Protecting Dogs Toenails?

[finn's mom]

We can't seem to keep Finn's toenails from bleeding when we exercise him. Even after it seems like he's healed and his quick has pulled back from the edge of his nail, it won't take but ten or fifteen uphill retrieves (on a grassy hill) before his nails will start bleeding. Is there any product or homemade stuff I can put on his nails to protect the quick? The only thing I could think of is super glue.

[Freedom]

I was wondering if the nails are too long and need to be trimmed back. You need to trim a small amount once a week for . . . several weeks to get them back. If they 'click' when he walks through the kitchen, this may be the problem

I did a quick google search and found this:
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Dogs-701/...break-easy.htm

Second paragraph on this:
http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/grooming/nailclip.htm

Not sure of Finn's breed, so I can't tell if this will be of interest. (Breeds most often effected are listed in there.)
http://www.essortment.com/all/vonwillebrands_rlig.htm

Same topic as above, different discussion
http://www.jackrussell.net/faq/medical/vonwill.htm

If you can't find a cause, maybe using Soft Claws will help protect them?

When I did the google search, so much came up when trimming the nails, that it was hard to sort through it all. You or someone else may find more with another search.

Hope this helps!

[binka_nugget]

Check out soft claws http://www.softclaws.net/

They're vinyl nail caps used for dogs prone to scratching floors, furniture, etc.

[finn's mom]

Thanks for all the links, Freedom. His nails aren't too long, and they're not really too short, either. It's just that he digs so hard into everything, literally and figuratively speaking, he ends up exposing the quick. Even when we wait a week before exercising again, he'll still do it. His diet isn't lacking anything that I know of, and one of the suggestions was to give fish oil, which I don't do consistently and will start doing now. I was giving it to him when I remembered, but I will make a point of it, now.

As for the soft claw covers, I thought of that, too, but are they really designed to stay on through extreme play and exercise? I will give them a shot, although his nails aren't so long that they hurt our skin or make clicky sounds on hard floors.

Thanks for the suggestions, we'll keep searching, too!

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Silly boy! Less enthusiasm needed young man

[finn's mom]

Silly boy! Less enthusiasm needed young man

Yeah, and even with three nails bleeding yesterday, he was trying to drag David back to the grassy hill to do more.

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Yeah, and even with three nails bleeding yesterday, he was trying to drag David back to the grassy hill to do more.

That's the Finn we all know and love

[pitc9]

Oh Finn you silly boy, you need to know when to slow down a little bit honey!

I hope you find something that works for your big guy!

[Freedom]

I thought of you today and have something else to consider.

When we humans want to clip our toe nails, we often soak them first to soften them. I was wondering how much time Finn spends in water, and if that may be contributing the problem? I also don't know what effect the cholorine from the pool would have re softening the nails?

Maybe check with other dock dog owners? Some of them may have encountered this, and have some thoughts.

[bckrazy]

Hmmm... the only thing I can think of is dremelling them back on a daily basis. Eventually, you should be able to get the quick back far enough that they won't be so prone to bleeding when he's out running.

Besides that, I suppose you could put some booties on him. What is the ground like, where you exercise him? Is the ground rocky and dry? It doesn't seem like grass could wear nails down that much.