Dog's Claws

[rsvp]

Bit of advice needed here please.
Have taken on a rescue dog - nine year old Border Collie - had very little proper exercise in his life- now is very, very much fitter and enjoying long walks and plays etc. His claws are long (and black!) - I've trimmed them but judging by the way he tippy toes around sometimes I'm convinced they are still troubling him.
I know if I keep snipping the ends eventually the quick will recede but it's going to take ages and he doesn't really like it.
Has anyone any experience of having them cut short by the vet then cauterised -(under sedation)?. I imagine it's fairly painful if all four paws are done?
Pros and Cons would be gratefully accepted by ABers who have experience/opinions of this. Thank you.

[woofgang]

What does the vet say? I have no experience of the clip and cauterise procedure but I have had a dog who broke a long claw and I had to be very careful while it healed so as not to get it infected. Its also worth confirming that it is in fact the claws that are causing him pain....again, I would go to the vet if it was me.

[rsvp]

Thanks woofgang - have chatted with the vet and he agrees they are long , like you I've no experience with this proceedure and want to give beastie the best chance of enjoying his new life but at the same time don't want to put him through any unnecessary hassle. Tough one really, maybe I'll take a rain check for a while and keep snipping away at the tips for a week or two and see if there's any improvement.

[tamborine]

absolutely not, the paws will swell & do untold damage to dogs psychy. Claws should only be cut straight level to paws & NO more!

[rsvp]

Thank you tamborine - I had absolutely no intention of doing anything other than having the claws the correct length, perhaps there's some confusion.

[jakep]

Are you able to get him running on a beach regularly. I would be loathe to give sedation unless absolutely necessary. Your vet will help with advice though.

[jakep]

Sorry, wrote that before the boiler man arrived. You have now spoken to vet!!

[rsvp]

No worries jakep.

[lankeela]

Its very unlikely that the quicks are so long that you will cut them if the claws are long. Try taking him to a grooming parlour, they will be used to cutting long nails, and even if they do cut one or two a bit short and make them bleed they will soon be able to stop it with special powder and it won't take long. Better to get them done in one go and then keep them trimmed.

[lankeela]

Forgot to say well done on taking on a rescued Collie.

[naomi24]

I've taken one of my dogs to the vet on occasions to have its claws clipped, but I've never heard of a dog having its claws cauterised. Why not just take it to the nurse to have its claws clipped properly?

[rsvp]

Lankeela the quicks are very near the tip which is the problem - can see it on the white one - have always clipped nails myself but don't want to hurt him as he has become a really different dog already and trusts me. What I've decided to do is to try for a while to snip the tips very regularly and see what happens. If I take him to the vet nurse Naomi she won't be able to clip them any shorter than I can without hitting the quick which is why I've considered having them clipped to the correct length by the vet and then having them cauterised. However, am going to try the tip snipping method for a while at least.
Thank you for the reply.

[rsvp]

Should have added if the vet did them he would be sedated.

[ladybirder]

Oh! Poor man.

[shoota]

Can you not exercise him on concrete or a pavement for 20 mins a day and let them wear down naturally?

[ladybirder]

How will he manage to clip the nails?

[rsvp]

Shoota they really are too long for that to be of use but thank you.
Ladybirder - by 'he' I assume you mean the vet. He will sedate Mac then clip them to an acceptable length then cauterise the ends to prevent infect and put him on pain relief for a few days.

[ladybirder]

Sorry rsvp, I was trying to be funny and failed miserably. I should have known better:-( Please don't be offended. I had visions of the vet being so scared of hurting the dog he (vet) had to be tranquillised.

I think you should carry on as you planned for the time being i.e. clipping little and often. x

[rsvp]

No worries Ladybirder - as I said in my previous posts that's exactly what I'm planning to do for a while -
Stay well and thanks