My dog wont let me cut his nails, is there something I can give him to make him sleepy?

Question

I was wondering if there was something safe to give him to make him sleepy enough that I can cut his nails.

Answer 1

I see a lot of people are suggesting go to a groomer, but be cautious as to which groomer you go to because I took my dog to Petsmart and the groomer there cut too much of the nail off and I had to then take my dog to the vet to get stitches and to stop the bleeding. I understand that dealing with a dog that is moving and resisting getting it's nails cut is hard, but she basically took off the entire nail. Good luck.

Answer 2

I aggree with Heidi B benadryl should do the trick!!!

But when u go to cut his nails he might get a dose of adrenaline which will counteract with medicine and it wont work at all.

If med. doesnt work , if u dont already, use dog nail clippers and not humans. Then before u clip his nails let him sniff and get use to the clippers, when hes use to them have somebody either hold him down or u could have them take a treat and let the dog try to get it. Once in a wile give the dog the sought after treat and put a new one in the hand. Mean wile the dog is so caught up in the treat he wont realize your cutting his nails.

If u have to combine the treats and the benadryl!


Or if u live somewhere where theres rocks (not sharp small ones but big rough ones) take him for a walk there and it will naturally rub down his nails.

Answer 3

I would just take him to a groomer or a vet and have them do it. I have five chihuahuas, and three are ok with me cutting their nails, and two of them, I have a groomer or a vet cut for me, because they squirm too much. It's not that expensive, and it does'nt take that long to do. If you prefer to do it yourself, then the veterinarian can recommend something or give you something, that would work, and also be the right dosage, for your dog's breed. I would not recommend, giving your dog, any human medication, unless you ask your vet first. You can also, just give your vet a call, it's free, and ask them, the same question you asked us. Good Luck! Hope this helps a little!

Answer 4

Benadryll is a safe over the counter that you can give your animal however before giving it to him you need to consult your vet to find out the correct weight and suggested dosage. Also this doesnt put all dogs to sleep. Something I do with my dog is sit down and hide the clippers. Than I get him to snuggle up to me and I pet his paws until he is relaxed enough to let me hold his paws in my hand. Then I can slide my leg over his body so he cant move so much. When he relaxes again I start on a foot he cant see very well. I have a small dog so this works great.
Another option is to take them to a grooming center such as petsmart and they usually have better facillities to handle animals who dont like it.
Make sure you arent cutting the Quick- They never forget that its very painful for them.

Answer 5

well some vets or groomers will cut the nails for you.

If you want to do it yourself, sometimes it just requires figuring out what way works best for your dog.

I have a large dog that does not like me holding her paw but will let me clip them while she is standing (just slip the clipper around the claw) and hold the upper part of her leg.

I have a small dog that likewise doesn't like pressure on her feet, but if I turn her around and put her back against my chest and then hold her arm at the elbow area with one hand and clip with the other she doesn't mind it as much (still squirms some but not the hissy fit like she used to have).

And some dogs do better if there are two people. One to talk to it and distract it and the other to clip.

Answer 6

How big is he? 'Cos I don't know if this will work with a dog, but I once lived with a family that had a cat that needed drops in its ears and resisted (and how!). I'd read somewhere that if you can 'swaddle' an animal it'll go quiet - and not suffer - and that's exactly what happened; I wrapped Tiddles in a blanket and once he was totally wrapped up he went limp and we could get the drops in his ears and let them stay long enough.

Wouldn't like to try it with a Doberman, though.

Answer 7

Chamomile tea works very well, and is safe for him.
Dump it out of the teabag, and use 1 teaspoon (dry) for small breed, up to 1 tablespoon for a large breed. Mix it in a little canned food, such as Mighty Dog, or Cesar's, and give about 30 minutes before he needs to relax. It will keep him happy, but reduce stress. It can be given as needed.
You will find Cahmomile in your grocer's tea section..

Answer 8

You need to teach him to submit. Roll him over on his back and put your hand on his stomach. Don't let him go until he stops squirming around. If you let go first than he wins. You will have to do this a few times before he learns who the boss is, but it will take less and less time the more times you do it. After he stays calm automatically, than it should be easier for you to trim your pooches nails. And you won't have to give him anything to stay calm. (....or you could just take him to a groomer or a vet and have them do it)

Answer 9

if your dog doesnt like having his nails cut then try taking him out for more walks on concrete ground to file the nails down. You shouldn't really have to give the dog anything to do that.

Answer 10

The best idea would be to take your dog to a pet salon where they will trim your his nails for a small fee. Some pet stores, such as Petsmart and Petco, have grooming centers in the store.