[nagdu] Re product reviews: nail trimmers

[Katrin Andberg]

How did those of you who use grinders get your dogs to tolerate these 

instruments?  Weren't they afraid of the motor?  Is there any risk of injury


to fingers or paws?

 

1.  I introduced my dogs to the grinder 1st by just letting it run while
they were eating dinner or breakfast.  None of my guys bothered about the
noise due to that it seems.  High value meal time with the motor running
they said "No problem-o!"  The great thing about a grinder is that if you
get too close to the quick most grinders will self cauterize, so no blood!
Plus as you get closer to the quick most dogs will start to pull their toes
back, so you can feel from the dog's reaction if you are getting to close.
The only danger to me I have found is when I miss the nail and sand down my
thumb!  I have had some pretty good grinds in my own finger nails due to
this!  But really those don't hurt just feel kinda funny and look a little
odd.

 

How did you introduce the grinder to your dog?

 

2.  I started with putting them on a table.  I have a grooming table but
putting them up on top of a vari-kennel dog crate or other raised solid
surface works fine as well.  I find if they are up higher 1. It doesn't hurt
my back so much to bend over and 2. The dog's don't fuss and squirm as much.
Then I 1st get them used to having their feet handled while they stand
still.  So I will pick up a paw, stay "stand, stay" and give them a treat.
I practice this long before I bring any nail trimmer or grinder into the
picture, so that when I finally do 1st intro the grinder or hand held
clippers, the dog is used to standing still and having his feet picked up
and handled.  Once the dog is good with that, usually if I have a puppy or
fearful dog I will start with another person to feed my dog really good
cookies while I grind the nails or I have been known to smear some peanut
butter on the wall for the dog to lick off.  That one works really well if
you live alone!  I just pick up the foot same as I have practiced with the
dog, I hold it with the palm of my hand under the pads of the dog's foot and
my fingers out towards the dog's nails.  Then with my thumb usually (which
is on the top of the nail, my other fingers are on the undersides of the
nails) I extend 1 nail and with my opposite hand that is holding the
grinder, I press the grinder turned on to the tip of the nail and with a
back and forth motion going from top of the nail to the bottom I grind the
nails down while the dog gets cookies for being good.  If your dog has issue
I would recommend just doing a little of 1 nail every day until they get
really used to it.  Some dogs will never be "comfortable with it" but they
can learn to tolerate it. 

 

How do you know how much nail to grind at any one time?  How do you get a 

uniform length (I don't want to disrupt Alvin's balance by throwing off the 

weight distribution of his foot).

 

3.  I don't really worry about uniform length, I just grind until I feel the
toe retract and then I know I'm getting close to the quick.  

 

How often do you trim?

 

4.  About once every 1-2 weeks for dogs that I can do all 4 feet in 1
setting.  Every day if I am teaching a dog to tolerate it or he'll only let
me do 1 nail a day.  

 

What's the best technique?

 

5.  see above

 

Is it best to start with a less powerful grinder, say the Pedi-Paws, and 

then graduate to something more powerful?

 

6.  I have never used a Pedi-Paws, I have been using a Demel rotary corded
sander for years, long before Pedi-Paws were invented.  I have never had a
problem with the stronger tool.  And plus it's useful around the house for
other projects too!

 

Is diet a factor in nail growth?  Do grain-free diets produce a nail that 

yields more pliantly to the pavement?

 

7.  Not that I have found.  It depends on foot conformation.  James I used
to rarely have to grind his nails when he was working.  Now that he's
retired I have to do them once a week!

 

Hope that helps!

 

Katrin 

 

Katrin Andberg

 <mailto:katrin at maplewooddog.com> katrin at maplewooddog.com