We went through the same thing with one of our German Shorthaired Pointers at 7 months of age. Beau had been used to having his nails clipped from the time he was still in the whelping box.
Out of the blue one day he refused to let me do his nails after I'd barely tipped the first one. Hubby and I both couldn't restrain him. I took him into work with me thinking with a vet and 3 techs we'd manage to get the job done. He began screaming the instant he saw the clippers and we had to give up. GSPs are extremly tough dogs and screaming isn't part of their nature. I completely overlooked the first clue!
Foolishly since he was a hunting dog and his nails weren't out of control, I let it slide for three months before trying again. When I got the nail clippers out he was calm and quiet until I did the first nail and the battle was on again.
A few days later while having lunch with my friend (who was also my regular vet), I casually mentioned Beaus apparent phobia to her. She suggested that I bring him in so she could lightly sedate him and take a closer look at his nails.
Closer examination revealed that even though his nails on one foot looked normal, they were hollow shells and some were filled wiith pus! Apparently he'd slightly ripped a nail in the field and even though there were no physical symptoms, it was enough to allow infection to set in. When toenails become severely infected there is a danger of the infection getting into the bone.
While Beau was still sedated, she cut the nails back cleaned them thoroughly with a solution of Betadyne and peroxide. She also put him on antibiotics and I soaked his feet in a Betadyne solution twice a day for the next 3 weeks.
Once the infection was cleared up he was back to his normal cooperative self while getting his nails done.
I'm not suggesting that Gracie has a toenail infection like Beau did; but there might be some unknown physical reason for her actions.
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I bought a pair of doogles for him for car rides and such as where he is a chihuahua his eyes are twice as sensitve as other breeds. ANYWAY I discovered that when I put them on him he goes completely limp and doesnt move a muscle. So now when its time to trim his nails I put the doogles on him and trim them then I take them off and hes fine agian. 
Strange I know but it beats paying the vet to do it and the vet even has a diffcult time with him. Best of luck to ya 
Never flinched once. It was
Originally Posted by lizbud
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