how to trim dog's nailsClipping a Dog's Claws (Toenails)
This information is not meant to be a substitute for veterinary care. Always follow the instructions provided by your veterinarian.
In the photographs below, unless otherwise noted, the top if the paw is facing up. The dog who was photographed has black pads on her toes. The black pads on the bottom of her toes will help you orient yourself as you view the photographs. Variations on these instructions exist.
Most dogs do not like having their claws trimmed. Start trimming claws in young animals so that they get used to the process. Some dogs will happily sit in your lap or on a table while you trim their claws but many require some form of restraint.
One method to restrain the dog is to place her/him on a table. Stand on the side of the table opposite to the claws you are trimming. Drape your arms and upper body over the dog. When trimming the front claws, keep your left forearm over the neck to keep the dog from lifting its head. Hold the paw in your left hand and hold the trimmer in your right hand.
If the dog tries to stand, lean your upper body over his/her shoulders to prevent him/her from rising.
If your dog is too wiggly, try laying him/her on his/her side. Use your right arm and upper body to keep the dog laying on his/her side. Hold the trimmer in your right hand.
Use your left arm to keep the head on the table and use the left hand to hold the paw.
It is easier to perform this procedure if you have a helper. See the section on restraining a dog for some additional suggestions.
There are several styles of nail trimmers, including a guillotine type and a scissors type. The guillotine type is the easiest to use in dogs. The scissors-type is used to trim a toenail that is so long that it is curling in a circle. Long claws can grow into the toe-pad. This most often happens to dew claws, the claw on the inner side of the paw. Dew claws do not touch the ground so they are not worn down as the dog walks.
The dew claw is attached to the leg by loose skin. The dew claw can usually be bent away from the leg so that you can fit a guillotine type trimmer over the tip of the dew claw.
The scissors-type cutter is placed at a right angle to the toenail.
Hold the trimmer in your right hand if you are right handed.
Close your hand around the clipper to squeeze the handle which will move the cutting blade.
The guillotine type trimmers have stationary ring through which the nail is placed, and a cutting blade that moves up to slice off the nail when the handles of the trimmer are squeezed.
Unlike cats, dogs do not have retractile claws. The color of the nail is determined by the color of the surrounding skin and hair. This dog has black claws on the brown paw and a mixture of white and black claws on the white paw. Always remember to trim the dew claws that are located on the inner surface of the paw.
The claws on the rear feet are often shorter and require less frequent trimming than those on the front feet. Always remember to trim the dew claws that are located on the inner surface of the paw unless they were removed as a puppy. Some breeds of dogs such as the St. Bernard have 2 sets of dew claws on the rear feet.
Light colored claws are easier to cut than dark claws as the blood vessels and nerves that supply the toenail, called the quick, is easier to see. Cut the toenail to within approximately 2 millimeters of the quick.
If you cut into the quick, the toenail will bleed and the dog will experience pain.
The handles of the trimmer can be held pointing toward the floor, as pictured at the left (cutting the nail from bottom to top) or the handles of the trimmer can be held pointed towards the ceiling (cutting the nail from top to bottom); which ever is more comfortable in your hands.
The tip of the nail is placed in the stationary ring in the trimmer with the clipper perpendicular to the nail (cutting either top to bottom or bottom to top). If the trimmer is placed parallel to the nail (cutting from side to side), the nail is crushed and may splinter.
The cutting blade should be facing you, NOT the dog. The screws on the handle of the trimmer should be facing the dog.
If you turn the trimmer around with the screws toward you, the cutting blade is cutting closer to the quick than if the trimmer is held with the cutting blade toward you. You are less likely to cut into the quick if the cutting blade faces you.
The handles of the trimmer are squeezed to advance the cutting blade through the nail. Light colored claws can be trimmed with one cut on each nail.
You cannot see the quick on dark colored claws, making them more difficult to trim without cutting into the quick.
Cut dark colored claws in several small cuts to reduce the chance of cutting into the quick.
As you cut off small pieces of the nail, look at the cut edge of the nail. The light tissue (1) is the curved bottom part of the nail. The mottled light and dark tissue (2) is the top part of the nail.
As you cut the nail deeper, you will see a homogeneous gray to pink oval (3) starting to appear at the top of the cut surface of the nail. Stop cutting the nail at this point as additional cutting will cut into the quick. The sharper the trimmer, the cleaner the cut. The cutting blade on guillotine-style cutters can be replaced when it is no longer sharp. You can file the end of the nail to smooth the cut surface.
A correctly cut dark colored nail next to an uncut mixed colored nail. The mixed color nail is darker close to the base of the nail preventing one from seeing the quick. This nail should be trimmed in several small cuts.
