[darkbrowneggs]

Generally my Great Danes seem to wear their nails down enough and then just need the extra bit clipped off occasionally...... but....... Phoebe is a bit of a wimp, and really doesnt do much rushing about.  And of course since I have been more immobile with my knees her toe nails are getting very very long


I hate cutting them and she hates having them cut.  I have a couple of pairs, of cutters and they are both quite heavy duty but really I think I need something extra strong and extra sharp


Any good suggestions please?

[happygolucky]

Ouch!!!, I hate the idea of cutting thick dogs claws, I would worry I was going to cut into their veins but maybe its me being a wimp as if the dog moves then with  better toe nail cutters it could be worse so I personally would either go to a vet or grooming place or take the dogs out on concrete more often!!!

[doganjo]

I check my dog's nails regularly as part of their grooming.  There are stronger clippers available, Sue, try petcetera selection here - they are good at answering questions too, so email them if not sure.

http://www.petcetera.co.uk/grooming-preparations-and-tools/nail-care.html

[Alistair]

I use the karlie heavy duty clippers on large dogs, they're only around 6 quid a pair I get at new pair when they start going blunt, they're more like scissors than guillotine types, I've also got a pair of the mars superior clippers but they're about £30, very strong, but IMO it's down to sharpness so I use the karlie ones and just treat the as disposable after a couple of months, mind I'm a dog groomer so they'd probably last you a bit longer

You could also cut the nails once and, if your made of money, buy a nail grinder, not sure if your dog would put up with it though

Cutting nails is easy with practice, quicker the better, just get some trimmex styptic powder if you cut the quick then use a bit if that to stop the bleeding, oh and here's a tip, trim the nails and hair in the pads of the feet before you bath the dog, that way the feet dry quicker and if you do accidentally cut the quick, then the foot won't be bloodstained after, oh the longer you leave the nail to grow, the longer the quick will be, so long nails means your more likely to nick it when you take the nails shorter

I get most of my stuff from here.  http://www.groomers-online.com/section.php/50/1/nail-care

[Mammyshaz]

The other thing you can do after clipping the nails back is use the rough foot pedicure boards ( large emery boards ) and emery the nails  each week to keep them short. Depends on the toughness of the nails being a Dane, may just be enough to keep them back.

[darkbrowneggs]

Thanks all - I will contact the folk on the links and ask which they recommend.


She is very obedient in most things but with her nails when I start cutting them she yanks her paws away just when you begin to apply pressure on the nail, with the result that its rather like I am trying to pull her nails out, so she hates it even more, and of course she is so strong that there is no chance of me holding them still and cutting at the same time  In the past I have tried with two folk but its no easier and she gets a bit stressed out.


She has only been to the vets twice in her life, and doesnt really like things out of her comfort zone and as a 9 year old Dane I dont feel like putting her heart under pressure just to get her toenails looking nicer. 


I will do what I can with some new sharp clippers  I might see about looking for a good sharp file out in the tool shed


She is such a wooossee - in my kitchen there is a living area which is carpeted.  If I am cooking and there might be scraps she fancies she comes over to keep an eye on things but keeps on the carpet until something actually gets tossed on the floor then having eaten it retreats to the carpet!!!!!


She point blank refuses to go out in the rain - when she was young I bought her a raincoat but she still needed a lot of encouragement and got back inside asap. 

[happygolucky]

That's what I thought, so I wonder if you could sit her with you and calmly file her nails with some sand paper files and stroke her at the same time to make it more of a treat, my Yellow lab is an incredible fidget but my others are calm and still...I hope  you can sort her out......!

[Shropshirelass]

My favorites at home & when working at the vets are miki ones - their a bit pricey but worth the extra cost (Around£8-£12) & do last. I bought a guillotine type pair from our local supermarket once & they were terrible.

Like you I find my dog seb has really thick claws & despite walking him twice daily & having him outside loads his claws grow back really quick, so I have to trim them regularly. At which point all 35kg of him decides to sit / lean on me    Cutting their claws is pretty easy in lighter colored dogs you can normally see the blood vessels but in darker dogs if your unsure trim just a few millimeters off or leave it. x


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mikki-dog-cat-large-nail-clippers-trimmers-all-dogs-/231074241941?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Kitchen_Steamers_Cookers_PP&hash=item35cd191d95

[bigchicken]

Never mind the dogs toe nails my partner says I will soon need a grinder for my toe nails with the amount of nail slippers I have broken. I don't understand how they have got so thick,

[happygolucky]

Funny I never understand why our toe nails get thicker but our finger nails thiner

[darkbrowneggs]

Got some of the ones that Shropshire Lass recommended - they came today and I have made a start.  They seem to work well, but I am just taking a little bit off at a time otherwise I just think I wouldnt have the strength to work them.  But so far so good    Thanks

[happygolucky]

    Hope she is keeping still.....

[Shropshirelass]

That's ok as I know what a problem some dogs can be with things like being groomed & having claws clipped & it's soo much easier & nicer for the pet & owner if they can do it at home with less stress. x

[darkbrowneggs]

I waited till she was fast asleep and taking the whole of the settee (mine not hers) then sat in the middle of her stretched out legs and carefully did them so it was not too traumatic and though she woke up she was still half asleeep.


I didnt take off much - not more than 1/4 " but they were so thick and strong I dont think I could have cut through them much further back anyway.  As it was I made one bleed a little but it didnt seem to bother her that much.


I will leave it for around a week then have another go.

[doganjo]

The more you snip them the further the  quick will recede, then it will be much easier to keep them under control.  Have some flour handy in case you bleed any others.