dogs claws

[zzxxee]

i need to clip my dogs claws its very expensive at the vets i have some clppers how much should i take off and at waht angel?

[woofgang]

if you've never done it, go to the vet and ask them to teach you. You won't mean to, buti f you cut too much off or hurt your dog even once, you'll have a real fight on your hands to do it again

[zzxxee]

i no all that but the vet even charges a stupid amount for a demo i cant afford it this side of xmas

[shaneystar2]

The vet will do it but will charge ! How much it is now I have no idea .A groomer will do it as a matter of routine .I used to cut Shaneys nails myself with a special nail cutter . I've always done this with dogs I have owned to keep them in trim .Just be very careful :)
http://dogs.about.com/od/dogcarebasics/a/nail_ trimming.htm
If you are not confident then go to the vet or a qualified groomer .

[Schutzengel]

There'a a quick underneath the nail, and if you cut this it will bleed for ages, and be very sore. I'm not sure how much a vet will charge, but I don't think it will be much.
I have just this week had the vet to cut the claws of my 21yr old cat, who no longer wears them down by scratching on a tree as she used to, so they need cutting every six months or so. The vet charges �4.50 for a cat, so it might be �6 or �7 for a dog, and well worth it. Also I think he would show you how to do it. Apart from anything else, the dog's comfort comes before Christmas. couldn't you treat it as his/her Christmas present.

[zzxxee]

the last time i took my dog to get them done at a vet he made them bleed so much he had to soldor them after

[shaneystar2]

i cannot believe that a qualified vet would have made a dogs nails bleed .Or that he had to solder them ....are you for real ?
Why do waste our time with idiots !

[zxyvixy]

let them grow and paint them a lovely shade of pink.much cheaper and no more trips too the vet....

[LoftyLottie]

Buy a dog 'nail' file. They are less dangerous than attempting to clip. My dog's claws bleed very easily because the quicks go almost down to the end of the claw.

I have to admit on one occasion the vet nurse has made a claw bleed and has used a stiyptic pen (not soldered them!)

The vet recommended a dog nail file and they are not very expensive. (about �4.00 and well worth it).

).

[Noweia]

The practice I work in charges �5 to clip a dogs nails. You can definitely do it yourself, but you really need to be shown rather than told the first time. If you hit the quick of the nail it will bleed for what seems likes forever. Best safe than sorry.

[tooshie]

For starters try and take your pooch for longer walks to keep them in trim, failing that normally you can see the vein running through. Clip a fraction below it and it won't bleed, same rule of thumb applies for parrots beaks. BUT you need the correct tool and confidence. If you know anyone in your area ask them to show you. O

[lankeela]

Find someone in your area who runs a show dog ringcraft class, or a breeder/exhibitor of show dogs, they will do it for you and show you how. (We are not all the evil scumbags a certain tv programme made us out to be).

If your nail clippers are the guillotine type they should have a guard which you can slide into place to prevent you cutting too much off. Only take off the very end, the hooked over bit and do it a bit at a time. If you dog has white nails it is easier to see and avoid the darker bit that is the quick. If it has dark nails it is harder to see, but err on the side of caution and only take the very tips off. If you do make one bleed then you can put talc on it to stop it, it won't harm the dog but it will make it very difficult for you to do them next time.

[lankeela]

This might help, although these clippers are the 'scissor' type,
not the guillotine ones.

http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/nailtrim.htm

[lankeela]

Cancel that, I had another look and they are guillotine ones! If you look at the last picture you can see the hole where the nail goes, but make sure the guard is slipped over so not much of the nail can go through.

[smudge]

Further to the other helpful posts - there are lots of useful videos on YouTube, which show you how to clip or trim your dog's claws/nails, like this one for instance:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=66Uhv6179bU&feat ure=related

If you're still too nervous to try it yourself, please take your dog to a vet or parlour (that last word sounds so old!).

[shaneystar2]

zzxxee I feel I owe you an apology for snapping .
I just had visions of a vet with a soldering iron,which didn't ring true somehow :))
And of course when a similar green name pops up advising that you paint the dogs nails I saw red .
I'm sorry for being a grump and hope you get your pooch and his nails sorted out .

[smudge]

P'raps zzxxe meant that the vet used an instrument to stem the bleeding, rather than soldering them! Must have been quite painful for the poor dog either way!

Good luck zzxxee.

[tooshie]

I'd steer clear of that vet, if they've had a bad day it's not right to take it out on an animal. If the jobs done right there is no need for cauterisation. If you live near Doncaster flag me and I'll do it buckshee.

[Therema]

Ive had the same problem, my minpin doesnt go out cos she is scared of the world so you can imagine the length of her nails, the vet now charges �10 where i come from which there was no way i could afford anymore so ive bought nail clippers,, this was a laff im only taking tiny bits off at a time because her nails are very black and cant see the quick, so its one nail one chocolate drop Gawd talk about bribery and corruption, but im getting there

[zzxxee]

it was an impliment simular to a soldoring thing very long a nd thin hot and lots of steam came off i wouldnt put my pet through pain unless i thought he was good he was a qualified vet, needless to say my mutt wont be going there again thanks for the advice about the dog nail file wil look out for one