If the toenail is cut too short, you can use a styptic pencil containing silver nitrate to stop blood flow, although many animals object to the styptic pencil as much, or more, than toenail cutting. The black end of the stick is held to the bleeding nail and gently rotated until bleeding stops.
Even without any treatment the nail should stop bleeding in about 5 minutes or less.
for more info go to http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/dog_claws.aspx
how to trim guinea pig's nail
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The grooming needs of short haired guinea pigs are minimal, but if you have one with longer hair you will need to invest more time in grooming. However, all guinea pigs require regular nail clipping. Holding Your Guinea Pig for Nail Clipping
The hardest part of doing nail trims on pet guinea pigs is probably holding the guinea pig still. With patience and practice, nail clipping will become part of your routine and your guinea pig will likely get less squirmy over time. When starting out, it is probably best to have a helper to hold your guinea pig so you can trim the nails. However, most guinea pigs are not too difficult to hold. Possible methods of restraint include the following:
You can use human nail clippers if you like. You can also use nail clippers designed for cats and other small animals. These look like little scissors with small notches toward the end of the blade for cutting the nail. How Often
Aim for doing the nails at least once a month, although you can do them even more often that that if you choose. Although nail clipping may be awkward and difficult at first, the more often you do it the more comfortable it will become for you and your guinea pig. More importantly, the longer the nails get, the harder they will be to trim. As the nails get longer the blood vessel (quick) gets longer too, and the nails will start to curl. Regular nail clipping helps keep the nails in good shape. How to Clip the Nails
The trick to nail trims is to cut the sharp tip off the nail without cutting into the quick. The quick is the part inside the nail where the blood vessel and nerve endings are located, and if you cut into the quick, the nail will bleed and it will hurt your guinea pig. If your guinea pig has light or translucent nails, the quick will be visible as the pink part inside the nail. Make your cut a bit in front of the quick; if you get too close it may still be a bit painful. See the diagram to the right for an illustration. If your pet has dark nails, you can sometimes "guess" where it is safe to cut based on the shape of the nail, especially with practice. The tip of the nail is usually quite narrow and may almost appear hollow when viewed from the bottom. Otherwise, it is safest to just clip off about 1/4 inch of the nail tip. If you have any doubts, it is wise to get a professional (groomer, veterinarian) or other experienced owner to demonstrate a nail trim for you before you attempt nail clipping on your own. Accidents Happen
No matter how careful you are, you may accidentally cut into the quick and cause some bleeding at some point. Don't panic - while it might hurt for just a moment and will bleed, this is not a disaster. Just make sure you have something on hand to stop the bleeding:
Previous
This information is not meant to be a substitute for veterinary care. Always follow the instructions provided by your veterinarian.
In the photographs below, unless otherwise noted, the top if the paw is facing up. The dog who was photographed has black pads on her toes. The black pads on the bottom of her toes will help you orient yourself as you view the photographs. Variations on these instructions exist.
Most dogs do not like having their claws trimmed. Start trimming claws in young animals so that they get used to the process. Some dogs will happily sit in your lap or on a table while you trim their claws but many require some form of restraint.
One method to restrain the dog is to place her/him on a table. Stand on the side of the table opposite to the claws you are trimming. Drape your arms and upper body over the dog. When trimming the front claws, keep your left forearm over the neck to keep the dog from lifting its head. Hold the paw in your left hand and hold the trimmer in your right hand.
If the dog tries to stand, lean your upper body over his/her shoulders to prevent him/her from rising.
If your dog is too wiggly, try laying him/her on his/her side. Use your right arm and upper body to keep the dog laying on his/her side. Hold the trimmer in your right hand.
Use your left arm to keep the head on the table and use the left hand to hold the paw.
It is easier to perform this procedure if you have a helper. See the section on restraining a dog for some additional suggestions.
There are several styles of nail trimmers, including a guillotine type and a scissors type. The guillotine type is the easiest to use in dogs. The scissors-type is used to trim a toenail that is so long that it is curling in a circle. Long claws can grow into the toe-pad. This most often happens to dew claws, the claw on the inner side of the paw. Dew claws do not touch the ground so they are not worn down as the dog walks.
The dew claw is attached to the leg by loose skin. The dew claw can usually be bent away from the leg so that you can fit a guillotine type trimmer over the tip of the dew claw.
The scissors-type cutter is placed at a right angle to the toenail.
Hold the trimmer in your right hand if you are right handed.
Close your hand around the clipper to squeeze the handle which will move the cutting blade.
The guillotine type trimmers have stationary ring through which the nail is placed, and a cutting blade that moves up to slice off the nail when the handles of the trimmer are squeezed.
