Clipping dog nails

[Wanda Van Winkle]

Any advice on clipping dog nails.

Our dog usually visits the groomer two or three times per year, but she had a thyroid/skin problem last year and her hair was not thick. In the meantime, her nails have grown too long!

She clicks around on the hardwood floors.

It is our fault--our neglect. I feel bad about it because one nail is starting to curl, like you see those people who grow fingernails like fake witch nails.

Due to a recent NazNet discussion, I bought Lucy some natural dog food. Even though the doctor had told us to bring her back for thyroid treatment--determined that was part of her problem--I didn't yet take her back.

Since she's been eating the healthier dog food, her coat is thick, luxurious and getting more beautiful. This is really true. Weird, but true. I thought she was going to have to go on medication.

So we gave her a bath at the dogwash yesterday and noticed her nails and bought some clippers.

It says to clip a little then wait a week and clip some more. But at that rate, will they ever get short again???

[Dana Grant]

Any advice on clipping dog nails.

Our dog usually visits the groomer two or three times per year, but she had a thyroid/skin problem last year and her hair was not thick. In the meantime, her nails have grown too long!

She clicks around on the hardwood floors.

It is our fault--our neglect. I feel bad about it because one nail is starting to curl, like you see those people who grow fingernails like fake witch nails.

Due to a recent NazNet discussion, I bought Lucy some natural dog food. Even though the doctor had told us to bring her back for thyroid treatment--determined that was part of her problem--I didn't yet take her back.

Since she's been eating the healthier dog food, her coat is thick, luxurious and getting more beautiful. This is really true. Weird, but true. I thought she was going to have to go on medication.

So we gave her a bath at the dogwash yesterday and noticed her nails and bought some clippers.

It says to clip a little then wait a week and clip some more. But at that rate, will they ever get short again???


Wanda, here's a web site about dog nail clipping. We don't usually get Ebony's nails clipped because we walk her enough that the concrete keeps them filed. However, since she started working at the nursing home, we do have them dremeled so that there are no rough edges, since she likes to "shake hands" with the residents at the nursing home.

Katie has to be groomed occasionally, so we just have the groomers clip her nails if they need it.

Keeping a dog's nails trimmed can also prevent splay-foot, which is painful to a dog, so it's good that you're getting that taken care of.....

Also -- feeding her a premium dog food will definitely improve her health. I'm so glad to hear that she's thriving on whatever dog food you've started her on -- that is great. Many people don't realize that many health problems in their pets are directly related to the food they're eating. So, good for you!!

Do you have one of those dog self-service bathing places near you? I wish we did!! I've heard about them and I keep looking on line to see if one is located near us. We'd take Ebony & Katie over there often if we had one near us.

Now, what kind of dog do you have, Wanda -- pictures, please!!!


TRIMMING YOUR DOG'S NAILS and PAW CONDITIONS IN DOGS - plus links to some of the top Grooming & Clipping articles and tips o... (http://lowchensaustralia.com/grooming/nailclip.htm)

[Dana Grant]

I never knew the REASON why you should clip a dog's long nails little by little, every few days......look at these diagrams.......INTERESTING!! Now I know!!!

Thanks for bringing it up!!

nailtrim (http://www.daystardanes.com/nailtrim.htm)

[Wanda Van Winkle]

Thanks, Dana.

I'm amazed at Lucy's coat. She was looking very thin-haired and splotchy when we took her to the vet. He sold us some special shampoo and gave her a shot for a skin infection, and said her hair is thyroid trouble. Interesting that changing food seems to have solved it.

We rescued her from the pound around 8 years ago, so she's somewhere around 12 years old--shitzu and chow mix. So like a little chow, but not squinty eyes--bigger eyes.

She's extremely smart.

I'll try to attach a picture here. To be fair, besides our dog Lucy, I'll post a picture of our cat Blue.

