Nail Trimming

Most dogs wear down their nails through activities such as daily walks on pavement or sidewalks. However dogs that spend most of their time indoors their nails can become extremely long.  They can snag and damage carpets and upholstery. Excessively long nails can interfere with traction by preventing the foot pads from making contact with the ground and can actually interfere with movement resulting in changes to their posture alter the gait which causes pain.  Overly long nails are also more susceptible to being torn off. Nails should be inspected regularly (I check weekly) and trimmed when needed (once or twice a month).  My rule of thumb is “if I hear it click its time to nip”.  Giant breed dogs will require a sharp, heavy duty nipper to clip through the thickness without pinching.  They are normally not sold in stores but can be ordered from Amazon or other online pet supply companies.  I bought my nippers from Amazon and have had amazingly good luck with them so far.

Another alternative (or in my case in addition) to nippers is a Dremel handheld rotary tool. When using a Dremel, make sure you are using the sanding drum attachment and carefully pull or trim any hair away from the nail you are working on. Carefully hold the tool against the nail with slight pressure, removing just a small amount if you cannot see the quick.  Hold it lightly against the surface of the nail in 5-10 second increments to make sure the friction from the Dremel is not getting too warm and heating your dog’s toe, this is extremely painful (ladies that have had acrylic nails put on can attest to the pain when they hold it on your nail for too long.  It may take a few sessions to acclimate your dog to the sound of a Dremel and some dogs may never tolerate it.  I have had good success with a smaller, battery powered Dremel.  It is quieter and does not heat up as quickly as the more powerful ones.  The first few times I introduced the Dremel I touched their paws and nails with it NOT turned on.  The next few times it was turned on but I touched the nails and pads with the body of the Dremel to acclimate them to the noise.

This graphic has been making the rounds on Facebook and other social media. I’ve seen it several times, but I’m not sure where it originated, sorry. It’s a great illustrated reference on cutting dog’s nails though.

Some people use a pen light up under the nail to illuminate where the quick ends.  This works great on light nails but trimming dark nails can pose a bit of a challenge.  It is obviously more difficult to trim a dark nails than light nails and there is a greater chance of nicking the quick.  If you accidentally cut into the quick, the dog will feel a brief moment of pain and the nail will begin to bleed. Hold pressure over the end of the nail and the blood should clot in a few minutes. If bleeding persists, pack with styptic powder or use a styptic pencil. If you don’t have any on hand, flour or cornstarch will do as well.

When checking out the condition of your dogs nails, dont forget to check between their toes and at the pads on the bottoms of their paws.  Red itchy and wet spots between the toes can alert you to allergies (both food and environmental) and injury.  Grass seed seems to dig in between the toes and can be quite painful.  Rough pad can be treated softened by using Musher’s Secret or Bag Balm.  Originally developed for sledding dogs, Musher’s Secret is a dense barrier wax that is non-greasy and does not stain carpets or upholstry.  It protects paws from even the most extreme elements from hot pavement and sand to snow.  I use it on Brutus and Rufus’s paw pads when they get dry and flaky.

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Feather trimming is important

To trim flight feathers or not to trim?

This is a controversial question. Birds in the wild need to find food, shelter, nest sites, and mates. A captive bird does not need to do such things. Birds in the wild also fly to get exercise. Additionally, flapping the wings strengthens the muscles. In our homes, however, birds are able to engage in forms of exercise other than flying.

Birds can run from place to place, climb, and even flap their wings vigorously while standing still. There are several pros and cons to trimming feathers. While it is an individual owner’s choice whether to trim flight feathers, my staff and I promote wing trims due to the number of accidents we see in captive flighted birds. First and foremost is safety. Flighted birds can injure themselves by flying into ceiling fans, mirrors, or closed windows. They can also escape out open windows and doors, or worse yet, get caught in slamming doors. They can fly into open pans of boiling water or into hot cups of coffee. They also can get trapped in air vents. Through 17 years of experience in treating birds, I have seen it all. You never think it will happen to your bird until it does. All it takes is a fraction of a second.

Some owners argue that a bird whose wings have been trimmed is disadvantaged in that it is be unable to get away from an overly interested or aggressive household cat or dog. My response, based on my experience with my own personal bird pets, is that if all household pets are monitored, remain separated, and never left together unsupervised, this situation can be completely avoided. Given the risks, in the balance, I generally recommend wing trimming, unless there is some special unique reason not to do it. A proper wing trim enables a bird to coast to the floor from a height and not to plummet. This is especially important for large, heavy-bodied birds such as Amazons and African grays who are prone to severe (sometimes life-threatening) injury if they fall uncontrollably.

With a proper wing trim, a bird can maneuver safely around without risk of injury or even death. If you’re considering a wing trim, remember to think safety first, and be sure to speak to your bird-savvy vet.

Photo credit, Macaw, Dr. Hess.

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Solve Horse Behavior Problems that Occur During Shoeing and Trimming

Learn how to train your horse to stand in a well behaved manner so that it can receive the best possible shoeing and/or trimming job. This book is the only one of its kind solely dedicated to solving behavioral problems encountered during shoeing.

Check it out!