I really need to get my dogs nails cut and get her groomed.... however...?

Question

she tries to bite anyone who messes with her nails or tries to cut her fur. What can I do about it? I don't have enough money to get her to the vet quite yet. I have been saving but I want to make sure I have enough to cover for her shots to be updated and stuff. Is there anything I can do in the meantime??? I tried homeopathic medicine I got from Petco but it does not really work.... I also tried muzzling but she is so freaked out that she moves way too much to get anything accomplished.

Answer 1

It would probably be best to save up and have the vet sedate her. This way it is less stress for her and the people grooming her and trimming her nails. A lot of vets will trim nails and shave dogs if requested...and some even have groomers on site. call around.

Answer 2

Most vets will tell you not to try and trim your dogs' nails yourself because it's hard to see where the quick is and you can easily cut too deep. But my grandma's dog didn't like anybody trying to cut her nails either~ except my grandma. She was just really careful and only cut a little at a time. I wouldn't do it all the time, but depending on how long your dog's nails are, maybe if she'll let you do it it might at least be a temporary solution until you can save enough money to take her and have the vet do it.

Also, try talking to your vet about the cost of shots. I had a friend with a new puppy that couldn't afford all the shots the dog needed. Sometimes vets are just like any other place, and they might have some kind of a payment plan or schedule that will allow you to make sure the dog gets the shots it needs but not have to pay everything up front.

Answer 3

I have found out with mine that grooming isn't always a simple thing. The majority of dogs have no problem with being groomed. However, the few that do have problems can have big problems. My dog had such a bad first experience with the groomers that the second time he passed out and needed mouth to mouth. He even had a seizure after we got home from the stress. I am now facing the hard decisions of have to put him under in order to be groomed. The problem with bitters is most groomers wont take a dog that bites. I think the best thing for dogs with grooming problems is to find a vet with a groomer on site. They are sometimes hard to find but worth it. That way if the dog got hurt they could take care of them on site. In the mean time going on walks can help with the nail problem. The cement is like a nail fie and can help. Also get the dog used to you grooming them. Try when they are relaxed. I find the best time to try grooming my dog is when he's tired. Also, don't go all out and groom them all at once if they can't handle it. Work in sections and give treats for only good behavior. Good luck-

Answer 4

There is a medication called Acepromazine. I give them to my little Pomeranian for thunderstorms. It is an inexpensive (about $4 for 5 pills) tranquilizer. You can give her that and also muzzle her when you do her nails. If you take her to a groomer, you may have to tranquilize her before you take her there. It takes about an hour to get the full effect of the medication, so be sure to give it to her several hours before your appointment.

I don't know how large or small she is, but you can get her used to having her nails touched.

If she is a large dog, sit on the floor with her and pet her. Slowly keep petting her all over until you reach her legs. Make sure she is comfortable and relaxed. Then you can move further to her feet. You need to build up a trust with her and get her used to having her feet touched, but don't expect this to happen overnight. You'll have to do this daily until she is at ease with her feet/nails being touched. Once the trust is there, you should be able to clip her nails yourself.

If she is a small dog, put her on your lap and do the same thing as above.

Answer 5

you should first get her used to being muzzled, before you try anything else. you dont want her to bite anyone, because then she could be taken away and put down, and I know you wouldnt want that. to get her used to it, put it on her and let her into a room where she can move around and not feel trapped. After she calms down and stands still or lays down nicely, take it off.

Try it again a few hours later, or the next day. Each time you do it, wait for her to be calm before you take it off. If you take it off while she is being crazy about it, then she wont learn.

The purpose of waiting for her to calm down is to teach her that when she is crazy, it stays on. When she is good, on the other hand, it comes off.

Then, if it is the sound of the clippers that she is frightened of, then you can get her used to this also, using the same method. Have her in a room where she wont feel trapped. Go to the opposite side of the room and turn on an electric shaver. Leave it on until she calms down and see's that it wont hurt her, that its just noise. Repeat this, each time getting closer and closer, until you are able to turn it on right next to her. You can even get to the point at which you are able to touch her with it and she is fine.

Now, all this will take a while, depending on how fast she learns.

Hope this helped! Good luck!

Answer 6

First, how old is your dog? Is she a puppy and rambunctious? How do you handle her otherwise? If you speak calmly and treat her gently (no teasing and terrorizing her), you can train her to respond better to you.

Is she always freaked out or is it just when it comes to her nails and grooming? It sounds like you may need to stay calm and not get all freaked out yourself. Cutting her nails may best be left until you can get her to a groomer. Their nail area can be sensitive and she may not like it.

Also, if she is getting regular exercise and walking on hard surfaces, like concrete, asphalt, etc., her nails will wear themselves down and she really doesn't need to have them trimmed.

I'm also assuming you know that you have to be careful how far down you cut her nails? They have cuticles just like we do and cutting that is VERY painful for them. If her nails are pink or white, you can see that area. If she has black nails, you'll need to leave it to the groomer to do the cutting.

And why does she need medicine? If she is not sick, there's no need for any homeopathic medicine. You could also find out if there are any nonprofit animal care organizations that offer reduced prices for vet services and shots. A lot of vets and animal clinics offer low-cost vaccines once a month or so. Call around in your area and you'll probably find some.

I'd suggest you take a look at the San Francisco ASPCA website for training and dog behavior suggestions. It's one of the best out there. Your doggie needs some TLC and some training, it sounds like. Often, our pets will get freaked out because they are very sensitive to our moods and energy. As you become more confident and gentle with her, her behavior will probably change.

I always think of my pets in terms of how I would feel if somebody approached me in a way that would make me uncomfortable. They're really not all that much different than we are in terms of feelings - they just have 4 legs!

Answer 7

I used to trim my kids nails at night when they slept so they wouldn't move around and freak out so much.

You'll need her rabies shot at the bare minimum to get her in at a groomer and the groomer can sedate them with a mild tranquilizer to get the job done.

Maybe you can run her around a bit, exercise more than usual and really tire her out, then feed her a nice big meal and wait til she conks out so she'll be less likely to fight so much when you trim her.

You could also call the loval shelter and see if they know of someone who does lowcost shots and grooming.

Answer 8

i no how u feel with this i have a yorkie who is the same way..he creates when he has to have his hair cut,tries to bite us etc and his nails can only be clipped at the vets..and when i take him i have to wait outside as he doesnt panic so much,the vets shouldnt charge u too much to get his nails clipped,ask if the nurse can do it as its cheaper xx

Answer 9

You really need to get your dog's shots taken care of first. Most places won't accept dogs that aren't up-to-date on their shots. Also, possibly, you vet could give you a mild tranquilizer to help with your dog's anxiety.

Answer 10

she probably needs to be on a grooming table to get the nails done. some dogs just freak out when it comes to this. you need to just try to reassure her that it will be ok as much as you can.