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The doghouse

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

Original poster

Anyone taken dog to vet for nail clipping?

33 replies

KronkeyCroc · 31/12/2022 15:52

So have my almost 2 year old lab booked into groomers in a couple of weeks where I’m hoping they can trim her nails. Trouble is she’s never been to the groomers and if I try to clip her nails she goes ballistic. My otherwise soppy lab turns into a hell beast. So needless to say we don’t try. But I think it’s desperate now. The middle two on each front paw are really long.

If groomers can’t do it is my only alternative is a vets trip? Will they have to knock her out? Anyone had this done before? How much was it? Thanks

OP posts:
BiteyShark · 31/12/2022 15:57

Mine has nurse clinics for things like nails. Much cheaper than a vet consultation.

Hopeyoursproutsarealreadyon · 31/12/2022 15:58

Cost us £15 for dhusky a trim!
No knock out..

janeeyreair · 31/12/2022 15:59

One of our dogs hate this, the vet nurse tried but only managed two. we have somehow managed between two of us to do them, two nails at a time. Luckily only his front need doing, the back wear down.

He loves treats so we started by holding the clippers opening and closing them, then touching the nail with them and then I do pretend clips without the clippers. I found a lot of it was my confidence with not cutting to much off, also we got some really good strong clippers.

If you clip the tips off the quick will slowly draw up inside the nail over time. so it makes it a bit easier to clip small bits off more often.

gjkufbb · 31/12/2022 16:01

It's a 2 person job In our house to cut the dogs nails. One person holds a spoon of peanut butter and the other cuts the nails.

Our dog HATES having his nails done. I had to handle his paws so much before he now trusts me enough to cut them

Skiphopbump · 31/12/2022 16:01

Do you pay for a monthly plan at your vets? I do for vaccinations worming/flea treatment and it also includes free nail clipping.

bilbodog · 31/12/2022 16:02

My dog wont let me anywhere near her but groomers and vet nurses have no problem, partly as there are 2 of them and they know how to do it quickly. We have a vet plan which covers worming and flea treatment as well as nail clipping and anal gland squeezing (🤢) so doesnt cost us anything.

Whatmarbles · 31/12/2022 16:07

I took mine to the vet but they asked me not to bring him back 😳
He is only little, so they wrapped him in a towel. He screamed the place down whilst I sat in the waiting room.
He needs them cutting again but not sure how that will happen.

Patchworksack · 31/12/2022 16:10

Worth contacting your vet and speaking to them in advance of an appointment if you know he’s going to be difficult. Every time he has a bad experience he will get worse about having his feet touched. We use a ‘chill protocol’ of gabapentin and trazodone tablets evening before and 2 hours before appointment for dogs we know are anxious or aggressive but your dog will have to have been recently examined for vet to prescribe. Ask your vet for advice on fear free handling /cooperative care and habituating him to having his feet touched for the future.

FurAndFeathers · 31/12/2022 16:10

Unless the nails are touching the floor when the dog is standing, they don’t need cutting.
they should never be clipped short than in line with the toe pads

FurAndFeathers · 31/12/2022 16:12

Dogs that hate nail clipping may be better with a dremmel

the bucket game by church Patel (YouTube) is also a great way to train dogs for mail clipping

FurAndFeathers · 31/12/2022 16:12

*Chirag Patel

Original poster
KronkeyCroc · 31/12/2022 16:25

thanks for your answers. We don’t have a monthly plan so would have to pay. She’s a placid loving dog in all other respects. I just had a go at touching her paws while feeding treats. She was ok a bit nervous but let me. I will try and do this everyday and then try and slowly introduce the clippers and move them a little closer each day! I’ll check out that game too.

her front two nails on each front paw do touch the ground. I think they are the only ones that need doing really. The back definitely wear down. I will try lots of treats and feet touching before groomers and see how we go. If it’s a massive fail I will speak to the vets. I’m loathed to book an appointment just to discuss with a vet as the consult fee is £40! But if no other option I will.

OP posts:
WeAllHaveWings · 31/12/2022 16:38

If I ask for vet nurse it is only £10 ish, the vet is a full consultation fee. He has a health plan with 2 annual checks and they will do for free during those if asked.

We also trained him to allow is to use the dremmel to sand them down.

