Sedation for nail clipping?

[Levo]

My dog had a bad experience at a groomers a while ago and he now won't let anyone near his paws. His nails need clipped and I'm wondering if sedation would be the answer. I'll call the vet tomorrow to ask but just wondering if anyone else has had this problem and how you went about it.

The trouble is that you won’t solve the long term problem. And sedation has some risks. I had a dog I was told would need sedating. I used advice on FB group nail maintenance for dogs. I now trim my girls weekly. Started with touching a paw and offering a treat.

I agree with the PP it's not a long term solution unfortunately and therefore not one I would be keen to recommend. Will he let you near his feet if so I would work up to you doing it yourself.

Thanks for the replies.

Will he let you near his feet No. He used to let me clip his nails when he was younger but wasn't happy about it so I took him to a groomer and now he won't let anyone near his paws.

Over the years I've run him on hard ground to "file" his nails and that has worked until now, the outer nail on each front paw is just too long.

He isn't food orientated which makes it harder too.

Book him in with the vet nurse and explain he may be difficult and they will be able to deal with him . My dog is funny about his paws , mainly because he’s had a toe amputated , he moves if we go to touch them but the vet nurse ( and our excellent groomer ) can do them .

I’ve seen these full body harnesses being used for dogs who don’t like nail trimming? Unless the dog gets too worked up. Can you pavement walk to keep the nail length down?

One of mine was like this. I felt so bad as he got so scared. We just did lots of pavements walks in the end to wear them down. Vet might do it as a one-off? Not really a long term solution though I agree.

@Floralnomad I'm sure you're right, they will be experience with this sort of thing. I'll give them a ring tomorrow.

Thanks @Missingmyusername that looks great but there is no way he would put up with that.

@Purplecatshopaholic a one off with the vet would be ideal. We moved last year and the new place has lots of grassy areas for him to run around so I haven't been running him on hard ground as much as usual so my fault this has happened and I'm annoyed with myself because I know how scared he will be getting this done.

I have two dogs who for various reasons don't like having their nails trimmed. They REALLY don't like it and they are large breeds who make their feelings clear that they don't want their nails touched. So this year I set it as a New Year's resolution. I bought one of the dremel filers (the dremel light) and blocks of cheese. Week 1 I would shout "nail time" and in a really excited voice holding the block of cheese and every time they sniffed the drill (not on) they got cheese. Then following week same whilst drill was going. I'm now up to my daughter literally feeding them constant cheese and they actually hold their paw up whilst I file - as long as cheese is coming they are happy and cooperate. Only for about a minute a day but they are doing so well. I'm amazed I've managed it but so far so good. De sensitization with positive reinforcement really does work! Hope this helps

Unless the claws are curled into his pads, just take him out on pavements every day for a few weeks. You'll be surprised how well that works.

Our girl never needs hers clipped now as we keep on top of it this way! She's not had them clipped in at least 5yrs and she's a lurcher cross, so naturally has long talons.

Mine don't do much pavement walking - more woodland and fields so they do tend to get long. Dremmel works for them, and also on the daschund.

@MPF080619 A dremmel wouldn't work with him.....even with cheese sadly. Food just doesn't work with him.

@CornishPorsche Unless the claws are curled into his pads, just take him out on pavements every day for a few weeks. You'll be surprised how well that works. - Thanks for this, they are not anywhere near curling into his pads so I think I'm going to do what you suggest before I put him through the hell of the clippers.

Pavement walking and a hard ground run every day kept his nails in great condition for years until we moved, I thought maybe these two nails in particular were maybe too far gone but good to know they are not. You've no idea how happy this makes me :D

My JRT always had sedation at vet for nail clipping .Her claws curled into her pads .Cannot remember the name of the nail condition but too painful to do it without sedation.

My dog, also after a bad experience at a groomer, is awful about getting her toes clipped. She now goes to the vet and, before her visit, takes trazodone and gabapentin. With them, she is drowsy but still awake, and accepts the nail-trimming.

Have a Google for nail scratch boards for dogs. Easy to make and you can train your dog to scratch it themselves for treats. Might be a long term solution for you.

@Ruthietuthie Thanks, this was what I was wondering about, if there was something to make him accept without the anxiety. I will try running him on hard ground daily for a few weeks first and see how it goes.

Thanks @AgathaX that sounds interesting, I'll have a look.