Cutting Dog’s Nails
I have a chihuahua. His nails are VERY long. He won’t let me cut them since he has an injured leg from when he was a puppy. (He is a rescue dog.) The nails being so long make it difficult for him to walk as far as I can tell and add discomfort to his already sensitive leg. What can I do? Thank you…
Doggie Owner
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Long toenails can definitely make a dog very lame. Long nails affect how their toes bend and, if extremely long, how they use their entire feet. You need to get those nails clipped as quickly as possible, and I suggest a groomer or vet to do the job. The groomer or vet can teach you how to properly clip the nails without cutting into the quick.
Once you get your dog’s nails clipped professionally the first time, start conditioning your dog to allow you to do the job at home. Casually hold and lightly squeeze each paw several times a day, offering your dog small edible treats until your dog no longer strongly objects. Then start rubbing each toe individually as you hold each foot, again providing treats. As your dog gets more used to having his feet handled, start grabbing each nail gently and moving it around a little as you hold each foot. Treats again. If you are very consistent and do this foot handling several times a day EVERY day, eventually you should be able to start clipping just one nail at a time. In time (and with lots of treats), you should be able to clip all his nails without strong objection.
If your dog simply will not allow his feet to be handled at home no matter how diligently and gradually you work with him, try clipping just one nail at a time while he’s asleep. I have an old dog who simply HATES having her feet handled and will NOT allow me to clip nails while she’s awake. If I wait until she is deeply asleep and dreaming (legs twitching), I can sometimes get several nails clipped before she awakens.
Good luck,
Tempest
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Thank you! Waiting till sleep sets in sort of worked…I havent given up yet.
Doggie Name
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I just had my 2 new adopted yorkie boys nails trimmed at the vet Tuesday (it’s believed they had never been done, extremely long).. Anyway within less than 24 hours the one was having a hard time walking and still is 2 days later. He won’t jump up on the couch or anything, they told me it was because he was so used to basically walking on his nails and not completely on his paws that it either feels weird or it maybe slightly painful… Does this makes sense?
April Wonner
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Yes it does! dogs should be walking on their pads, not nails. How would your toes feel in shoes if your toenails were too long? It would effect your walking, just as long nails on dogs effect theirs.
Beachbaby
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As a matter of fact, an experienced groomer would have explained to you that you needed to bring them back once a week for a number of weeks so the nails could be shortened gradually. When the nails grow so long, the toes do not extend all the way to their natural position and their tendons shrink so if you cut the nails all the way down in one shot, the poor dog is in pain for days and days but if they are trimmed gradually, you are allowing the tendons to stretch a little at a time so there is little or no discomfort at all.
Bibi
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exactly! As you gradually cut them, the quick moves back.
Beachbaby