Non-bunny toenail clipping

[TARM]

I can cut the nails of any rabbit and any ferret but I CANNOT  trim the nails of either one of my dogs.  My Rottie can’t stand for anyone to touch his feet.  Actually, he can’t stand for anyone to do anything other than pet him.  He’ll give up his belly pretty easily but as soon as you reach for his feet he is up like a shot.  My other dog is just as bad but a little bit less of a drama queen about it.

My daughters and I just spent 45 minutes chasing Chuck around the living room, alternately shoving cheese into his muzzled mouth, telling him he’s a good boy, and distracting him just long enough for me to snip one toe at a time.  His nails are so long that it doesn’t even look like I did much to him.  I got both back feet but I have no idea how or when I’m gonna get the front paws.

I would take him to the vet to have it done but the last time I was there he flipped out so bad he somehow got his muzzle off and I got bit keeping him from biting someone else.  I knew he was like this when I adopted him, he was considered “special needs” at the shelter and about a dozen families applied for him but were turned down because of how sensitive he is.  I got approved because of all the pit bulls and other big dogs with ‘issues” that I’ve fostered.  I’ve had him for four years now and his anxiety is getting worse with age, not better.

I also have to figure out how I’m gonna get his rabies shots.  I can’t take him to the vet any more, not because she won’t treat him but because it’s entirely too stressful. 

I’m huge on temperament and normally I would advise someone with a dog like Chuck to put him to sleep.  He’s unstable around strangers and we don’t have company over ever because of him.  The reason I keep him is because he’s fabulous with his family.  Like today with the nail clipping.  He didn’t growl once but he did scream like we were killing him slowly and painfully.  And when we were done the first thing he did was bury his head in my lap.  The three of us live alone and he’s a really great dog to have in our situation.  Everyone knows we have him and no one in their right mind would even consider breaking into our house. 

I’m talking to a mobile vet about the possibility of me knocking him out, her coming in and doing the normal vet stuff, and sneaking out before he wakes up.  I know that’s risky with no oxygen or any of those monitors to make sure he’s holding up OK but I don’t have many options left.  I’d hate to have to put him to sleep just because I can’t get his regular vetting done, most importantly, his rabies.  If I just didn’t get the rabies shot and he bit someone I would be in HUGE trouble and I can’t have that.

Thanks for letting me vent.  He’s getting worse as he gets older and I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be able to manage his anxiety.  It’s a rotten feeling.

[RabbitPam]

TARM, you sound like you’ve given him a loving home. I’m sure there’s a way to deal with this.

First, I wonder if you could give him some anit-anxiety meds for dogs. I know they have them, so maybe your vet could give you a prescription for a mild tranquilizer type (doggie xanax?) that would calm him just before a visit to the vet, or when mobile vet can come over.

My Dad bought me a Pedi Paw to try on my bunny though I haven’t attempted it yet. It’s supposed to be good for dogs if you follow the directions and let them get used to the noise with treat rewards. Might be worth a try.

[Sonn]

My Gizmo sounds like your dog she is on medication and had to be taken to a behaviorist she is a lot better but still wary of strangers but not nearly as bad.

I no longer clip my dogs nails since 3 of them act like I am murdering them. I now use a dremel I tried the pedi paws but my dogs are too big apparently since the battery runs down on the 2nd dog lol. So now I just use a regular dremel. They hate having their feet touched so it took a few times and a ton of treats for them not to see it as a bad thing now they just lay back and let me do what I have to do. It takes 10 minutes for me to do 7 dogs biggest weighing 55 lbs and smallest 5 lbs. When I had 12 dogs it took about 20 minutes since I had a dog Great Pyr / Saint bernard mix who weighed 260 lbs and had claws bigger than my hand LOL.

I use the pedi paws on my bunnies and ferrets they approve lol.

[TARM]

I had a pedi paws and neither of my dogs would let me get near them with it so I took it back.

We tried the anti anxiety meds but his adrenaline is so high that it overpowers the tranq. Chuck was given enough to knock out a horse and all it did was make him a little woozy. Not woozy enough to render him compliant. I wonder if that’s a breed thing because I had another Rottie who wasn’t at all affected by ace. She was about half Chuck’s size and it didn’t even make her drowsy.

I’m hoping that hot dogs will help Chuck see that nail trimming isn’t a bad thing.

Thanks for the suggestions guys!

[bunnytowne]

Gosh quite a dilema…

I used to be on zanaflex a potent muscle relaxer.  I dropped some of my meds on the floor.  Odie our catahoula ate a zanaflex and I didn’t know it. 

Well about 20 minutes later and fell asleep walking to the bedroom for bedtime with us. Hubby prodded her up.  We weren’t aware she had taken anything…

The next morning when we got up I realized it was a zanaflex she took and that was why she was falling asleep on her feet  in the hallway.

Now that would be strong enuf to put your dog out.  I wonder if the vet has anything stronger than what you already gave your dog. 

[Deleted User]

How is your relationship with your vet, would she sell you the vaccines on prescription to administer at home yourself? I don’t know what the laws regarding this are like in the States, but it seems worth asking.

[TARM]

Rabies has to be adminstered by a vet.

[ScooterandAnnette]

I can’t do Dakota’s nails. I’ve tried with the clippers, she just panics. I’ve tried with the dremel, she goes into a frenzy as soon as I start it on the lowest setting if it’s even within 3 feet of her. Now I just take her into the groomer to have them do it.
– Annette

[KatnipCrzy]

We a few dogs as patients that need to be sedated to have their annual exam and vaccines done- along with any nail trimming.  Some dogs are due to anxiety, fear and snapping.  But one Rottie is just plain aggressive- the owner brings him in muzzled for anything- he goes into an exam room and gets a poke in the butt with a sedative before we can even touch him.

There is no way to get around the Rabies vaccine especially if you are afraid that a bite could happen.  So sedation by either a mobile vet with full access to emergency meds and life saving measures or at a vet clinic are your best options.

The nail trimming issue can be tough to overcome.  It is hard and almost near impossible not to stop once the dog starts freaking out-  but if you stop it reinforces the action that caused you to stop.  I work just start with touching the paws when the dog is calm- and rewarding that. 

I have worked with my dogs since they were puppies and if they freak out and try to pull their foot away when I am trimming- I just stop trimming and hold the foot until they stop trying to pull it back.  I only release on my terms when they are showing the correct behavior.  I have sat through some amazing tantrums that dogs have thrown at work- just from holding the foot.  But they usually give in and we can proceed (dog is usually muzzled if protesting that much).  Sometimes just muzzling a dog can allow you to trim the nails- they will focus on the muzzle and not on what we are doing.  And sometimes just because they are at the clinic- they will let us trim nails with no fuss and no muzzle- and owners will be amazed.  Some dogs need to be away from their owners for a nail trim- if owners are present they will fight and throw a fit- if owners not present they allow it.  We just have to find what works.  But if it is ever unsafe for the staff or the dogs has an incredibly high level of anxiety we will not trim nails without sedation.

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