[NAGDU] Clipping dogs nails

[Julie Johnson]

I've always clipped my dogs nails, from way back when I first had my own 
dogs in high school.  Back then I had more vision.  As I lost more and 
more of my residual vision, I just kept doing what I had always 
done...trimming the nails.  I didn't know until years of doing this that 
it was a thing that some blind people struggle with.

I've used the clippers, PediPaws and most recently an actual dremmel 
tool.  The clippers are probably the quickest for me.  I think because I 
have the most practice with them.  They do leave a sharp edge though.  I 
prefer the dremmel tool, but mine has a short cord and places to plug it 
in and still reach the dogs are limited.

Anyway, the clippers I use are a plyers style.  When resting they have a 
hole where you place the nail.  The inside edges of this hole are 
sharp.  When you squeeze the handles it closes the hole and clips the 
nail.  Every set of this style of clippers I have ever come across has a 
guard to prevent you from pushing the nail in too far.  I don't like 
using the guard.  I prefer to put my finger over the hole so I can feel 
exactly how much is poking out, which is what will be cut off.  I take 
off only a small amount and clip frequently.  Different dogs have 
differing nail growth. Frequently has meant as much as once a week and 
as little as once a month.

I have a PediPaws, like the one they used to advertise on TV all the 
time.  It worked pretty good when I first got it, but quickly lost it's 
umph.  I bought new grinding wheels and new batteries, but it didn't 
help much.  I think the motor is dying.

I got a dremmel tool for Christmas a couple of years ago and I love that 
thing!   It plugs in and has loads of power.  I use it on a lower 
setting so I don't take off too much at a time and have time to make 
adjustments if needed.  I start on the underside of the tip of the nail 
and roll the dremmel around to the top of the nail, staying at the tip 
only.  This trims off the hook part that develops when the nails get too 
long.  It also gives a nice rounded shape to the nail.  The nails can 
heat up from the friction with the dremmel so I give each nail one or 
two swipes, then move to the next.  If I need to take off more I go back 
after doing a few other nails.  Usually though, once over each nail is 
enough. With this method, I also do more frequent trimming and take off 
less each time.

As you get experience with trimming and get used to how your dogs nails 
feel, you'll get in the groove of trimming.  Some dogs nails get pointy 
on the ends, some develop a sort of hook.  If you need to take off quite 
a bit to get them back to where they should be, I'd trim them only a bit 
and then wait maybe a week to take off more.  This gives the nail time 
to do it's thing and retract the quick, so it's not so close to the end.

My best advice is to buy quality tools.  I've had cheapo clippers from 
Wal-Mart and a different pair from a pet store.  I struggled a lot with 
them.  They slipped in my hand.  They crunched the nail instead of 
cleanly cutting.  Just spend the $15 or $20 for a good pair of clippers 
that feel comfortable in your hand and are made for big dogs.  It will 
make a huge difference.

Julie