The Butcher of C'ville

Understanding House Mate is out of town for nearly a week at a work-related conference.  That means it's just me and the Horde.  Before she left, we needed to get one dog chore done - toenails.

I've posted before about doing nails.  The only truly cooperative dog is Ginny.  Bogey tolerates but doesn't enjoy.  Sam and Moira make it a 2-person, job and they both get a little something to help them relax before we get started.  As Sam has aged, I think his feet have become arthritic - I know his back has - and he doesn't tolerate the chore well.  Moira has been a fight since day one and nothing I do seems to make it more agreeable for her.  The only time I've seen her even moderately tolerate having her nails done was when Marla did them - and, honestly, I'd be afraid to fight Mar too!

So last night we did nails.  I put a new sanding band on the Dremel, scooped up Ginny and zipped through all four feet.  Then it was Sam's turn.  He was fairly relaxed until the last foot.  We had to pull out the peanut butter to get the job done but his feet look better too.

Next it was Bogey's turn and here's where things started going wrong.  Bogey gets clipped, not Dremeled.  He has white nails so it's easy to see the quicks and he has little girly nails - not the big, manly nails that his daddy (and Moira) have.  We've been really good about keeping his nails clipped so it's generally a super quick and easy job to get through; even if he struggles a bit.  Unfortunately this time Bogey moved abruptly when I was clipping one nail and I quicked him - badly.  Blood, blood and more blood.  He bled for probably an hour.  I didn't have any styptic handy so I used some flour but that wasn't very effective.  Note to self - buy styptic powder.

Then came Moira.  Even with a little something to help her relax, Moira was unruly to say the least.  I'm wondering if she is one of rare animals who actually has the opposite reaction to sedation.  She fought as if her life depended on it.  I started out with the Dremel but didn't get very far.  Thinking the noise was making things worse, I switched to the clippers.  Bad idea.  While I was clipping on a hind foot, she jerked and I quicked her too.  I've never quicked a dog so badly.  Her nail bled for a good 2-3 hours.  There was blood everywhere; on the floors, the carpet, and the deck looks like a small animal was butchered out there.  I finally caught her up, put a gauze pad with Neosporin on the toe and wrapped the whole foot in vet wrap for a couple hours.  That did the trick.  Oh, and I didn't get more than 3 nails done.

This morning, everyone is fine but I need to call the vet about Ra.  I might spring to have her put under to have her nails done then commit to doing a couple miles of road work with her every day to keep the nails down.  I don't like the stress doing her nails puts on her - or me!  The exercise would be good for both of us too.