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The GSD that we fostered for another rescue and decided to keep came in with nails that are ridiculously and very big around. I tried to clip them once but she'd just gotten here and when I picked up her foot she spazzed. I figured with everything else going on with her, clipping her nails was the least of the concerns.
At this point she's settled into the house enough that it's time we deal with nails. I grabbed the pair I use on the other dogs just to find they're not big enough. So she gets a reprieve.................for a few days. In the meantime, does anyone have suggestions / recommendations for a good set of clippers for a bigger dog? She won't have a thing to do with the Dremel and quite honestly, I'm just not willing to fight her over it. Her nails are so long it would take me forever to get them filed down with it. Besides, she's 14 years old, has hip dysplasia, arthritis, and is high heartworm positive. Stressing her out over her nails isn't worth it just to use the stupid thing.
Until you can get clippers for her, grab a diamond-deb (finger nail file) and start filing, the old fashioned way. You might be surprised, she may just let you do it. I had an ole gal that did let me use a finger nail file on her and she hated clippers.
It's not too stressful and she'll probably be okay with it and you doing it. Well, you never know until you try? I am willing to try anything with the older ones that is less stressful, heck...they have usually been through enough.
Thanks all. I just bought new nail files for vacation too, so I've got a stock pile in the bathroom. I'll give it a whirl. Worst case scenario she flips and I have to wait. Will look for the Millers Forge in the meantime. Do you order them or can I find them in Petco and stores like that?
Good luck!! I have very small dogs..and 1 is a psycho about his nails..he recently lost a tooth from biting my hubby while hubby was clipping a nail...
I am just wishing you good luck!!
Thanks. I've had a lot of dogs come from the shelters that were nail clipper aggressive. We've always worked through it. But working through it with a young, healthy dog is pretty different than trying to work through it with an older dog with a lot of medical issues. I don't want to push her. She's had a rough enough life; I don't want her last days to be filled with battles over cutting her nails.
As a side note, I've found the small dogs much harder to trim than large dogs. I'll take a scared rottie over a freaked out chihuahua any day!! When I pulled Munchi from the shelter and went to trim hers - O.............M.................G.............. What a nightmare. She's been the hardest so far to work with on that. She's fine now but that first year she challenged me at every turn!
Thanks. I've had a lot of dogs come from the shelters that were nail clipper aggressive. We've always worked through it. But working through it with a young, healthy dog is pretty different than trying to work through it with an older dog with a lot of medical issues. I don't want to push her. She's had a rough enough life; I don't want her last days to be filled with battles over cutting her nails.
As a side note, I've found the small dogs much harder to trim than large dogs. I'll take a scared rottie over a freaked out chihuahua any day!! When I pulled Munchi from the shelter and went to trim hers - O.............M.................G.............. What a nightmare. She's been the hardest so far to work with on that. She's fine now but that first year she challenged me at every turn!
LOL sounds like my Nubi who is 100% chihuahua. LOL
The only time he is aggressive is over nails clippings!
I wanted to tell you thank you for being a dog rescue person though!! If I knew how to become one I would really consider doing it! My husband loves dogs also. But people like you that help dogs are the most special people on the planet !!!!
agree 100% lol, at least with the big nails you can SEE what your doing when there putting up a fuss...
i like millers forge, i perfer "scissor" style clippers and the big thing is to keep them sharp!
given its probably been a long while to go SLOW, take off a little bit at a time a couple days a week to allow the quick to receed
Thank you LM. I love doing what I do, just hate that we've had to cut back so much. If you'd like info on starting a rescue let me know. I'd be happy to tell you what I know. Just keep in mind it's extremely expensive (our rescue cost us over 12 grand out of our pocket last year) and it's an emotional roller coaster. If you'd really like to look into it, you can always contact good local rescues and see if they'd allow you to foster for them. It's a great way to get started in rescue. Will give you a good idea of what it's like.
Will def be going slow. Her nails are so long they're just grotesque. I don't think her former owner ever clipped them. And with her hip issues it can't be helping her when she's trying to walk. I thought of taking her to the vet to have it done but she doesn't like car rides and I don't want to stress her. Figured if I took her in they can Ace her and clip them though. Just don't know. The older ones with health issues are always a new set of challenges.
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