grooming

anna · Old Hand

grooming

max · Enlightened One

Hi Anna, This is a touchy subject for our Cas, as she is very sensitive about her front paws. Cas has to go to the vet to have a sedative before anything can be done with her claws, but in general walking your dog on hard surfaces does keep them down well though you may find the need tidied now and again , just be careful if your dog has white claws it is easy enough to see the vein that run down the centre of them and do not clip too near the vein as they can bleed quite badly. If your dogs claws are black then it is more diificult and you have to be very careful, much safer to take to little than to much. hope this helps. Nora.

Teresa · Enlightened One

tricky one this. i tend to trim dave and daisy's nails occasionally. just taking the ends off really. as nora said, the black nails are the most difficult but if you just nip a couple of millimetres off you should be ok.

Dave · Enlightened One

It's really hard to give advice on this without seeing the nails! All hounds are different..

..if you are worried nip into your vets, I'm sure one of their vet nurses would give you an honest opinion without you having to make an appointment...

Suzanne · Guru

indeed - a vet nurse will happily look at the nails for you & clip them there & then if needed (for a few quid) Always worth asking to buy a silver nitrate pen whilst you are there for when you clip them at home thereafter...its only a few quid I think & is used if the nail is clipped too short & bleeds...it can bleed ALL over the place & takes ages to stop - the silver nitrate pen coagulates the blood there & then & saves you a big carpet cleaning bill....the vet/vet nurse will explain it all to you tho...

Christine Young · GAL Newsletter Editor

Suzanne - really interested in the silver nitrate pen you mention. Does it stop bleeding from elsewhere as well as nails?

Christine

Suzanne · Guru

Hi Christine - Ive never seen it used for anything other than bleeding nails. Im sure if it was of use elsewhere I would have seen or heard of it by now. So id say no to any other use than bleedy nails...but certainly you can buy them from the vets (they will prob have to order them in for you tho)

Christine Young · GAL Newsletter Editor

Thanks Suzanne - I'll certainly get one in for emergencies in the nail department. And I know my sister will be interested too - she clips her beagles' nails regularly.

Christine

Siouxsie · Enlightened One

Also another way of checking to see if they are too long is to see if you can slip a sheet of paper under the nails,if so then they are fine.

Because all our dogs are different and tend to stand and pad down when they are walking differently, some dogs will be longer than others.

The sheet of paper is a quick and easy way to check, the only thing is you usually get a look of 'what are you doing?' from your hounds.

anna · Old Hand

thanx all for advice ill check on that after new year of maybe next walk if thats ok.as im new to this dog lark im still learning...

anna · Old Hand

hi folks its me again aint posted for a while.had taylor to the vets friday got her nails clipped, he also said when u use those nitrate pen it stops the bleeding but it leaves them in pain like we get when we cut/bite into the quick of our nails.he also said her teeth are sparkling white and wanted to know if we brushed them or not we dont we use bones and dental stix, hes never seen such white teeth on a greyhoundand her coat was shining he was pleased with her and her weight is 33.5kg which he said was a good weight for a non racing grey.but poor taylor got herself worked up into a hell of a state panting,whining,she yelp with anticipation when getting her nails done but over all shes in brill condition for a rescue hound seeing as we have only had her under a year and also spoilt rotten.

Suzanne · Guru

anna wrote:

had taylor to the vets friday got her nails clipped, he also said when u use those nitrate pen it stops the bleeding but it leaves them in pain like we get when we cut/bite into the quick of our nails....................and also spoilt rotten.

Good for you Anna - Taylor is obviously very well loved & cared for! the quote from your vet confused me - I think he meant that if the nail is cut too short & the blood vessel is nicked - thats when it stings & hurts....not the nitrate pen being used itself. Not that that would stop a Grey having a good yelp anyway ....wooses that they are! LOL

Id love to see a piccie of your girl!

Siouxsie · Enlightened One

I'm sure I read here on the forum about someone using a tea bag to stop the bleeding from clipping the nail to short, I personally think that seems a lot more soothing than the use of the silver nitrate pen.

Anna, you must also be extremely proud of what your vet has said about Taylor and you should be - Well done

-- Edited by Siouxsie at 20:28, 2006-02-18

greyluvver · GAL Membership Co-Ordinator

Taylor, beautiful white teeth and manicured nails - what more could a girl wish for?

anna · Old Hand

yeah i know i need to get updated pics of her and if ur at next walk hopefully we will make it and ull see her for urself i must admit she`s gorgous but then again im biasepics on there way soon i hope to.

i dont think ill be doing the pink nail varnish thats a bit too far.

-- Edited by anna at 23:30, 2006-02-18

Amber · Master

Have to be honest - I have never ever trimmed my greyhounds' nails! I really wouldn't fancy it...But mine get plenty of pavement walking which wears them down naturally. Oscar has a racing injury on his wrist, which has resulted in a funny twisted foot which is gradually getting more twisted, so one of his nails is rather long, but the vet just does that one when I take him for a check-up. I don't think their nails need to be too short.

FAJ · Enlightened One

Amber wrote:
I don't think their nails need to be too short.

I'd agree with this. I often think our two have reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally long nails but the vet always says that they're just right.