quicked nails from the other view-very upset mom

[Lucy in the Sky]

Sorry this is long but I am still steamed.
So as a groomer, we all realize that quicking happens, esp. when the dog is super wiggly. I have always reacted calmly and encouraged the pet owners to do the same. I always felt badly and always told the owner.
So then this week happens! I am now the very angry, on the phone with the vet's office, what did you do to my dog mom.
We had Lucy in for shots 2 weeks ago, vet asks if I want a nail trim since it is included- I say no because she is just fine for me and I will do them over the weekend. Which I did, and filed them.
well, Tuesday she had to go in for a little surgery because she had a foxtail up her nose. This is our first dog and the first time she has been under anaesthesia since we got her 6 months ago. We were not told that it is standard practice to cut the dogs nails really far back while they are under. Well, when I got her home and she rolled over and I could see the pink quick in every single nail, I was furious. I had not been told that her nails would be done, had not been told that 90% of her nails had been quicked. Suddenly, I was that irrational person on the other side of the counter, going what were you doing - you made my dog bleed!!!
Granted she was under, but I got a little perspective on those customers that wig out when the dog gets quicked. Geez, though, I really can't believe how badly they cut my little girl. Her little nails look so raw, i don't even want to dremmel them to smooth them back out.
I am going to try to attach a pic of the worst one- this happened on Tuesday and this is Saturday- so it had been 4 days when I took this.

[SpikeyTheYorkie]

Oh my gosh, call the fire department!

Girl, you're soooo over reacting. It's no big deal. They probably did it out of habit. Ever done anything like that? Babies get circumcised, that's way worse than a quicked nail or two. I doubt the dog will be traumatized by it, seriously, it's a non-issue if you ask me.

Tammy in Utah

[kellic]

My husband is embarassed to go with me, but any vet I see knows you DO NOT trim my dog's nails and you DO NOT shave any part of my dog without my explicit permission. I am normally a very easy going client, but as a groomer, these things I do myself and my vets know it!

[diamienono]

That is not standard around here. In fact they charge extra to do that.

[Lucy in the Sky]

I have actually calmed down a lot since Tuesady night LOL.
I realize that the dog is fine- except her nails are sharp again and I hate it and she fussed like they were bothering her when I tried to re-dremmel them. You know your dog- if it is unusual then it is, ya know.
Mostly, I am just really ticked that I wasn't told. Esp. since it was in her chart that I had refused the clipping 2 weeks proir.
My message is that even though it is something that you think is no big deal, tell the owners! I was more offended that I was not told. Lucy has been through so much in her short little life that nothing really gets this girl down now that she knows she is safe and loved.
I have quicked dogs before, but if I got one like that, there certainly weren't 7 more just like it.
I just found it interesting that i reacted like I did! I am fine with other peoples pets, but when my kids are owied, it really bothers me lol. Dunno- guess I need a life!

[Pap lover]

I think I would react the same way though. I think that there is no reason to cut a dogs nails so short that you have to go past the quick. I just dont think that is right. I would be rightfully angry as well!!

[Helly]

We always cut and cauterized nails when a dog was having routine surgery when I worked as a vet tech. No one ever complained. Most dog's nails are really too long anyway. Even groomers dogs.

I'm with Tammy. I think you're making a mountain out of a mole hill. They trimmed the nails, not amputated a leg.

[rapuzzled]

I have to agree with Tammy. I can understand that you would feel bad for her, but heck, I've accidentally quicked my own dog's nails before.

[PAWS]

At my tech job, it was standard practice to trim nails while under anesthesia. If the client wanted them 'quicked', there was an extra charge, and they were packed with quick stop (which contains a numbing agent) or cauterized, and they went home with anti-inflammatories for a few days to keep them from being painful. The nails/toes were prepped ahead of time, just like a surgical site to prevent infection, since we were cutting into healthy tissue. The pets were already on pre-surgical pain meds, so they likely experienced little to no discomfort afterward. I think they should have asked you first, however. Also, anesthetized pets were commonly trimmed to teach assistants how to trim nails, so that if they clipped too far, it was no harm to the pet. Maybe the nail trimmer was just really bad at it?? If your pet is not in pain, I wouldn't get too excited over it. They know now how you feel on the subject.

[RoosMom]

The dog was out when they did it, that's the perfect opportunity to cut them back real short. They cauterize them, the dog doesn't feel it. Really, it's NOT at all like if you were to do that to a dog in the shop. They don't feel it. I used to own a Rottie mix who had super long, thick badger-claws for nails, and a long quick to go with them. I could never get those things back a decent length, no matter what I tried. When he got put under for his teeth cleaning, my vet whacked them back, nice and short. I was sooo glad he did, too.lol Trust me, while you're feeling traumatized by this, your dog has no recollection of it, and doesn't care. ;-)

[redbird]

mine did

When I got my little stray terrier fixed, they did that, but NO where near THAT short! it was a complimentary thing, and it was no more than a normal
trim.

Does the dog seem sore?

Rather than say something that could go emotional. I would write them a letter with the picture and tell them you think its a little on the extreme side
without permission. I think it is too, but since the dog was under, I probably would let them know what I think, and leave it at that. Next time you can
tell them not to do that, thats for sure.

[Poodlefluff]

Calm Down your baby is ok. A nail cut back is what they call it. When I was showing my poodle I had to purposely cut back her nails all the time. Quicking every nail. She doesn't even flinch she is so used to it. Your dog will not feel any pain unless she goes to dig a hole to china. People do pay extra to have their dogs nails cut back during anesthesia. Typically when the quicks are over grown.

[borzoimom]

I have to agree with Spikey, it's not the end of the world. Your dog was sleeping so will not be traumitized. While working at my vet's I took advantage of my dog being anesthetized for dentals to get his nails nice and short.

[Scoop]

I had our Sheltie's done like that when he went in for his teeth cleaning. The previous owners never did much with his nails and they were horribly over grown. When I first got him I clipped them weekly to see if I could get the quiks to receed, but they never really did. So the first chance I got when he was knocked out I had it done. He was a little sore footed for a few days, but now his nails are nice and short and because I keep up on them he will never have to worry about over grown nails. DON'T dremmel them right now. I'm sure that would hurt like mad, plus probably start them bleeding again, leave them be they will be fine. And geez I wish it was the "standard" around here but no it cost me $55 on top of the teeth cleaning.

The reason you can see the "pink" so much in the picture you showed is because the nail is white, so it looks worse. Lucky has both white nails and black nails and on the black nails it doesn't look as bad, because you can't see the pink.

Scoop

[happy trails]

It's standard practice at my vets office.I've never had an issue with it.