Is it safer to dremel overgrown dog nails?

[whitewolfe001]

My dogs are 6 years old and before recently I never, ever trimmed their nails myself. I was just too afraid to try, too afraid of hurting them. They needed trims infrequently because they were so active, but they are starting to slow down just a little, and their nails show it (plus, it’s winter, we do less walking on pavement, etc.)

Then a trail riding buddy of mine who has a dog grooming business trimmed my dog’s nails and showed me how. She said the quick recedes the more frequently you trim…

Eventually I worked up the courage to try it on my yellow lab, whose nails are clear. I took off a tiny amount, then another tiny amount the next week, and so on, for the last month. Her nails are so much neater, and I felt confident enough to try my black dog’s nails.

I took off a teeny bit last week no problem. I didn’t even see the “gummy” bit that is said to be the part near the quick.

His nails still look pretty long so I went to go take off another tiny bit today and YIPPPPP… he cried, and bled a little.

I feel soooo awful! He is a huge wuss about everything, and now I’m super scared to trim him anymore because the nail looked long and I only took off a teeny sliver. His quick must be very long.

Does dremeling reduce the chance that you will hit the quick? Because you can take off even smaller layers, bit by bit?

Would I have to take him to be dremeled every week for a while to get his nails back under control? (They are not crazy long, but they are longer than usual for him, and you can hear them clicking on the floor a little.)

[Nezzy]

it helps a bit, but you still cannot take off more than a regular trimmer, b/c the quick is still there.

[paulaedwina]

Absolutely. It’s less traumatic for the both of you and you’ll be less squeamish and worried (it’s all in our heads of course).

Paula

[whitewolfe001]

When dremeling, how does the groomer know when to stop? Is it because they see the consistency change?

Wondering if I can strike a deal with a groomer for a reduced rate if I say I want to bring him in weekly for a while…

[scruffy_the_cat]

Way easier and safer to dremel. I’m never going back to clipping. Ever.

You sort of get a sense of where the quick is after awhile.

[shayaalliard]

One thing that is quite common with dremeling is that it gets HOT. You can dremel well into the quick and never see blood, because it cauterizes.
Often done on purpose that way at groomer/vet with neglected nails that are too long to trim without quicking.

[NBChoice]

Hopefully if you decide to use a dremel your dogs will do okay with the sound. I tried to use a dremel on my dog when she was about 4 or 5 months old. I was hoping to get her used to it before she got older so I gave her treats while doing it. Well… she was terrified of the sound. I only grazed her nails a bit before she yanked away and went running.

[S1969]

I don’t believe a dog dremel will get hot enough to cauterize the nail if you get too close, but I personally don’t like the “hardware” version of a dremel because it’s too easy to go too fast and take off more than you want. I don’t think, however, that a cauterizing grinding is any less painful than just cutting them off with clippers, so I would proceed carefully with using the dremel to deliberately cut them shorter than the quick.

Both clippers and a dremel are safe and effective, the key is what works best for you and your dog. Personally, I will clip off excess nail before grinding because it’s faster…but my dogs will also tolerate clipping just as well so it’s not a problem.

My oldest dog’s nails are grown out long, and I recently took a couple of weeks and dremeled them to the quick every other day. It really did help bring them back, and I need to try it again and see if I can get them even shorter (the other way is to have the vet do it while under sedation, but might not be appropriate for every dog - although if they are going in for teeth cleaning, for example, can be the quick fix).

Once you get used to clipping or grinding your dog’s nails, you will be able to know the proper length just by looking. But you do need to keep up with it. For dog showing, we try to do nails at least every 4 days. You wouldn’t think they would grow that fast, but they do. For overlong nails - I would strive for once a week minimum to help try to bring them back.

I think one of the best tools ever is a grooming table with a noose…if you can get one to use you might find it helps even the timid dog tolerate nail trimming because they can’t just run away. And LOTS of treats and praise. It is scary for them, but you can help them get over it.

[scruffy_the_cat]

I was always taught to touch the dremel to the nail over and over rather than just hold it there, generating heat. I didn’t realize some people just leave it there to get hot- I would think that would be uncomfortable. As for the sound, I have a high-powered dremel which can go very fast. I have found that at lower speeds, the sound is more tolerable for my noise-sensitive dogs. It also doesn’t generate quite as much heat. I do show nails for one dog and medium length for the older dog. Both tolerate it very easily.

[RackNRoll]

Everything you always wanted to know about dremeling dog nails, but were afraid to ask:
http://www.doberdawn.com/doberdawn/dremel.html

I dremel my dog’s nails, and they do tolerate it better than pincer-type clippers. You still have to be careful when you approach the quick, though… scroll down to see the photos & explanation in the above link.

