Cutting Puppys Nails

1489 Views 17 Replies 16 Participants Last post by ngtah00, Jul 21, 2005

chihuahua man

Discussion Starter · Jul 19, 2005

Hello i am wondering how to cut my puppies nails, it might sound like a silly question but i got some dog nail cutters off ebay and i tried them today and when i cut one of her nails it started bleeding out the end?? I didn't even cut it that short and now i feel like crap and really don't want to see her bleed like that again it freaked me out, so can someone please help me, by telling me how far to cut? Are their nails meant to bleed when cut? And most importantly would i have hurt her by making it bleed?

Thanks

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

ilovekeiki

· #2 · Jul 19, 2005

you need to take her to a groomer or a vet and have them teach you... i am having a hard time with it too... luckily some of my pups nails are white so i can see how far to cut but the black nails are a lost cause!

Kioana

· #3 · Jul 19, 2005

see! thats why i don't cut my dogs nails. i take them to pet smart and just paid that 10$ i get the nail cutting package. i think they like it ,makes them feel pretty. they get treats each time too, lol that maybe why they like it!

SunnyFLMum

· #4 · Jul 19, 2005

Can't help you there, hubby cuts Gizzies nails....but Gizmo makes it a chore....ughhh

Maybe you can get someone else to do it? I personally wouldn't pay $10 for someone to do it...call me cheap...LOL...but $10? Maybe I should advertise that my hubby does it and make some money on the side....hehehehe....

I have a toy poodle and the groomers will do it for $5...maybe you can call groomers and see....

Speaking of nails his need to be cut, their little daggers right now...lol

chimommy

· #5 · Jul 19, 2005

Yep, you have to be very careful cutting the nails. I have always been very good at it but Angel freaks whenever I pull the clippers out. No idea why as we have never had a bad experience before. But she gets so jumpy that I'm afraid of knicking her too close so we just go to the groomer to have it done. She behaves better for them. LOL

luvmydogs

· #6 · Jul 19, 2005

You maybe better off taking her the groomers. Their nails should not bleed when you cut them. You may have cut to close to the quick which caused it to bleed.

Bella's nails are white so that helps and hubby cuts them. I am too paranoid to do it even though they are white.

Leslie

Sachem

· #7 · Jul 19, 2005

Yep, I'd take her to a groomer until you are comfortable doing it yourself. As far as being painful, I would imagine it hurts and could be tender for awhile.
P.S. $10 :shock: that is a lot, I charged $5 per dog.

nabi

· #8 · Jul 19, 2005

The groomer or vet tech will teach you the proper way to cut the nails without injury...and then if you do them regularly, you will be only cutting the very tip. Also I found that in doing Bella's more often, she has become quite used to it and lays very still...but she is still happy when it's over LOL

Auggies Mom

· #9 · Jul 19, 2005

Dad does Auggies and he doesn't much like it. We only barely cut the quick one time and it didn't bleed much. It was actually harder with both of us trying. Someone ( maybe Vic ) uses a dremmel which would mean not having to worry about cutting the quick and they would probably be smoother. Auggies are always sharper right after we cut them till they smooth back out from walking. I try to hit them quickly with a nail file :roll:

chimom

· #10 · Jul 19, 2005

Some allow you to clip their nails with no problem, and some put up quite a fuss. My Jasmine puts up a big fuss. My grand-daughter is very good at it, having worked at a vet, so I have her clip while I hold. I wouldn't ever attempt to do it on my own.

I would have either a groomer show you how to clip them, or if you have a vet visit scheduled anytime soon, the vet or vet tech would be able to show you. It is not an easy chore, especially if your chi puts up a fuss, and a lot of times it is a two person job.

Kioana

· #11 · Jul 19, 2005

no! with that 10$ they get there nails cut, ears cleaned,eyes cleaned (tear stains) and they get a breath fresher ,treat and nail ploish or a bow.
so it's like ther own spa day.

