Are you one such owner who dreads trimming the nails of your pooch? Does your pet throw tantrums when the nail clipper is in his sight? However, nail clipping is a routine grooming step for your lovely pet.
Nail trimming under anesthesia is not very common in veterinary practice. However, it can be done when the pet is under anesthesia for a major surgical procedure like neutering or dental procedures. If a pet is very aggressive and does not allow it, nail trimming under anesthesia is a choice.
Let’s find out more about nail trimming and how anesthesia can be an option for your stubborn pooch.
Can you trim dog nails under anesthesia?
Nail clipping is a routine grooming step that should be followed by pet owners to keep their pets safe and healthy.
Although nail clipping sounds like an easy task, when it comes to pets, especially dogs, this can cause trouble. While some pets get used to nail trimming very young, others never let their owners trim their nails.
Due to the difficulty of nail trimming by themselves, pet parents seek help from veterinary professionals to trim their pet’s nails without causing pain to the pet and themselves.
Trimming your pet’s nails under anesthesia has become an option now. Ideally, dogs’ nails should be trimmed every 2-4 weeks to maintain them.
Using anesthesia every time you need your pet’s nails trimmed is never an option because anesthesia can have side effects on your pet.
If your pet never allows you to trim its nails, you can seek help from your veterinarian. Usually, he/she will trim your pet’s nails when he is under anesthesia for a major surgical procedure like neutering or dental procedures.
Some veterinary facilities use local anesthesia only for the dog’s foot and do nail trimming. Local anesthesia makes the foot numb. Therefore, your pooch will not feel any pain during the procedure.
Different veterinary hospitals follow different methods to trim your pet’s nails under anesthesia. Therefore, before going through the process, discuss with your vet and have a thorough idea about the procedure.
Suggested Reading: Do these if your dog’s nails are too sharp.
Is it illegal to trim dog nails under anesthesia?
No. Many countries and states allow nail clipping under anesthesia if it is carried out by a professional veterinarian. Several states govern veterinary procedures like tail docking, ear cropping, devocalization, cat declawing, and piercing.
For further clarification, you can contact your veterinarian on the legal background of such procedures.
What will happen if you quick dog nails under anesthesia?
When trimming the nail under anesthesia, some vets tend to cut the nail very short. Therefore, it will take a lot of time to grow. If the quick is also clipped, they will burn the wound with a heated instrument to stop bleeding or prevent infection, a process known as cauterizing.
However, short and quick clipping of the nail is not always practiced under anesthesia.
What is the best method to trim your stubborn dog’s nails?
Some dogs hate nail trimming more than anything in the world. A nail clipper at the site is enough for them to throw tantrums. Are you an owner of one such stubborn pooch?
However, nail trimming should be done routinely, whether your pooch likes it or not. As a responsible pet owner, you must ensure that your pooch is comfortable with nail trimming. You can start the process when he is a little pup because then it will become his habit.
Let’s discuss 3 methods and 3 tips to follow to trim your stubborn pooch’s nails.
1. Desensitizing your pet.
Desensitizing refers to decreasing the sensitivity of a scenario by overexposure to that scenario. In our case, it is desensitizing to nail trimming.
This process can be started at a very young age. The idea of desensitizing is that your pooch realizes nail trimmer is not harmful and we will not hurt him.
However, pet owners should realize desensitizing process takes time and effort; you can’t force your pet to do something they hate. It is not good for your pet, and he can harm you if he becomes aggressive.
If you get a puppy, better to start with the very first nail trimming. However, you can start today if your stubborn adult pooch gives you trouble. Follow the below steps carefully and repeat them.
1. Desensitizing takes a lot of patience and time from your schedule. Therefore, if you are in a rush or not in a very good mood better not to start the process. Because if you hurry through the process, your pet might not benefit from it. Therefore, choose a convenient day for you and your pooch.
2. Calm your pet first. Let him sit on the floor, and you can sit opposite him.
3. Then take the nail clipper or any other instrument you use. Keep it on the floor next to you so he can see it. If you have an adult dog who hates the clipper, he would panic and try to run away. But, stay calm.
