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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Does anyone fancy a puppy survival thread part 3

975 replies

BiteyShark · 14/07/2017 10:28

Continuation of the support thread.... anyone is welcome whether they have new or older puppies, just want a chat or are battling with ongoing puppy problems.

I thought I would start this thread off as I am hoping it might be the last one I need support from as BiteyPup is now 9.5 months old and we have survived the early puppy months and his teenage antics seem to be subsiding. Still working on our relationship and recall but it's getting better and can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel (fingers crossed) Wine

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Thewolfsjustapuppy · 22/07/2017 14:49

Believe it or not cobwebs stop bleeding! Hope she is okay Wolfie Sad

Original poster
BiteyShark · 22/07/2017 14:58

Didn't know about the cobwebs trick. I certainly have plenty of those as we are overrun by huge spiders in this house.

Hope you are both ok Wolfie

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Thewolfsjustapuppy · 22/07/2017 15:08

I'd probably put some honey on the wound first as cobwebs tend to be very dusty, or they do in my house. note my first aid is a tad unconventional

Wolfiefan · 22/07/2017 15:21

She was soaking through bits of kitchen roll an hour after I did it. I feel awful.

Does anyone fancy a puppy survival thread part 3
Original poster
BiteyShark · 22/07/2017 15:32

I'm sure she will forgive you but back to the drawing board then for cutting her nails Sad.

How long do you have to keep the bandage on for? I have a dog first aid kit but this reminds me I really should think about adding to it as it only contains a few things.

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Wolfiefan · 22/07/2017 15:37

It's a precaution only. Just as the bleeding kept stopping and starting. Plan to take it off at bedtime or she may eat it overnight. That'd be another vet out of hours panic visit but MUCH worse.
Vet was awesome. She has actually offered to do some desensitisation with her around nails. Actually started it today.

Soubriquet · 22/07/2017 15:42

Tips with nail cutting (I do all my animals. Even did a hedgehog the other week)

Play with their feet whilst they are sleeping and/or content. Not just stroke them but really get your fingers in between the pads and get them used to being touched like that.

Then snipping. If the dog has clear nails, you can see the quick. It's a red line inside. Cut to a little bit before the red line so it's short but not near the quick

If you have black nails like mine, just snip them a little bit at a time until you think it's short enough.

If you do accidentally cut the quick. Don't panic. It's a lot of blood and it stings the dog but it's not that bad. It does stop eventually but you can buy something to dab on the end to help stop the bleeding

Soubriquet · 22/07/2017 15:44

here's the stuff for bleeders

Original poster
BiteyShark · 22/07/2017 15:46

Found it.... Vet Caustic Silver Nitrate Styptic Pencil to dab on them if you cut them accidentally. Still not sure if I am going to chance doing them myself given he goes to groomers and vets often enough.

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Wolfiefan · 22/07/2017 15:56

We don't go to a groomers. It bled on and off for over an hour. I am getting her used to feet touching but she HATES the clippers. A few weeks ago I couldn't touch her legs at all. She would grab me with her mouth.
Black nails. Really thick black nails. That's the problem. Wolfhound nails are one step
Away from needing a farrier. And it makes SUCH a noise when you clip them too.

Original poster
BiteyShark · 22/07/2017 16:13

Are you going to try again or go back to the vets? BiteyPup only hates one thing more than someone messing with his feet and that's his tail.

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Wolfiefan · 22/07/2017 18:39

We are working on the tail too. She will let me lift it now. Vet was amazing. Practical ideas to desensitise her and she's prepared to work with me. I will call on Monday and ask to see her. And only her. (Not the nurse who suggested sedation!)

CornflakeHomunculus · 22/07/2017 19:01

There's an excellent and very supportive FB group for dog nail maintenance that I would highly recommend joining. There's lot of great information in their files regarding desensitisation, counter conditioning, trimming techniques, etc.

I'd also recommend a Dremel (or similar rotary tool) over clippers for any dog but particularly those with black and or/particularly thick claws. It sounds drastic but they're an all round better tool for the job. One of the issues with clippers is that as soon as you start using them they start getting blunt which means they pinch they claw more before actually cutting into it and obviously that's uncomfortable for the dog. It's also harder to get very small bits off and obviously much easier to quick them badly.