Unlike cats, dogs do not have retractile claws. The color of the nail is determined by the color of the surrounding skin and hair. This dog has black claws on the brown paw and a mixture of white and black claws on the white paw. Always remember to trim the dew claws that are located on the inner surface of the paw.
The claws on the rear feet are often shorter and require less frequent trimming than those on the front feet. Always remember to trim the dew claws that are located on the inner surface of the paw unless they were removed as a puppy. Some breeds of dogs such as the St. Bernard have 2 sets of dew claws on the rear feet.
Light colored claws are easier to cut than dark claws as the blood vessels and nerves that supply the toenail, called the quick, is easier to see. Cut the toenail to within approximately 2 millimeters of the quick.
If you cut into the quick, the toenail will bleed and the dog will experience pain.
The handles of the trimmer can be held pointing toward the floor, as pictured at the left (cutting the nail from bottom to top) or the handles of the trimmer can be held pointed towards the ceiling (cutting the nail from top to bottom); which ever is more comfortable in your hands.
The tip of the nail is placed in the stationary ring in the trimmer with the clipper perpendicular to the nail (cutting either top to bottom or bottom to top). If the trimmer is placed parallel to the nail (cutting from side to side), the nail is crushed and may splinter.
The cutting blade should be facing you, NOT the dog. The screws on the handle of the trimmer should be facing the dog.
If you turn the trimmer around with the screws toward you, the cutting blade is cutting closer to the quick than if the trimmer is held with the cutting blade toward you. You are less likely to cut into the quick if the cutting blade faces you.
The handles of the trimmer are squeezed to advance the cutting blade through the nail. Light colored claws can be trimmed with one cut on each nail.
You cannot see the quick on dark colored claws, making them more difficult to trim without cutting into the quick.
Cut dark colored claws in several small cuts to reduce the chance of cutting into the quick.
As you cut off small pieces of the nail, look at the cut edge of the nail. The light tissue (1) is the curved bottom part of the nail. The mottled light and dark tissue (2) is the top part of the nail.
As you cut the nail deeper, you will see a homogeneous gray to pink oval (3) starting to appear at the top of the cut surface of the nail. Stop cutting the nail at this point as additional cutting will cut into the quick. The sharper the trimmer, the cleaner the cut. The cutting blade on guillotine-style cutters can be replaced when it is no longer sharp. You can file the end of the nail to smooth the cut surface.
A correctly cut dark colored nail next to an uncut mixed colored nail. The mixed color nail is darker close to the base of the nail preventing one from seeing the quick. This nail should be trimmed in several small cuts.
If the toenail is cut too short, you can use a styptic pencil containing silver nitrate to stop blood flow, although many animals object to the styptic pencil as much, or more, than toenail cutting. The black end of the stick is held to the bleeding nail and gently rotated until bleeding stops.
Even without any treatment the nail should stop bleeding in about 5 minutes or less.
for more info go to http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/dog_claws.aspx
how to trim guinea pig's nail
zSB(3,3) Sponsored Links Tear Stains-Angels' EyesEliminate tear stains in dogs Works from the inside outwww.angelseyesonline.com
Groom Your Pets At HomeManage Pet Shedding With Helpful Cleaning Solutions From Swiffer®.www.Swiffer.com/PetCare
Your Dog Wont Get Fleas.A little garlic juice in dogs food - never get fleas or ticks again.www.GarlicValleyFarms.com
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The grooming needs of short haired guinea pigs are minimal, but if you have one with longer hair you will need to invest more time in grooming. However, all guinea pigs require regular nail clipping. Holding Your Guinea Pig for Nail Clipping
The hardest part of doing nail trims on pet guinea pigs is probably holding the guinea pig still. With patience and practice, nail clipping will become part of your routine and your guinea pig will likely get less squirmy over time. When starting out, it is probably best to have a helper to hold your guinea pig so you can trim the nails. However, most guinea pigs are not too difficult to hold. Possible methods of restraint include the following:
- sit with your guinea pig on your lap facing away from you with its rump against your stomach to keep your guinea pig from backing up.
- hold your guinea pig upright with its back against your body by placing your hand lightly around your guinea pig's chest. Important: make sure the hind end is supported (either on your lap if you are sitting down, or with the other hand). With practice, you can even hold one foreleg out by placing it between your fingers using this method.
- if necessary, gently wrap up your guinea pig's body and three of its legs in a light towel, leaving one leg free for clipping the nails. If you choose this method be careful not to wrap too tight (this may impede breathing) and take a break between legs to reduce stress and the chance of overheating.