4. Get your dog’s favorite treat ready, as you will have to reward him at each successful stage. Showing the treats after you show him the clippers is important because then he will realize if his behavior is good, he will get a treat.
5. Practice this step as long as he is comfortable being around the clipper. But have a short session of 1- 3 minutes because you don’t want to get frustrated.
6. When he is comfortable around the clippers, slowly touch the clippers and look at his reaction. If he is again tensed, slowly back off but keep on handling the clippers until he is calm. Reward him for his braveness.
7. Then let go of the clippers and ask your pooch to give his paw. If he is calmly giving it, give him a treat and appreciate him.
8. Then while holding his paw, try to reach the clippers and take them to your other hand. If your dog panics and tries to run away, keep the clippers back and let him calm down. You can follow the above steps until he is comfortable with having the clippers and paws in your hands. Have short sessions.
9. Then when he is comfortable, take the clippers and touch his paws with them or stroke the paw with them. He will have to know that the clippers are not harmful. Reward him for his good behavior.
10. Then you can let him understand what a clipper does. You can simply clip the air, not his nail yet. Then he can get used to the sound it makes. If he likes, let him sniff the clippers as well.
11. Then you can start the nail trimming only if he is comfortable with the above steps. Start doing one nail per session and be extra careful because you don’t want any accidents.
12. You can use a muzzle for the training process if your pooch is very aggressive.
2. Use of sedatives.
Mild sedatives can be used on your pooch if he is really stubborn, not responding to desensitization, and becomes aggressive when you attempt to trim his nails.
However, before using any sedatives, you must contact your vet. Inform him of the situation, and if he suggests some mild sedatives only, you can use them on the pet. You must be aware of the dosage and the correct procedure for sedation.
The following are some sedatives that can be used, but only after consulting your vet.
- Natural sedatives like rosemary help to relax your pet.
- Melatonin supplements regulate the body’s rhythms and calm your pet.
Aromatherapy is another choice to calm and relax your pet if he is highly stressed during nail clipping. Natural oil like lavender oil can be used to massage your pet’s head and spine. This relaxes your pet because massaging help to produce cortisol hormone in the body.
3. Seek help.
You can always seek help from a family member or a close friend who is comfortable handling your dog. They can help you to hold your pet if he becomes aggressive or tries to run away.
If help from a close person is not successful, you can take your pet to a professional groomer. They are trained to handle stubborn pets, so they might be of great help.
You can contact your vet if a groomer fails to help you. He can suggest different ways, and nail clipping under anesthesia can be one of them.
4. 3 tips.
- Never force your pet during nail clipping. This can stress him and cause him trauma, then he will never allow you to clip his nails.
- Take him out of his territory. Sometimes, when a pet is outside his comfort zone, that copes better. Desensitizing your pet for nail clipping can be done at one of your friend’s houses.
- Act confidently. During the desensitizing and nail-clipping process, be confident in what you do. If you approach your pet in an anxious mood and give him the impression you are scared, he will catch that. He will not corporate further. Do not scare him but be confident.
Things to be aware of.
Why is nail trimming important?
If your pet stays indoors and walks on smooth surfaces, the natural wearing of nails doesn’t occur. When nails grow longer, it makes it harder for them to walk, and the nails can be broken if stuck when they are running. This can cause bleeding and pain to your pet.
What is quick?
Quick is the soft inner part of the nail. It has a good blood supply and nerve supply. In dogs with white nails, this appears in light pink color and is easily distinguishable, but in black nails, it is hard to identify at first.
When clipping the nails, you should avoid damaging them quickly, as they can bleed and cause pain to your pet.
Damaging the quick?
This can happen accidentally and will lead to bleeding.
- Do not panic.
- Put pressure on the toe.
- Place ice cubes on the wounded site.
- If bleeding doesn’t stop, contact your veterinarian.
Conclusion.
The article discusses nail trimming under anesthesia and how to train your pet for nail trimming.
