clipping nails growing right agains the pad?

[mrslee]

Sorry if this has been covered before, I'm just not sure how to go about this. Some of the dogs that come in for grooming have nails that grow right up against the pad and I find it very hard to clip the nail without pinching the pad. Is there a technique for this?

would a Dremel help to "reorient" the growth of the nail away from the pad if you used it after clipping?

[sparkle]

i got a pair of cat nail clippers, that i use for this, they are easy to get into small places. hope this helps. i use them on a lot of little dogs too.

[SpikeyTheYorkie]

I clip them Farrier Style (kind of like a horse shoer holds the horse's hoof), and clip from the bottom so I can see the nail and slide my clipper blade underneath. I know where you're coming from though, it's scary!

Tammy in Utah

[Maggy]

For small dogs, I think the clippers that look kind of like scissors are supposed to work better than the plier type. That reminds me, I've been meaning to buy a pair of those.

[sheilabgroomer]

I use my plier type nail clippers on these. Have your quick stop ready because it seems like these types of nails often have long quicks. It is scary until you get used to it but it has to be done. If not it is likely that nail will start to curl under and grow into the pads which will start a whole nother problem!!! Do NOT dremmel these until you get them clipped away from the pad and only dremmel if you didn't quick them. Dremmeling when they are curled next to the pad like that will likely just burn the dogs pad. In my area I see a LOT of dogs w/nails like this. I think it is because they are mostly "yard" dogs and don't get exercised on pavement where it wears the nails down.

[Helly]

If you try using a grinder on nails like that you have to be extremely careful because it's easy to make contact with the pad, and it doesn't take any time at all to cause a burn or serious abrasion. I've done it way to many times on my own self, and it hurts.

As already mentioned, the cat claw scissors will get between the pad and the nail easier than other types of nail trimmers. But they aren't always strong enough to cut the nail, especially cocker nails, that seem to be notorious for growing that way. In that case, try to use your to roll the pad away from the nail as much as possible so you have room to get the clipper in between. Work the blade in from the side, so the open edge isn't in facing the pad. It still won't be comfortable for the dog, but it won't pinch or cut the pad.

[diamienono]

I have a small metal dog nail file that I get in there with first to get it away from the pad.

[DogChic]

i find dogs with this problem very hard to do .... not so much actually clipping it - but because the nails are generally like this for a reason - as in the dog is exceptionally difficult for nails - PROBABLY because they've all been quicked.

I had a pug recently with his nails all curled into his pads - a nightmare to do - mom said that every time he gets them done at the vet they go home with him bleeding from every toe - no wonder the poor boy freaks out!!! so she hadn't brought him in a while because it was always so traumatizing - yet now he's walking on curled up nails.... we got them done without quicking any - and definitely dremmeled them down after clipping.

[Gracy Rose]

I do exactly like Diam. I place the file between the pad and nail and then clip this way I don't accidentally get the pad.

[RevWind]

I use little cat nail clippers if the nail is small enough.

[redbird]

what it takes

If cat nail cutters are still to tight, I have used human toenail cutters.
They open up on the side and you can slide them right over the nail.

I also sometimes use them to take small parts off of the big thing nails
that are dry and just want to crack.

[KarlaSnyder]

I like that file idea! I usually use my . I use the Millers Forge dog nail scissors, and do the nail from the top for those long, curved into the pad nails.

[ejmj30]

I do like Helly said, go in from the side and do the best you can while avoiding the pinch. One thing I've done is not even gotten to the end of the nail, just shaved off what I can get into my clippers 1/2 way up the nail. This sometimes makes the nail a little thinner so I can slip it into my clippers, or even break it off by hand if I can get it thin enough.

One thing I've never tried are those guillotine nail clippers. They have a very small loop that may fit between the nail and pad a little easier than the plier type ones I use, plus there's no way you can get the pad if the guard is there stopping you.

I find I quick these nails more often, and actually I try too, cause if the dog has such bad nails, or bad toes so those nails don't get ground down, I've want to make them as short as possible.