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All
About Nail Trims For Dogs And Cats
Pet Pedicure Info and Images |
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Learn about how to
do a nail trim in a dog or cat,
when and why it should be done,
and how to stop the bleeding
if you cut too close! |
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Question:
I'm
getting a little tired of taking my 95 pound mixed-breed hound
to the vet's office to get his nails trimmed. Hugo isn't
happy about it either but it needs to be done about every 8
weeks. They have to muzzle him and nobody's happy.
Why can't I do this at home where Hugo will be
more happy? The vet says if I happen to trim a nail too
short Hugo could do some severe bleeding.
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Answer:
nail trim...
why... how to do...
It's
almost a necessity to sedate some dogs and cats for their nail
trim, also called a pedicure, because of their self-protective
nature regarding their paws and toes.
If the nail trim is really necessary it should be done in the
safest and most compassionate way.
Your dog may not need to have anybody trim
his nails if you can walk him a few times a week on an abrasive
surface such as a sidewalk, parking lot or gravel road. Or
try having someone tempt him with a treat while you trim one
nail at a time. If he starts fussing, let him go and a day
or so later, trim another nail. In other words, they
don't need all the nails trimmed
at the same time... do one a day and he'll look forward to his
toenail-trimming treats.
Your veterinarian can show you how and
where to trim the toenails. And if you happen to trim one
too close and you slice the quick (the live inner core of the
nail where the blood vessels and nerves reside), it is a
simple matter to apply a blood clotting agent to stop the
bleeding. |
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Doctor's Notes
Deep Pedicures
Some dogs such as
Bassets and Dachshunds have a deep pedicure done once or twice a
year. The dog is anesthetized and the toes nails are
scrubbed clean. The nail is then purposely cut close to
the toe and deep into the quick. The doctor then provides
clotting techniques to the deep pedicure site and the dog goes
home with very short nails.
How often to do...
Most dogs of certain breeds never need
anything done with the toe nails. It is not true
that all dogs need a nail trim procedure.
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The pink part of the
nail, called the quick, is the area of nerve
and blood supply |
Cats usually permit
their nails to be trimmed and the quick is easy to
avoid |
Walks or runs on
abrasive surfaces keep the pad in good condition and
the nails reasonably short |
Hard working dogs like little
Sunny B. Bunzafur, Jr. (above)
seldom need a nail trim |
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Question:
My groomer always trims my dog's toe
nails and doesn't charge extra for it. But if I have the
vet do it there's a pretty big fee. Why is there such a
difference in price to have a nail trim done?

Silver nitrate sticks can
be helpful
in stopping bleeding from a
nail cut too short
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Answer:
nail trim... cost... price... groomer
Many groomers give their
clients a set price for grooming each pet. Obviously a
full
bath, clipping, brush-out and nail trim will cost more on a
Collie than the same service for a Wire-haired Fox Terrier.
So your groomer includes the time and trouble to do the pedicure
in the "price of the grooming". Most likely, if all you
wanted your groomer to do is a nail trim there would be a
service fee to do it. A complimentary nail trim is often
done, too, by groomers and veterinarians especially if it is
done as a extra during another procedure.
Keep in mind, too, that at most animal hospitals
professional fees are generally higher than similar services at
a groomer. It's really no different from fee differentials
among all sorts of professional businesses. The lawyer may
charge more per service or time than a guidance counselor who
may charge fees different from a neurosurgeon.
Your dog may be easy to work with. Some
dogs, though, have to be managed with a muzzle and have three or
more people holding it while the nails are trimmed. Some
dogs and cats actually have to be sedated for a proper pedicure
to be performed.
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Question:
What can I do to keep my dog's and cat's toe nails
short without having to do nail trimming?
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Answer:
shorter nails... what to do
If a dog or cat has dewclaws that do not contact the walking
surface, these nails may need trimming to prevent them from growing back
into the skin. The other toe nails can be kept shorter by...
walking on abrasive surfaces such as sidewalks, parking lots, or gravel
roadway
using a nail file or emery board as often as needed to gently rasp the
nail tip back
using a commercial electric rotary abrasive such as a Dremel tool
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Call
your veterinarian if your dog or cat displays any difficulty walking
or displays inflammation
of the paws or toes
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