Alice F writes:
HELP! I just cut Pip's toeneails and drew blood. We have styptic, but it says it has aluminum sulfate in it and that sounds bad to me-- I don't want Pip licking it. What do I do.?? besides holding a Kleenex on it and waiting?
My husband is the expert toenail clipperer of all time, and he uses plain old flour to stop bleeders. The dogs acted like the styptic powders (KwikStop, etc.) stung, so he switched and has been using flour for several years! Cheri ( MINIDOXIES@aol.com)
I also clip the nails with Roxie on her back with her head by my knees and her tail end next to my belly. I started doing her nails when she was real small and she just lays there while I trim the fur between her tootsies and trim her nails. When we go to the Vet I hold her like a baby, belly up and he trims them (further back than I do) and she just lays there and watches him. He says shes his best nail client. My shorthair hated getting her nails trimmed as the handler once clipped her too short but we laid her on her side and someone would rub her belly and we would talk gently to her and trim her nails at the same time and she got used to it after a few times and didn't mind. It got so we didn't need the belly rubbing. ljohnso@binghamton.edu
I always do nail trimmings, exams, dressing changes, tick hunts and such in one place--on the guest bed. I put an old blanket on the bed and lift Lacy onto the bed and pull up the chair for me to sit in. As soon as I pull the chair up to the bed she comes down to the end of the bed and lays down on her side and waits to be examined--she taught herself this when she was a puppy. Lacy always get a treat when I'm finished. Sandi and Lacy
I have more success cutting nails early in day. Dog's nerves and mine are more calm. Jane
One of the ways to desensitize him is to play with his feet a lot. We used to have a dog who was ticklish and she hated to have her nails clipped. She was a lab and it was a job that was not pleasant. After we realized that, when she was sleeping or just being goofy or anything, we would run our fingers inside her pads, up her legs, etc. She never enjoyed it but with a few basic commands, she tolerated. Pat Cate
Marlene asks:
I hope this isn't too elementary, but are dogs(dachsies in particular) born with rear dew claws? Are they then removed? Are the front sometimes removed also? I was studying Garth and noticed that he has the front ones, but not the rear. Thanks for the info, Marlene
Hi Marlene, I have had two mini-dachsies with front dew claws, but none in the rear. They were not removed from the rear - it simply is the case that they were born without them. In asking around about this, I have been told that not all dachsies are born with rear dew claws. Either they have genetically inherited them or they have not. Yes, the front are sometimes removed and I guess it is not a bad idea, since they seem to serve no purpose and can be a nuisance in some ways. My Chloe still has hers, but we really have not had any problems with them. If Garth still has front dew claws but not the rear, I would suspect that he was born without the rear ones; for I cannot imagine a good reason for removing only the rear. Barbara Moore
The dew claw is the claw high up on the foot. It's usually removed shortly after birth or when the animal is neutered as it can get caught on things and rip. alice
I've had bi-lateral rear dew claws, which I removed. I've also seen single rear dew claws on another breeder's puppies, which were subsequently removed. All but one of my current 14 doxies, have bi-lateral front dew claws, which I didn't even consider removing. I suppose it is preference, but in my opinion the rear ones need to go and the front ones stay. I have a number of breed champions and field champions have not found front dew claws to be a hinderance in either breed or field competition. Author Unknown