:( Bleh.

[Kfamr]

Just a few things doggie related that have had me upset.


Firstly, nail clipping. No matter how much time in between clippings, how TINY the amount I clip, I ALWAYS make Kiara bleed. It seems like I can clip forever on Simba & Nala, but a tiny tiny bit on Kiara makes he bleed - Any paw, any nail.. it bleeds.

She is terrified of getting her nails clipped now. The sight of the clippers and she gets upset. I literally have to sit on her (not completely, I put my legs over her chest and her hind legs) to clip her nails.

I don't know what to do. They are too long right now in my opinion. They stay the same length, she wears them down running a bit, but still they are too long for my liking. I guess I've just go to get over it.



Secondly... Simba. I know I have these moments every now and then where I just throw a pity party because my boy is getting older. I know he isn't TOO old, but watching them age is the most heartbreaking thing.

My dad brought up on the way home the other day how he wants to build Simba stairs. He's having even more difficulties jumping on the bed than he did before. He slips all the time. It kills me inside and I hate to be upset around him because it makes him extremely nervous and upset as well.
I don't know what to do... and there isn't anything I can do, just face the facts that he's aging.



You all can ignore this thread.. just not feeling right tonight especially after trying to clip Ki's nails. Clipped one, made her bleed, she yelped.. and that was it for me. Cried and held her as I stopped her bleeding.



DOGS!

[bckrazy]

=( I'm sorry, Kay. Dogs can be so fragile at times, it is heartbreaking to know that they will not be with you forever. Your 3 pups have an awesome life with you, though, and you are doing the best for them that anyone could... so don't blame yourself, it's just life! Have you tried a dremmel on Ki?

[Kfamr]

=( I'm sorry, Kay. Dogs can be so fragile at times, it is heartbreaking to know that they will not be with you forever. Your 3 pups have an awesome life with you, though, and you are doing the best for them that anyone could... so don't blame yourself, it's just life! Have you tried a dremmel on Ki?

Thanks Erica, that made me smile.


I haven't used/bothered getting a dremmel. I'm talking the tiniest little sliver of nail I cut and she bleed. I can clip pretty small portions of nail with my clippers.. I think she would bleed then too.

I'm guessing she just keeps them down herself from all of her running, but it still bothers me them being as long as they are (Not as bad as some but I'm picky. )

[chocolatepuppy]

Kay, I feel your pain. Mandy, no problem,Lacey, oh boy. She is scared when I clip her nails and growls at me most of the time. She's never bit at me but I'm waiting for the day.
As for Simba getting older, he's got a long time left to go, I'm sure. An aging dog has many wonderful, special moments, you will get to enjoy. Best to try not to dwell on Simba getting older and enjoy him.

[Kfamr]

Kay, I feel your pain. Mandy, no problem,Lacey, oh boy. She is scared when I clip her nails and growls at me most of the time. She's never bit at me but I'm waiting for the day.
As for Simba getting older, he's got a long time left to go, I'm sure. An aging dog has many wonderful, special moments, you will get to enjoy. Best to try not to dwell on Simba getting older and enjoy him.

Thanks Annette. To be honest, Simba doesn't like his nails clipped either. I trust him with a LOT of things... but I just get this vibe from him when clipping his nails. I don't think he'd bite me... but like I said, some sort of vibe. I keep my face far from him while clipping.


As far as dwelling on him getting old, what you said is true.. and generally I don't dwell on it. I call him an old fart while chasing him in playtime as he's play bowing. He has a lot left in him but it's those rare times when he gets down.. it brings me down with him.

I'm sure you understand.

[Rio&Nickysmommy]

Yesa I can relate to both the nail clipping and th aging of our furbabies. My RIo I look at him sometimes and just get so down when I see some days he is not as playfull as he was. Then next day he is off chasing squirrels again. It' ok to have apitty party some days. (I have them alot) Just we have to enjoy like they said our times together.
Rio&Nickysmommy

[CagneyDog]

I'm sorry Kay

I know exactly what you mean about the ageing. It truly is heart breaking but there is nothing we can do. Spend as much time as you can with him, take lots of pictures, and enjoy the time you have

[Glacier]

I have the same problem with Preacher's nails, except he doesn't wear them down from running anymore. His nails have a strangely long quick and it's easy to clip too much. Plus all his nails are black! They look too long to me, but it doesn't seem to bother him at all so I mostly just leave them alone!

I had a little cry tonight about Sleet's aging. I took her for a walk when I got home. She was a having a great time, tail up, wagging, sniffing ect. But her gait was all wrong. She hardly moved her back legs at all, just hopped off them. She really struggled coming up a hill on the way home. I'm sure she'll need a pain killer tonight. But, like Simba, she's had a great life here full of good things. She will take a part of my soul with her when she goes, but I'm going to try and enjoy every second that she's here! A friend told me once that she thought it was a privledge to take care of an old dog, to give them dignity, love and happiness in their golden years. I really like that idea. Watching them age sucks at times, but it is my honor to share their lives.

I hope you get many more happy years with Simba!

[Tollers-n-Dobes]

I'm sorry, Kay As far as Kiara's nails go the bleeding thing could very well have to with one of the breeds in her mix, we obviously don't know what breeds she is but there are certain breeds (Dobermans being one of the most popular for this) that bleed extremely easy for the simplest of things. Of course, it also has to do with just individual dogs. With the dremel, what my dogs get done is grind the nail back but the quick doesn't usually get touched (it does a little, but not much). Then the quick slowly moves back each time as it would with clipping so that you can keep the nails nice and short, it's pretty hard to explain without being there to show you though. Winston & Tango were having the same problem with Ki when it came to clipping the nails, so now they have to get them dremeled also. They're also much more relaxed with the dremel than they were with the clipper.

[BitsyNaceyDog]

I was going to suggest using a dremel too. Even if you're now taking off only the smallest amount you can get half that with the dremel. The quick of the nail doesn't like to be too close to the end of the nail (even if it seems like it does) so when you cut them (or file them) the quick WILL shrink back, just like Orangutango said. Over time they will get back to a better length.