You can use human nail clippers if you like. You can also use nail clippers designed for cats and other small animals. These look like little scissors with small notches toward the end of the blade for cutting the nail. How Often
Aim for doing the nails at least once a month, although you can do them even more often that that if you choose. Although nail clipping may be awkward and difficult at first, the more often you do it the more comfortable it will become for you and your guinea pig. More importantly, the longer the nails get, the harder they will be to trim. As the nails get longer the blood vessel (quick) gets longer too, and the nails will start to curl. Regular nail clipping helps keep the nails in good shape. How to Clip the Nails
The trick to nail trims is to cut the sharp tip off the nail without cutting into the quick. The quick is the part inside the nail where the blood vessel and nerve endings are located, and if you cut into the quick, the nail will bleed and it will hurt your guinea pig. If your guinea pig has light or translucent nails, the quick will be visible as the pink part inside the nail. Make your cut a bit in front of the quick; if you get too close it may still be a bit painful. See the diagram to the right for an illustration. If your pet has dark nails, you can sometimes "guess" where it is safe to cut based on the shape of the nail, especially with practice. The tip of the nail is usually quite narrow and may almost appear hollow when viewed from the bottom. Otherwise, it is safest to just clip off about 1/4 inch of the nail tip. If you have any doubts, it is wise to get a professional (groomer, veterinarian) or other experienced owner to demonstrate a nail trim for you before you attempt nail clipping on your own. Accidents Happen
No matter how careful you are, you may accidentally cut into the quick and cause some bleeding at some point. Don't panic - while it might hurt for just a moment and will bleed, this is not a disaster. Just make sure you have something on hand to stop the bleeding:
- Kwik-Stop powder or other commercial styptic powder product. These sometimes sting but are highly effective. Take a pinch of powder and press onto the tip of the affected nail after wiping away the blood.
- Cornstarch or flour can also be used in a similar manner
- You can try pressing the nail into a bar of soap or bees wax.
- For minor bleeding, simply applying pressure to the tip of the nail may be effective.
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for more info go to http://exoticpets.about.com/od/guineapigs/a/gpgrooming.htm
how to trim your bird How to Trim Your Bird's Nails By Alyson Burgess , About.com Guide
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zob();if(zs Pet Birds Ads Trimming or clipping a bird's nails is a necessary job for a bird owner. If you've ever been scratched by a bird's claws, you know how sharp and painful they can be! There are, however, many other reasons for trimming a bird's nails than for your own personal comfort. A quick nail trim now and then can help prevent foot problems with your bird, protect your furniture and valuables, and let's face it -- a little bit of extra handling time never hurts!
To trim your bird's nails without causing injury to your pet or yourself, it's important to keep these helpful tips in mind:
By keeping these tips in mind, you can help make nail trimming a much smoother experience for yourself and your feathered friend. With time and effort, your bird should grow to better tolerate nail trimming, and become used to it as a routine grooming procedure
for more info go to http://birds.about.com/od/grooming/a/nailtrimming.htm
how to trim your bird How to Trim Your Bird's Nails By Alyson Burgess , About.com Guide
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zob();if(zs Pet Birds Ads Trimming or clipping a bird's nails is a necessary job for a bird owner. If you've ever been scratched by a bird's claws, you know how sharp and painful they can be! There are, however, many other reasons for trimming a bird's nails than for your own personal comfort. A quick nail trim now and then can help prevent foot problems with your bird, protect your furniture and valuables, and let's face it -- a little bit of extra handling time never hurts!
To trim your bird's nails without causing injury to your pet or yourself, it's important to keep these helpful tips in mind:
- Have a styptic powder ready. It's easy to trim too much of your bird's nail and cut into the quick, now matter how careful you are. Because blood loss is extremely dangerous to birds, always have a styptic powder like Kwik Stop handy whenever you groom your bird.
- Wrap your bird in a towel. Even the sweetest and most tame birds can get a little freaked out at nail trimming time. Cover your bird with a towel when trimming nails to reduce your pet's anxiety as well as to give yourself a good solid grip on the bird.
- Trim only the tip of your bird's nail. When clipping a bird's claws, cut off only the sharp pointed tip to avoid cutting into the quick and causing pain for your pet.
- Work quickly but carefully. I've never known a bird that liked nail trims, and most owners don't either. To reduce stress for yourself and your pet, work quickly to trim the nails and then release your pet. Being toweled and restrained for even relatively short periods of time can be terrifying and exhausting for a bird, so make sure you are able to clip the nails quickly and accurately.
By keeping these tips in mind, you can help make nail trimming a much smoother experience for yourself and your feathered friend. With time and effort, your bird should grow to better tolerate nail trimming, and become used to it as a routine grooming procedure
for more info go to http://birds.about.com/od/grooming/a/nailtrimming.htm