Protecting Dogs Toenails?

**Freedom** · 05-12-2008, 07:15 PM

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** · 05-12-2008, 07:25 PM

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** · 05-13-2008, 09:31 AM

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!