Cooper

· #12 · Jul 19, 2005

Cooper has brown nails so it is impossible to tell how far is too far when cutting them. I originally took him to the vet's to get his nails cut because he was a major wiggle worm and he's scream like I was beating him to death when I tried. He screamed for the vet (it took 3 people to cut his nails) too but at least they knew what they were doing.

After examining Cooper's nails after he had a pedicure a few times, I just figured out how far back the vet cut his nails then I chopped up some treats really small, put him in my lap and fed him one treat after each nail until he finally stopped screaming.

Ever since, we do a treat after each paw and he sits very nice and there have been no instances of cutting back too far.

Plus, it was $12 at my vet to get his nails trimmed. I explained to Cooper that's $12 worth of toys and treats he was missing out on.

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Rachael Polachek

· #13 · Jul 19, 2005

Lily used to have this jacket that fastened with velcro up the back. It was slightly snug on her so she had the idea she couldn't move when she wore it (she accidentally rolled down a couple stairs one time while she was wearing it but that's another story :lol: ). I'd suit her up in the jacket and she wouldn't move a muscle while I cut her nails. One time I cut too far and drew blood. Never again! Now I have the daycare do it for $10 a month (the owner is obsessed with dogs having short nails so I think she does it once a week).

BTW, I have since gotten rid of that nasty jacket. :lol:

Sachem

· #14 · Jul 19, 2005

LOL Poor, poor Lily..Willie has a sweater that's snug and he walks like an old man in it all stiff :lol:

mychisangel

· #15 · Jul 20, 2005

Rachael Polachek said:
Lily used to have this jacket that fastened with velcro up the back. It was slightly snug on her so she had the idea she couldn't move when she wore it (she accidentally rolled down a couple stairs one time while she was wearing it but that's another story :lol: ). I'd suit her up in the jacket and she wouldn't move a muscle while I cut her nails. One time I cut too far and drew blood. Never again! Now I have the daycare do it for $10 a month (the owner is obsessed with dogs having short nails so I think she does it once a week).

BTW, I have since gotten rid of that nasty jacket. :lol:

LOL That is so funny! :lol: Love to hear that story some time. I could've done with that jacket whenever we need to give our cats tablets (I dread it!). We're so lucky with Minx & Brooke with nail clipping, baths and walking on lead. They're perfect little angels, probably because we didn't get them till they were 13 months and 9 months of age and already used to cooperating for their breeder. Once hubby must've clipped too close to the quick when doing Minx's tho as she yelped. No blood tho' and she didn't make a fuss. I was the one to make the fuss, glaring at poor hubby and saying "Oh why can't you be more careful. You've hurt my poor baby!". :lol:

punky

· #16 · Jul 20, 2005

My vet and the groomer cut Punky's for $5.00, if they're white cut just before you see the little pink vein. If some are black you can judge by the amount you cut off teh white ones. If they're all black I wouldn't try it.You can buy a styptic pencil (just like for men but for dogs) to stop the bleeding.
When they are still puppies rub and massage their little feet every time they're in you arms or lap. It gets them used to having their feet touched. I had read this and did it to Punky. Now she lets me paint her nails and the vet cut them without thinking twice about someone touching her toes. It really works!!!!

Alli

· #17 · Jul 21, 2005

When I first brought my puppy home he didn't mind me cutting his nails at all, but for some reason after a couple months, even though I never once hurt him, he decided he doesn't like it anymore. He puts up such a fuss I can't get near him! So now I cut them when he's sleeping...piece of cake!!

ngtah00

· #18 · Jul 21, 2005

Sachem said:
Yep, I'd take her to a groomer until you are comfortable doing it yourself. As far as being painful, I would imagine it hurts and could be tender for awhile.
P.S. $10 :shock: that is a lot, I charged $5 per dog.

Sachem, where are you in NC? I would like to find where I can get Sammy's nails cut for 5 dollars! I have experienced various prices, some charge 6, 8 or 10. I like the packages because they will bathe, clean out the ears, clip the nails, and clean out the anal glands for a fixed price. I've paid 16-25 for the packages. At petsmart, they have a puppy grooming package, and I only paid 10 dollars for the bath, nails, ears, and the anal glands being cleaned.

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