And don't beat yourself up about it too much Wolfie, we've all been there and despite having had five dogs (which is a lot of claw clipping!!!) I did it to one of mine really badly a while back. In fact it was that incident which finally spurred me on the try the Dremel as I was worried my wimpy lot wouldn't accept it, especially as none of them were keen on having their nails done at all. In reality they are so much happier with it than they ever were with clippers and in fact on nail day (every Sunday) there's always a scrum to see who is going to get to have theirs done first Grin

A great option for whilst you're working on desensitisation is to make a scratch board and turn it into a game. I did this with mine and it's surprisingly effective. It's really easy to teach them to use their fronts on it, a bit more for the backs but it is very doable and much better than their nails getting too long.

Wolfiefan · 22/07/2017 19:12

Cornflake you superstar that's great. I wondered about the Dremel but her nails are massive AND she's a complete wimp so I thought the sound would terrify her. Last week she was completely convinced the breadmaker wanted to make bread from her bones! Shock

Cocobananas · 22/07/2017 19:20

MrsClegane, we play sprinkles outside, google it, hunt the treat inside, plus various kongs and treat balls usually when wet weather, raw marrowbone occasionally,few mins training here and there. Trick is to not leave these things lying around. Rotate and keep them fresh and special. Our pup has all sorts of toys around the place but balls, soft, squeaky, tennis are kept in my pocket to reinforce recall and are a treat inside or outside the house.

CornflakeHomunculus · 22/07/2017 19:25

It's really surprising how well they can take to it when it's introduced really gradually. A cheap electric toothbrush is really handy to start with, I used one to introduce them to the noise and also the vibrating sensation on their feet.

The smaller battery powered Dremels are also a bit quieter than mains powered ones. I started off with a rechargeable one but since they've got used to it I've upgraded to a corded one and they're not fussed at all.

CornflakeHomunculus · 22/07/2017 19:38

Not the best pictures but you get the idea.

The first is before, horribly long nails and absolutely hated having them done.

The second is the same dog just post a recent, completely stress free trim.

The best thing of all is that using proper technique (i.e. literally just touching the bit to a nail for a split second at a time) it's almost impossible to quick them badly. If you do happen to go a bit too short the worst you get is a tiny bead of blood on the claw. I've done it to mine occasionally and they've never once noticed when it's happened. Pretty impressive given these are the dogs who keel over if they stand on a nettle Hmm Grin

Does anyone fancy a puppy survival thread part 3
Does anyone fancy a puppy survival thread part 3
Cocobananas · 22/07/2017 19:41

Although she is part spaniel and therefore ball obsessed😝

Original poster
BiteyShark · 22/07/2017 19:47

Cocobananas my spaniel never used to be bothered about balls at all but recently out of nowhere he has suddenly developed an obsession. No idea why it suddenly started but now everytime I look he has his ball in his mouth and the most cute part is he has started mimicking me dribbling the ball round the room with his paws as he saw me doing it with my feet Grin

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Bythebeach · 22/07/2017 22:06

Can I join? It's a bit premature as our puppy doesn't come home until mid August but we met her today and I am in love!

Bythebeach · 22/07/2017 22:13

Can I join? It's a bit premature as our puppy doesn't come home until mid August but we met her today and I am in love!

Cocobananas · 22/07/2017 22:19

Bitey, that's so sweet. Cocopup doesn't bother too much with any toys left around other than for the odd chew or bringing them for a game of tug but balls I can't leave around otherwise she would never settle, they only can come out on a walk or for a short play before teatime. Good to have something that gets her instant attention though, she would rather have a ball than a treat.

bluetongue · 23/07/2017 04:55

Welcome Bythebeach. Very exciting about your new puppy. What kind of dog is it?

Hope big pup feels enter soon Wolfie. I did the same with Bluepuppy. My floor ended up looking like a crime scene Shock.

Original poster
BiteyShark · 23/07/2017 05:26

Bythebeach welcome and I first met our pup when 3 weeks old and the wait between then and taking him home felt a long time.

blue I hope bluepups leg is still ok after the park incident.

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GooodMythicalMorning · 23/07/2017 08:18

The two week wait to bring mine home was long enough!