. Any suggestions on that? Maybe a project for Karen at Camp Greyhound?!?!?
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Trish
Junior Grey Lover
Posts: 149
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Post by Trish on Jan 22, 2009 13:10:08 GMT -5
I usually let Rudy do them on the sidewalk as well - but lately there has been no bare pavement on the sidewalk to do them on ..... will winter ever end? I have been doing regular clips with clippers/scissors, Rudy doesn't worry about it at all .... though I am sure he would if I cut too short - so far so good
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Post by jiffer on Jan 22, 2009 14:51:00 GMT -5
Gary, you have to start getting them cut weekly to get that quick to recess. Doing them yourself isn't that bad.. my guys just lay there and I clip. If someone is being fussy, I get Rene to pet them and distract them while I clip. After a while, you learn where the quick is and how close you can get to it. Once it becomes part of their routine, they just lay there and wait for their "after torture" treat. LOL The trick is to buy some good scissor style clippers. I like the Bamboo brand ones as they are easy to grip and they stay sharp, plus they come with a small packet of styptic powder and a nail file. The guillotine style tends to pinch and so they can be painful if you're near the quick. Dremel, if you feel comfortable doing so. I don't like the idea of something that can (and does) heat up going near their sensitive quicks, so I prefer to clip. Not to mention, there is no way I'd get something that noisy near Uber, let alone use it on him. Trish, when I have quicked my own kids, they don't even make a sound.. now if I get close to quicking, they scream bloody murder. LOL Typical greyhound. Just make sure to have styptic powder on hand, or in lieu of that, flour or corn starch.
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Post by sunshinesmom on Jan 22, 2009 16:45:22 GMT -5
Initially I took Sunshine to the groomer, but recently decided I could do it on my own. I use a scissor type for any longish nails, and finish the close work with the dremel. Eventually, we will dremel weekly for maintanence. I have read that they do heat up the nails and so until we get her nails down, we are doing it a bit at a time. For us, it worked better because she would give me the GSOD even when there was a LOT of white nail between my scissors and her quick because I was being so conservative initially. She doesn't make a peep for the dremel tho'.
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Post by samrob on Jan 22, 2009 20:55:37 GMT -5
The dremmel can heat up if you stay on each nail for too long. That is why we do weekly, it only takes a second to trim them up. Charger's quicks are still long, so we are still working on that one.
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redneckwoman
Junior Grey Lover
Mom to Sierra (aka Lulu/Nokomis Nurse)
Posts: 292
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Post by redneckwoman on Jan 22, 2009 21:26:29 GMT -5
I finally got up the nerve to do Sierra's nails myself. They were long enough that she took a gouge out of her cheek (which of course she keeps scratching open!). Got the 'pedi-paws' dremel thing...but we are still working on getting her used to the noise - I won't attempt to use it on her yet. I did manage clipping one paw a day last week with scissor type cutters and smoothing with a file. Will do them all again in a few days as I didn't want to cut too much too soon. She was resistant and kept pulling her paws back but I persevered...and she finally got bored with the tug of war and snoozed when she realized she lost the battle.
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Post by kjw on Jan 22, 2009 23:41:01 GMT -5
As an experienced groomer, I can tell you that most groomers use these, and for good reason: excalibur.bc.ca/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15&products_id=110Ren's probably carries them, they're made by Miller's forge and they are fantastic. The guillotine style squash the nail, not so great. One good way to distract your dog during nail clipping time is to smear peanut butter on your refrigerator, right at nose height. That keeps them busy lol. For those of you afraid of quicking your dog's nails, or reluctant to use a dremel, you can actually file them down using a nail file, it just takes some time. The best way to start with clipping is to just take the very tip off, and do it more often - that way you won't quick the nail and your dog will become more relaxed, as will you. Give lots of treats. The quick will recede as you go, and you can do them 2 times a week until they're at the length you like. If you're going to buy a dremel tool, make sure you get one that has a variable speed, and can be slowed down well under 5000 rpm, otherwise they're way too fast.
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Post by lmcallen74 on Jan 23, 2009 6:51:27 GMT -5
How do you know what is a good length? Is there a certain angle that they should or shouldn't be cut, filed at?
Kawaii usually walks her nails to a nice length on the sidewalk but with the snow covering the sidewalks and also with shorter walks due to the cold, I'm going to have to do them. I took a bit off but other than not wanting to hit the quick, I don't know what length is ideal for them.
Lisa
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