Cutting Marleys nails

so Marleys just over 13 weeks now and I asked my vet about cutting his nails, and she said walking them will soon file them down, but we've been taking him nw for two weeks and they are still very long and sharp, it's painful when he catches your skin, so when I skied the vet about cutting them she said once you start you will always have to cut them? Is it ok for me to cut them slightly?

My boy is 20 mths now and we've never had to cut his, he is walked twice a day and often on concrete paths and they file down naturally. Sorry I'm not sure about cutting & the need to do so ...

Yh I knw wat you mean I thought they would of filed down by now he's walked twice a day on concrete thing I'll just wait and see

Puppy claws are sharp things, aren't they? (ouch!)

I wouldn't be clipping claws at that age but what I would do is start handling feet. It's instinct for a dog to pull away, so to start of with just hold and let go, then build up very slowly, as in seconds slowly, until you can hold them for a while without Marley pulling back. Then start stroking toes, stroking nails, etc., so all the things that will desensitise him if he does need his claws clipping.

If you do find he's not happy with you playing with his feet at all, start when he's asleep.

Great advice thanx Liz, they don't seem to be filing down on our walks, he caught my daughters face yesterday because he was excited to go for his walk, she had a nasty scram by her eye not his fault obviously but think I need to do them I'll try what you said see how we go

use an emery board to file down the worst bits as said i wouldn't cut nails at marleys age concrete or hard ground should soon file his nails down

I would advise to leave it as long as possible and try to get them to file down naturally.

We took Bane to a groomers to have his done (before we were walking him so they were very sharp!!) She cut through the quick on nearly every toe and he has been scared ever since of his feet being handled. He even hates us drying his paws after a walk in the rain and will growl when he's really had enough. We're working on it but obviously has left a scar on him.

Since we have been able to walk him though, we only have to clip his dew claws every now and again. It may just take a little while as he's not been walking long yet has he?

Puppy's nails are so sharp I would give it a little longer before trying to clip them. Ruby's six month and I've never clipped hers and they were wickedly sharp but seem fine now.

LizP wrote:Puppy claws are sharp things, aren't they? (ouch!)

I wouldn't be clipping claws at that age but what I would do is start handling feet. It's instinct for a dog to pull away, so to start of with just hold and let go, then build up very slowly, as in seconds slowly, until you can hold them for a while without Marley pulling back. Then start stroking toes, stroking nails, etc., so all the things that will desensitise him if he does need his claws clipping.

If you do find he's not happy with you playing with his feet at all, start when he's asleep.

Great advice, I'd do the same with the ears as well for cleanings in the future

Ok thanx guys I'll wait a little longer, no Emma just over two weeks

emery board Gizmo's every now and then because they split sometimes. As with most things, if he's distracted by peanut butter I can usually do his feet pretty quickly and gently with the softer side of the emery board.

He does tend to eat the boards afterwards though.

Goblin wrote:

He does tend to eat the boards afterwards though.

Is nothing sacred

Yh that's wat I've found that they are split and really sharp going to give him another week walking on concrete and if they ain't better I'll give it a go with the peanut butter

If you do find the need to trim them try the emery board first as clippers can cut too short and catch the quick as mentioned above and then you'll have a Devil of a job doing anything with the paws again.