Dog Nail Grinding Options

We all know that cutting your dogs nails is not the best option when it comes to dog grooming. Issues with cutting the quick and the pain that goes along with that potential hazard has lead us to a more appropriate way, grinding. But there are still options when it comes to grinding. Here are a few bad ones, and a good.

Listen up all Sally’s shoppers; nail files for humans are not meant to be used on dogs. They are not durable enough, and not the correct shape to efficiently grind down a dogs nail. Even the metal “diamond” files will not do the trick. And god forbid you go to such lengths as using duct tape and sand paper. You laugh, but people do it!

A Dremel tool has been the standard for professional and at-home pet grooming for years. The tool is just short of being a perfect fit. It grinds the nails, quickly, safely, and efficiently (one rotary head can last for years). However the one area that the Dremel falls short in is the exposed rotary. Don’t forget that this tool was originally created to grind and cut down nails, screws, woodwork, etc. In order to make it a safe product for dog nail grinding you need a safety guard attached to the rotary end of the product, similar to that of the Peticure. This allows only the dogs nails to enter the rotary chamber and nothing else.

Rewards Lead to Proper Pet Care

The secret to proper pet grooming at home is a reward system. All pets love treats, and when a treat is offered just before and after a nail trimming, it goes along way to making those pet nail trimming sessions much easier, safer, faster, and more enjoyable for yourself and your pet.

Associative conditioning is crucial for new pets and pets that have been traumatized by past grooming sessions. It also creates a bond with your pet that can be carried over to other parts of your owner-pet relationship. By using this system of conditioning your pet with a positive experience after a nail trimming encounter, you will now be able to show the treats in advance and your pet will already know what is coming, and be ready and waiting for there next pet nail trimming.

Keep the rewards pure and positive so your pet gets a high quality healthy treat in the process. Pet treats loaded with omega-3 essential fatty acids and antioxidants will help maintain healthy skin and coat, as well as go a long way to prevent cancer by helping control a healthy metabolism and overall cellular health. At home dog grooming does not have to be difficult, and with a positive rewards system in place, you can turn a grooming session into a bonding session.

4 Steps to Better Pet Grooming

Pet grooming is an essential part of pet care. Aside from making your pet look better, it also makes them feel better. Take the time to maintain your dog or cat and it will contribute to a longer more fulfilling relationship. Here are a few tips for keeping your pet happy, healthy, and good looking.

Coat – bathe your pet at least once a month and make sure to brush them thoroughly before each bath to eliminate any mats that have formed. Also, brush your pet everyday beginning at an early age. This helps spread natural oils throughout the coat and prevents the skin from getting irritated from dirt buildup.

Nails – trim your pet’s nails about once a month, or as needed. Most professionals use a filing system like the Peticure. It gently files away layers of your pets nails without the risk of harming the quick. Dog grooming has never been so easy with a tool like this.

Teeth – brushing your pets teeth at least twice a week will help avoid periodontal disease and cavities. Make sure and use a small brush with soft bristles as to avoid harming your pet’s gums in the process.

Ears - as with your own ears, when cleaning your pets ears do not probe deep into the ear canal. Simple take a cotton ball with a little mineral oil and gently use it to clean the opening into the canal. Doing this twice a month will ensure your pets ears stay pain free and hearing good.

Not the same old grind

Pet owners throughout the country are throwing out their clippers and filing their pets’ nails with automatic grinders or files that are much less invasive. But beware! These products are definitely not all alike.

Buyer beware. A small drill-type tool called a dremel is used for sanding, grinding, cutting or drilling – and sometimes for pet grooming.

But think twice if you choose to use a dremel type tool on your pets’ nails for many reasons:
Your pets’ hair can get caught around the sander drum stem. It’s painful for your pet – and for you when you try to untangle your poor animal.
The noise and vibration can frighten your pets as much or more than clipping.
Your pet simply can’t tell you when the sander has hit a vein in the nail – until he or she yells out in pain.

There is a solution to your dog grooming needs. Peticure makes a soft rotary filer with a guard that goes on the end, making it much safer and easier to use and control.

Paws down, the Peticure guard beats the dremel in lots of ways:
· It eliminates projectile debris. The Peticure guard takes the debris out of the eyes of both you and your pet.
· It eliminates the possibility of hair winding in the bit.
· The guard removes any chance of accidental abrasion.
· And because the nail is held still by the guard on the drum, there’s no bumping and skipping.

Same old grind? Definitely not!

To clip or to file -- that is the question

As a pet owner, that question will eventually plague you: How are you going to get your pets’ nails clipped and what technique will you use?
Whatever you decide, nail grooming is critical. Neglecting your pets’ nails can cause broken nails, ingrown nails and nail bed infections. And walking a dog with ingrown or long nails is extremely painful (for the dog and for you!) and can cause permanent damage.
Maybe you’ve decided to have your pets’ nails trimmed by a groomer. While you believe this may be easier on you and your pet, it actually is not.
Your pet would far prefer that you groom him/her than a stranger – and learning how to care for their nails the right way is really quite easy. Professional trimming can be quite expensive and you run the risk of giving your pet an infection.
Maybe you’ve decided to do-it-yourself with:

Nail clippers:
The pro - they’re cheap.
The cons – they’re cheap.

Enough said.

A nail filing kit, like the Peticure:
The pros – works quickly and safely to trim your pets’ nails.
Helps avoid the nail quick and automatically cauterizes.
Gives you better control.
Saves you time and money on your pet grooming needs.

The cons – we sure can’t think of any.

Enough said.

Peticure Owners -have a little patience

I am mostly satisfied with my purchase. It has taken a day or two to get my dogs used to it. One wouldn't come near me when she heard it. I just turned it on while I walked them, tossed the ball, fed them treats or just sitting on the sofa. I touched it to their backs, legs and paws while the device was running. I changed the speed so they would get used to all of them. They are still adjusting to it. I was able to get the most difficult dog to sit still long enough to do 1 nail after two days. She would run when I pull out the vacuum so it was no surprise when she ran from this.

I have not been able to get all four paws done in one sitting as they both are a little unsettled by the feel of it. I am sure I will be able to get them both to come around in about a weeks time.

The sanding sleeves wear down rather quickly though. It would be great if you would provide about 8 sanding sleeves with the initial order. I do prefer this method to the clippers. I highly recommend this product.

The owners should have patience though because it may take a little effort to get the pet used to the sound and sensation of the device.

Thank you,

Debra

Peticure at US Pet pro classic

I bought this new file at the US Pet Pro Classic in Dallas and wanted to tell you about it.

First, here is their website: www.peticure.com

I like it because it is not quite as loud as the dremel, I don't have to inhale all of that ground nail powder (usually when I use a dremel, I have to BLOW toward the dog's foot while I'm filing so I don't inhale that nasty ground nail powder!).But the best part is how safe it is---the long hair on the ears and feet can no longer get caught and wrapped around the tool! I LOVE IT.

- Tammy in Utah