Manicure, Pet-icure

by Shannon M. Pecora, M.A.

Stream Valley Veterinary Hospital

            Dogs, cats, parrots, guinea pigs—so many different types of pets with at least one thing in common: they have nails that need regular trimming.  Good thing this is just a simple, routine task! …Or not…for those of us with pets who are frightened, uncooperative, or just plain stubborn.

            Pets may dislike nail trims for a number of reasons.  They may remember the pain of a previous too-close trim.  Arthritis might make it uncomfortable to have the legs or feet held up for too long.  Perhaps they just haven’t had enough training to get used to the practice.

            If your pet is still young, often the simplest and most practical solution is to just keep at it.  Even if you can only trim the nails on one foot at a time before the struggling begins, give it a go.  With enough patience—from both of you—your pet should begin to realize that it isn’t really a traumatic experience, and you’ll be able to get more and more done each time.

            If you have an older pet who has never been fond of nail trims, or even if the aversion is a new occurrence, the above technique could still work.  However, you may find that support and assistance are necessary.  You can choose to bring your pet to the groomer or veterinary office on a regular basis and leave it to the professionals.  But if that sounds tedious and expensive, the at-home option is probably a bit more appealing.  Your groomer or veterinary technician/assistant may be able to guide you through the procedure, helping you practice as many times as you need to until you are comfortable trimming your pet’s nails on your own.  In some scenarios, sedation or special restraint is appropriate; a consult appointment with the veterinarian can help you make that judgment call.

            It’s too bad that our pets in general don’t appreciate the pampering aspect of the mani-pedi.  I certainly wish that someone would offer to do my nails for me every few weeks!  But nail trims are necessary, so it’s important to explore the options and find the best way to get you and your pet used to the practice.

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