I use the dremel.  Did the person explain how the dust gets into the quick and why it causes infection?  I can’t imagine a problem unless he/she dremels the nails too short and into the quick. What if you cut the nail into the quick with a clipper? Isn’t that just as risky? Sorry, but this person doesn’t make any sense to me.

 

Bev

The Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the Princess (Fauna)

 

"..It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds.." --Samuel Adams

 

"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man." --Thomas Jefferson

 

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From: gsp-l-request@shorthairs.net [mailto:gsp-l-request@shorthairs.net] On Behalf Of dise454@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 7:05 PM
To: gsp-l@shorthairs.net
Subject: [gsp-l] Cutting Nails

 

 

 

At a seminar this weekend the instructor said that he doesn't use the dremel, because the nail dust can go up into the quick and cause infection.

 

I was wondering what the group feels about that and how do you manage nails.

 

I use a combination of clipper and dremel and have always preferred the dremel.

 

Diane

 

At a seminar this weekend the instructor said that he doesn't use the dremel, because the nail dust can go up into the quick and cause infection.

I was wondering what the group feels about that and how do you manage nails.

I use a combination of clipper and dremel and have always preferred the dremel.

Diane

I have always used the dremel and never had an issue - that was until I let my vet do it. I had my male in for a dental in January 2009. I asked her to get them as short as she could since he would be under anesthesia, since like his momma, he has always been a nightmare to do nails on. She literally dremeled them until there was almost no nail left. I thought at first, great! Now he will have perfect nails in time for the Denver NSS. Within a week, he started to limp and his nails began to ooze. I took him back to the vet, she told me it was because I let him lick them and they had gotten infected. After 2 weeks of antibiotics, I noticed his right front foot was incredibly swollen. At this point I had had it with my vet since she was in essence blaming me for her own mistake. I took him to a new vet and he started him on even stronger antibiotics. His nails became hollow, I could see the bloody quick at the base of each nail and they collected dirt that I had to use a syringe to remove. He ended up shedding and losing one nail which has never grown back. It took almost 4 months on 3 different antibiotics, soaking his feet in epsom salts, and putting booties on his feet to keep the dirt out. It was a very long four months to ensure that he was able to be shown at the NSS, which thankfully we did! So I can see how if you dremel them beyond the quick, you can result in an infection. His nails did eventually return to normal, minus the one. I felt very guilty over the whole ordeal that I had put him through and the pain that my previous vet had caused him. If anyone is interested in seeing pictures, please feel free to email me. I keep them as a reminder that I would rather have somewhat long nails than ever put my dogs through that ordeal again.

--
Christine
Willow Glen German Shorthaired Pointers & Weimaraners
www.willowglengsp.com

Jasper - CH WGK Catch Me If You Can, RN, JH, VC (GSP) multi-BOB winner
Autumn - CH Rendition's Autumn in Willow Glen (GSP)
April - CH Rendition's April Fool (GSP)
Sara - CH Camelot's Sara of Willow Glen (Weim)
Rainbow Bridge:
Sophie - CH Ghostwalker's Wind Spirit (Weim)