[Marshfield]

I just dremel. Mine all started with it young (except for one we bought as an adult) and they’re used to the sound, even at high speed. Most of the corgis I can dremel by myself. If I get close to the quick, they’ll pull the paw from the heat of the dremel.

[fire_911medic]

I have one dog that is a complete sissy about his front paws being touched in general, so doing it with your traditional clippers led to alot of fights, screaming by him, and unfortunately despite my best efforts, quicking as he would plunge his foot forward or yank it at the last second. After last time of nearly depleting his nail and blood everywere (bissel green machine did wonders on my light beige carpet) we immediately went out and bought a cheap dremmel from petsmart for around $30 I think. As a result, both my dogs are 110% easier to do. The one still whimpers but no longer screams, pulls, or carries on like before. The other one rolls over and actually seems to enjoy it. Can’t say enough good things about it. I dont get close to quick. If I think I’m getting close, (both dogs are black) I will stop and move on. After using one especially for price and not having to fight with them, I wouldnt go back.

[ChickenLittle]

I love my dremel! I’ve hit the quick once. Since the dremel takes off so little at a time, you wind up shaving into the quick vs. slicing into it with the nail trimmers. I find the reaction of the dog to be totally different.

Lots of people say the dremel makes the nails hot, but mine doesn’t at all. The hand held part gets warm, but the nails don’t. I’ve even dremelled my skin many times. I can vouch that it’s not painful!

I especially like the dremel because I have a dog with long quicks and black nails. I always err on the side of too long when I use the clippers. I don’t feel that way about the dremel.

I linked a Facebook group below that’s dedicated to nail care and force free training of feet handling in dogs. It’s called Nail Maintence for Dogs in case the link doesn’t work

https://m.facebook.com/groups/356060287872241?ref=bookmark&__user=748391110

[Bicoastal]

I second the recommendation of reading DoberDawn’s page. OP, if your dogs are noise sensitive, get the Flex Shaft that keeps the noisy motor a bit away. I would avoid the pet store markup and go to Walmart or Home Depot. A friend gave me a Dremel with a paw print on it that is marketed geared toward groomers. It is identical to my previous dremel.

Your questions in red. My response in black.
Does dremeling reduce the chance that you will hit the quick? Because you can take off even smaller layers, bit by bit?
The dremel does take off less at a time but you can still hit the quick. If you simply hold it on the nail and count five seconds, you can quick him. Lift it off frequently, sand the perimeter and upper curve like DoberDawn suggests, read your dog. He can tell you if it is getting hot or painful.

Would I have to take him to be dremeled every week for a while to get his nails back under control?
Like others have said, more frequently may be necessary. Once you get a dremel, you may wish to do one paw a day or such very short sessions very frequently.

When dremeling, how does the groomer know when to stop? Is it because they see the consistency change?
[COLOR="#000000"]Same as for clipping.

Wondering if I can strike a deal with a groomer for a reduced rate if I say I want to bring him in weekly for a while… [/COLOR]
Yes most groomers have a single walk-in nail clip fee. Some vets do, too.

[wendy]

I think that even if you DON’T hit the quick, the pressure of clippers on the nail is painful to dogs. Many a dog fights and whines and objects to being clipped even after extensive desensitization, yet most dogs rapidly relax into being dremeled. Even if you go a bit too far, you get no whimpering or bleeding, and it’s a lot easier to decide to stop when you’re getting too far than if you place the clippers a bit too high.

[Mosey_2003]

[QUOTE=ChickenLittle;7395291]
I linked a Facebook group below that’s dedicated to nail care and force free training of feet handling in dogs. It’s called Nail Maintence for Dogs in case the link doesn’t work

https://m.facebook.com/groups/356060287872241?ref=bookmark&__user=748391110[/QUOTE]

This is helpful! The link you posted is for the mobile version though, so that works well if you’re on a phone. The link for computer viewing is:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/356060287872241/

[ChickenLittle]

Thanks

[cloudy18]

Just make sure ALL of your hair is pulled back when using the dremel. Or tuck it into a hat. :no:

[Nezzy]

Those who say the nail clippers crush the nail, you need to try Miller’s forge. they are extremely sharp and cut wonderfully. I use the dremel, but i also have dogs with long hair on their toes and i need to clip them manually, b/c the dremel yanks out their hair. The Miller’s forge brand is wonderful and not expensive.

[Bicoastal]

[QUOTE=Nezzy;7409724]
Those who say the nail clippers crush the nail, you need to try Miller’s forge. they are extremely sharp and cut wonderfully [/QUOTE]

The first several times. They dull and you cannot replace just the blade, you must replace the whole tool. That seems wasteful. I LOVE a new, super sharp clipper but I do not like regularly tossing the used, duller one. Maybe if it was recyclable I’d feel ok about it.