Biting nails?

[Flatcoatluver]

Sometimes I will be sitting on the computer and I hear this crunching sound. I look over and see Sage biting his nails. He has even had chucks of his nails, and ate them.

My question is why? Is it a nervous factor? We tried to do a search and came up with nothing. I know there isn't anything wrong with his nails. Should I stop him from doing this?

[Glacier]

I wouldn't worry about it. I have a couple who do their own manicures. Saves me having to trim their nails!

[Cinder & Smoke]

I hear this crunching sound.
I look over and see Sage biting his nails.

<snikker>

I'd *just* opened this thread when I heard the <CRUNCH> - <CRUNCH> - <CRUNCH>
of a Zig manacure in progress!

Zig (aka Ziggy) is the large, Handsome, black Labby mix of Leslie -
an Unka Pat & Miz Joan Daughter - who's spending the week at the Ranch
due to "crowded conditions" at GranMom's Howze (one too many GrandPups
needing a place to stay) while The Kids are vacationing or moving between jobs.

Zig likes *CLEAN Feet* - which requires frequent bathing of the feet ...
he *LICKS* often - but very quietly ... you never notice other than the *bobbing* head
and the WIERD contortions he gets into do *do* the rear paws!

Zig also likes *SHORT Nails* --- better for *sneekin* in the kitchen!
EVERY night this week I've been awakend by <CRUNCH> ... <SNAP> ... <POP>

WHAT the ... ???
A peek over the edge of the BigBed answers the WHAT the ?? Question ...
Ole Ziggy *Doin his Nails* with the only nail trimmers God gave him - his TEETH!

QUIT DAT!!!

He musta just noticed he missed one last night!

A Nail Check reveals they're ALL about the same (short) length;
some a lil *ruff* on the end ... but all uniform!
GOOD Job, Ziggy!!

[Flatcoatluver]

Interesting. I have never had or heard of a dog doing this. Well I guess I don't need to cut his back nails anymore!

[Seravieve]

Bunny does this.. its usually when her nails are getting too long.. and its time for a trimming but us humans havent noticed yet..

Thats just the theory Ive made up anyways...

[crow_noir]

My Rat Terrier used to do this. Looking back i now realize her nails were probably a tad too long.

Other dogs plain simply retain the instinct to give their own manicures as already pointed out in this thread.

I sure wish King would have. His nails were SO VERY BLACK... I was always afraid of cutting the quick so they were always a little too long. *sigh*

I'm thinking that with a small population of canine nail biters that it could be a nutrient deficiency that they're trying to supplement (some dogs become stone chewers or poo munchers. I don't see where nail biting which their nails are made of bone is such a far stretch of thought in this.)

[anna_66]

Yep, Huney does the same thing when hers start getting a little longer than she'd like. I've always thought she was a silly dog. Nice to know others do it too

[Cinder & Smoke]

WHAT's he doing???
WHAT"S he chewing on, NOW?

Those are all HIS feet / paws!! ... HOW'd he do dat??

Ziggly is doing Paw Maintenance - again!

He's on is right side (sorta) ... with BOTH his REAR Feet & Paws <scrunched>
up and positioned under his Front paws ...

Left Rear is crossed over the Left Front, then under the Right Front ...
and he's BUSILY *lickin* the underside of that Left Rear - paw to elbow ...

On Deck is the RIGHT Rear ... poking out from under his body and held captive
by his Left Front - which is overlaid by the Left Rear ... currently undergoing claening.

OMG!
HOW did he get INTO that position??
HOW's he gonna get OUT of that hook-up??

Hope nobody pulls a fire drill --- Ziggy will break two legs and dislocate a hip just standing up!

He's now switched to *lickin* the top & bottom of the Right Rear ...
without changing any positions other than leanig more forward ...
This LOOKS painful!!

**Zipp* ~ *Zinng** --- he just kicked 'em all loose and he's "relaxing" on his right side ---
all four paws outstreatched and *shiney claen*!

GOTTA get a picture of this!

[Jessika]

Sometimes Jamie might chew on her nails, but not biting or breaking them, she just kind of nibbles.

My mother-in-law's dog does trim her own nails, though. She's happy too, since she has black nalis, my MIL is afraid to cut them... so she's quite relieved!

[loveallfurryfriends]

My dog Smokey bites his nails all the time! He has been doing it since he was a puppy!

[MS_PAWS]

Could be sign of
Nervous
Anxious
Habit
Food Allergry or Seasonal Allergry

[joycenalex]

please phred, get that photo. alex the wonder dog has done his rear nails for almost a year. RB duke, angel dog, did his rear nails too. i do/i did neaten the edges a bit when i trim the front paws

[Cinder & Smoke]

Please Phred, get that photo.

We'll have to go *steal* Zig back for a photo shoot.
I got *tricked* into givin him back to Gram & Gramps last night ...

Miz Joan called and offered DINNER ... never call me late for a Home-Cooked Meal!

It was only a ruse to get their GranPup back!
Yeah, I got dinner ... but they kept Zig!

His time is getting short, too. Momma Leslie flew to Alabama to supervise
the movers loading her furniture over the weekend;
and her stuff gets to the Columbus House this week.

NEXT week she'll be showing up at Mom's (Miz Joan's) Place and WANTING a DAWG back!
I doubt a "substitute" would go over too well.

Only good thing is Leslie will travel a bit in her new job ...
and Columbus is close enough that Ziggy can get dropped off at Gram & Gramps Howze
for Dawg Sittin ... and hopefully a sleepover at Phred's Ranch on occasion.