Treecreature · 31/12/2022 16:45

Wrap your head in clingfilm and cover the top in peanut butter. Sit in front of dog and clip away while they're distracted licking your head clean. I'm only half joking.

longtompot · 31/12/2022 17:08

My cocker spaniel is very much not happy with other people but she does let the vet or the vet nurse clip her claws, with no sedation necessary, even when they have got her quick a couple of times.
I was so very nervous taking her, but her claws had got so long I was worried about injury. I need to get her back there again as we are back to where she was before. I just wish they offered the alternative cutting method to help the quick shorten quicker.
The vet even just picks her up in the waiting room to carry her to the treatment rooms as she sticks her breaks on when they try to take her. This is a Pets at Home vets.

Messyhair321 · 31/12/2022 19:25

Dog groomer here, I always appreciate it when owners tell me first if a dog doesn't like nails as I then can prepare properly by getting someone to help.
There are a couple I've not been successful with & some people find a quiet nail grinder you can buy on Amazon really helpful - if you DM me I'll send details if you'd like. Let me know.
Usually we ply them with treats & what your doing by treating whilst playing with paws is exactly what I'd recommend.
One owner had to go to the vet to have nails done, he was pretty aggressive & a big boy who also threw himself around which can be really dangerous. I think they have teeth done at the same time & it's probably very costly I imagine.
That's why I would say trying to do whatever you can to climatise your dog to nail trims is by far the best way forward!

Pinkandpurplehairedlady · 31/12/2022 19:31

My dog won’t let me near his claws to trim them but will quite happily let the groomer do them in exchange for a treat.

RoseMadderAsHell · 01/01/2023 07:34

Groomers could no longer cut my lab's nails and they told me he'd need a GA at the vets. Nails were very thick and the dew claws growing in a circle almost digging into paws.
Took him to the vet who said she'd never met a dog yet who refused to let her cut its nails and took him into back room in case "my anxiety made him worse".
I waited in the waiting room for half an hour listening to my dog barking very loudly then he came out looking pleased with himself (lots of treats had been given). Vet said it took 4 people to hold him down and it was the restraint he objected to, not the actual nail cutting.
It cost £15 which I thought was very reasonable.

Original poster
KronkeyCroc · 01/01/2023 08:08

£15 for 4 people restraining is very reasonable! My worry is more going back to clip the second time. If she has to be restrained at the groomers or vets will she not then just be terrified to go back to the same place? Will just have to work on treats while paw touching and hope for the best!

OP posts:
RoseMadderAsHell · 01/01/2023 08:27

KronkeyCroc · 01/01/2023 08:08

£15 for 4 people restraining is very reasonable! My worry is more going back to clip the second time. If she has to be restrained at the groomers or vets will she not then just be terrified to go back to the same place? Will just have to work on treats while paw touching and hope for the best!

I wondered that, but he still loves going to the vet and there was no problem when he went back for his routine vacs.

Goatsanddogs · 01/01/2023 08:33

I have a small dog that hates having his paws touched let alone clipping his nails. I now take him to the groomers just for nail trim, they are great and know he is a pain so it takes 2 of them. He is so frightened he always empties his anal glands while having it done (I do remind them of this so they know). It’s really stressful as an owner and I think better to let a professional do it, quicker and they have the right equipment then lots of cuddles when you get dog back. I walk my dogs along pavements quite a bit to try and keep nails down but the dew claws always grow really quick. Find a very accommodating kind groomer and tip them well so they don’t mind you coming back again.

ouch44 · 01/01/2023 08:47

I taught my dog this from a kikipup YouTube. Only good for front paws though really but like your dog mines back ones don't seem to get so long.

My dog doesn't actually mind having her nails cut these days though. DH has developed a technique where he sort of sits on her and she'll let him do most things to her!

ouch44 · 01/01/2023 08:52

Lots of people recommend a dremmel for this and getting them used to it very slowly but they sell dog versions of this various places that is cheaper

Campervangirl · 01/01/2023 08:55

My ddog is very reactive but she has her nails clipped at the local pet shop, I hold her head and the chap does it no problem, he's pretty quick.
I think because it's a strange environment she behaves, she's also good at the vets but if I try to do anything to her at home she'd bite my face off 😂 I'm half joking!
She is so reactive that she barks and growls at the sticker of a dog on the pet shop window 🙄
I'd take her to the groomer, they have experience of dealing with reactive dogs but just tell them you're not sure how ddog is going to react, they may just put a muzzle on which seems to calm them, my vet muzzles my ddog when she does her anal glands 🤮

anotherusernamethiswerk · 01/01/2023 08:58

Always had to get my pug sedated to do his nails. Was about £40 a time I remember. But pugs are notoriously bad at having their nails trimmed.

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