[Dana Grant]

What a pretty face!!! She sounds like she's doing quite well for a 12-year-old.....bless you for rescuing her! I love to hear rescue stories......especially now that I see so many in need now that Lindsey is volunteering at the Humane Society -- makes me want to take them ALL home -- thank goodness Bert is level-headed!! HA HA

[Wanda Van Winkle]

What a pretty face!!! She sounds like she's doing quite well for a 12-year-old.....bless you for rescuing her! I love to hear rescue stories......especially now that I see so many in need now that Lindsey is volunteering at the Humane Society -- makes me want to take them ALL home -- thank goodness Bert is level-headed!! HA HA

Actually, Lucy looks kind of scary to people who don't know her. Her teeth have always looked like that. It's so funny because she looks so fierce, but her personality is so sweet! She's an interesting mix of two breeds.

I know what you mean about rescuing pets. They had a special on the news (warning people it would be graphic) last week, and actually showed them putting dog after dog after dog to sleep, and laying these dead dogs on the floor in a row. Their point was that if everybody spayed and neutered, we would not have this problem.

It was pitiful. Michael and I both just felt sick at seeing it.

He's got a heart for animals, too. We did clip Lucy's nails and Blue's nails yesterday. He held the cat while I clipped his. Blue did NOT like being held down, and cried and fought and almost hissed. He's never hissed to my knowledge. When we were done Michael said, "I'm not doing that again. YOU hold him next time." I could tell by his face it really bothered him.

I said, "Michael we didn't hurt him. He just didn't like being held."

He said, "You don't know what he's feeling. That might be really traumatic to him."

I guess neither of us needs to visit the pound very often or we might need to build a bigger house. :)

[Dana Grant]

Actually, Lucy looks kind of scary to people who don't know her. Her teeth have always looked like that. It's so funny because she looks so fierce, but her personality is so sweet! She's an interesting mix of two breeds.

I know what you mean about rescuing pets. They had a special on the news (warning people it would be graphic) last week, and actually showed them putting dog after dog after dog to sleep, and laying these dead dogs on the floor in a row. Their point was that if everybody spayed and neutered, we would not have this problem.

It was pitiful. Michael and I both just felt sick at seeing it.

He's got a heart for animals, too. We did clip Lucy's nails and Blue's nails yesterday. He held the cat while I clipped his. Blue did NOT like being held down, and cried and fought and almost hissed. He's never hissed to my knowledge. When we were done Michael said, "I'm not doing that again. YOU hold him next time." I could tell by his face it really bothered him.

I said, "Michael we didn't hurt him. He just didn't like being held."

He said, "You don't know what he's feeling. That might be really traumatic to him."

I guess neither of us needs to visit the pound very often or we might need to build a bigger house. :)


I didn't think she looked fierce, I just thought she could use a good orthodontist!! Our friends just adopted a chihuahua who has the cutest underbite......you can see ALL of his bottom teeth in the front, so people think he's growling!

We are in the process of trying to talk Bert into agreeing to let us be a foster home -- just one at a time (to start, at least!! LOL). He's thinking about it...........LOL (we girls have a way with him!)

[Dana Grant]

By the way -- what brand of food DID you change to? It took us forever to make a decision regarding which dog food to use.....And I still go around Petsmart reading the labels wondering if we should change!! (Lindsey always says "MOM, we are NOT changing")

[Wanda Van Winkle]

I know someone who fosters pets from the shelter. She loves it. She's around 30 and single and has three dogs of her own!

[Wanda Van Winkle]

By the way -- what brand of food DID you change to? It took us forever to make a decision regarding which dog food to use.....And I still go around Petsmart reading the labels wondering if we should change!! (Lindsey always says "MOM, we are NOT changing")

I'm not settled on this dog food. It was the first nutritious natural type one we tried. Lucy doesn't seem to like the taste that much, but it is Nature's Recipe.

They did not have Nutra Dura at our Petsmart--isn't that the one you use?

But they had a couple of others similar to it.

[Dana Grant]

I'm not settled on this dog food. It was the first nutritious natural type one we tried. Lucy doesn't seem to like the taste that much, but it is Nature's Recipe.

They did not have Nutra Dura at our Petsmart--isn't that the one you use?

But they had a couple of others similar to it.

It is called Nutro Ultra. Nature's Recipe is a good one, though. But it is good if you can find one that she likes the taste....