#201 No Mani No Pedi

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Does your dog run and hide at the mere sight of nail clippers? You're not alone in this struggle. Many pet parents face the challenge of overgrown nails that can cause their furry friends pain, alter their walking gait, and potentially lead to serious joint problems down the road.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
If your dog hates getting their nails trimmed,
you're not alone.
A lot of dogs think those nailclippers are evil devices
invented purely for torture.
But here's the thing Overgrownnails can cause pain, change how
your dog walks and even lead tojoint problems.

(00:26):
So nail care is very important.
So if your dog is alreadynervous about nail trends, you
can work on desensitization.
Start small, just show him theclippers or the grinder as you
give him a treat and use really,really high-value treats at

(00:49):
first.
Let him start to associate thattreat with the tool and leave
the tool out in plain sightinstead of putting it away and
move it from location tolocation every few days.
And move it from location tolocation every few days.
This way your dog learns thatthe sight of the clippers

(01:10):
doesn't always mean somethingscary is coming.
Next, start to touch their pawwithout clipping and give him a
treat, and then build up toholding a paw for a couple of
seconds, then touching the nailwith the tool and then
eventually trimming just onenail in a session.

(01:32):
And after clipping that nail,reward like crazy Toss a
favorite toy, run around thebackyard together or hand them
an extra special treat, andremember you don't have to do
all four paws at once.
Spread it out over a few days.
If the sight or sound of thetool is the problem, you can

(01:57):
uncouple it from the badexperience.
For example, turn on thegrinder while tossing treats
away from it, so your dog learnsthe sound predicts something
good.
There are also some fun productson the market that combine play
and nail care Toys coated withsandpaper or rough surfaces that

(02:21):
let your dog grind their ownnails while trying to get to the
hidden treats inside.
It's like a mini enrichmentsession and a nail trim all at
the same time.
For squirmy dogs, hacks likelick mats with peanut butter,
frozen kongs or having themstand on a stable surface while

(02:44):
a helper offers treats can makea big difference.
Some people even do nail trimson walks, filing one nail at a
time with a grinder after thedog's tired from the exercise
and if your dog absolutely hatesnail trims.
And if your dog absolutelyhates nail trims, you can keep

(03:05):
nails in check by walkingregularly on concrete or asphalt
, which naturally files themdown.
But make no mistake about it,this is not a replacement for
trimming, but it might buy you alittle more time between

(03:25):
sessions.
And finally, if your dog'sanxiety is just too high and no
amount of treats helps.
It's perfectly okay to getprofessional help.
Groomers, vets and even sometrainers can trim nails in a low
stress way and in some casesyour vet might recommend
sedation for truly fearful dogs.

(03:47):
Just remember the goal isn't toforce it, it's to make nail
care something your dogtolerates or even looks forward
to.
So the slower you go, thebetter the long-term results.