Apr 24 2008
Cutting a Dog’s Nails: Why I Gave Up DIY and Turned to the Pros
I’m pretty hands on when it comes to taking care of my pets. I can pill a cat like nobody’s business, and I take care of all brushing, washing, walking and poop pick up regarding Greta.
So I wasn’t going to shy away from nail cutting, either (yes, I cut my cats’ nails regularly, too). I bought a pair of nail trimmers, and gradually worked on getting Greta accustomed to the process (toe by toe, day by day).
Then, one day, something happened. I think I looked away for an instant, but I’m not sure.
The result, however, was horrible. I had cut Greta’s quick, there was blood everywhere, and she was whimpering. I felt awful, and it scared me off of DIY nail trimmings.
So the next time she was in need of a nail trim, I tried a groomer.
They seemed to do an adequate job, but later that day, while Greta was running, she immediately sat down and started whimpering again. I examined her and discovered that one of her nails had split and was full of dirt–not good.
Long story short, I ended up at the vet and it cost in more ways than one (Greta’s nail had to be cut way past the quick, and she had her foot bandaged for a couple of days).
I learned my lesson, and I now take her to get her nails cut by a vet tech, which runs $20, and may cost a bit more than a groomer, but affords me peace of mind that it will be done correctly.
That’s not to say that all groomers (or DIYers) aren’t fully capable of cutting dogs’ nails.
There are also plenty of tools available to use, such as the QuickFinder Clipper ($29.99 to $34.99), the Dogmatic Careful Clipper ($15.99 to $19.99), and Peticure (prices start at $29.99).
I haven’t tried any of these products, but if you have (or know someone who has), please speak up so we can all learn from your experience(s)!
The American Mutt-i-grees Club, founded by Pet Savers Foundation, wants to spread the word that mutts are people dogs too!
The American Mutt-i-grees Club is all about change and choice:
Changing how mixed-breed dogs are regarded, by celebrating the unique
characteristics of each one of them, and helping people make the right
choice - the choice to adopt mixed-breed puppies and [...]
The pills you pop may make you feel better, but they could be fatal to your pet. Just last year, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) handled 89,000 cases of pets exposed to human medications.
Here’s what to watch out for:
NSAIDs
According to the APCC, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen or naproxen are the most [...]
My distaste for puppy mills notwithstanding, I’m pleased to report that, stepping away from its reputation as “The Puppy Mill Capital of the East,” the Pennsylvania Legislature passed HB 2525 on October 8, a bill that will improve the lives of tens of thousands of dogs living in Pennsylvania’s puppy mills.
HB 2525 doubles the cage [...]
Two years ago today, my husband and I rescued Greta, and our lives have never been the same since. Sure, it was hard in the beginning–after all, she was a puppy with no experiences outside of living in a wire crate 23 hours a day.
Slowly, she learned how to relax and live in a home. [...]
October is Adopt-A-Dog month, a celebration established by the American Humane Association to promote dog adoptions from animal shelters and educate people about responsible pet care. Learn more about events in your area here.
And just in time for Adopt-A-Dog month, Disney’s new film, Beverly Hills Chihuahua hits theaters October 3. The film is about Chloe, [...]