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Fluffy Dog Problems: Dremeling Dog Nails

Fluffy Dog Problems: Dremeling Dog Nails

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There are few tasks I dislike more than doing the dog’s nails.

I know that it’s all a part of good dog ownership, but I hate it. Hate it like poison. I don’t think my dogs enjoy it any more than I do.  In fact, I know they don’t.

Since my dogs have dark black nails, I gave up using guillotine clippers years ago. It’s tough to know just how far to clip when you have a dog with dark nails and because Felix’s nails were poorly maintained before we adopted him, his quicks (the veins inside the nail) are unusually long. More than a few times, I tried to cut his nails and “quicked” him, making him bleed. {Insert shame face here.}

Nearly six years ago, we switched to the Dremel.

Aside from some initial problems, our switch to the Dremel has been overwhelmingly positive. Dremeling dog nails  allowed me much more control over how far I trim my dog’s nails. I never get them too short, the edges are nice and smooth (not sharp like cut nails can be) and the dogs don’t fight it as much as they do clippers.

I have Fluffy Dog Problems.

Even with how much easier the Dremel was, I was still scared as woof to use it – especially on Felix. You guys! That boy is SO FLUFFY. I was terrified that I would get his paw fur wrapped around the Dremel head at high speeds, pulling it and ripping it out.

How to dremel your fluffy dog's nails without getting their fur caught in the dremel

I swear he HAS nails. They’re just frequently hidden by his massive amounts of fluff.

No joke, you guys. I got MY hair caught in it once and it was so painful! I would never forgive myself if I did that to Felix. Some interweb searching suggested that you could cover your dog’s paw in old pantyhose, but we didn’t have much success with that. A: I don’t WEAR pantyhose, so I had to go buy a pair especially to try (and those suckers aren’t cheap!) and B: it didn’t work. I ended up getting the pantyhose caught in the Dremel. It was better than getting Felix’s fur caught, but still, less than ideal.  I knew there had to be a better way.

Dremel tips for Fluffy dogs

 

Who knew the solution would be BABY SOCKS? Seriously folks.

The pantyhose people were onto something great, but the idea just needed a bit of refining. I stumbled across the answer wandering the dollar store one day: baby socks. Small enough to fit snugly against the paw and made from an elasticy material to hold them on, Baby socks are the perfect way to keep your dog’s fur out of the way while you Dremel their nails.

Use a baby sock to keep dog's fur from being caught in the Dremel

 

All I had to do was cut a small hole (or multiple holes) in the tip of the sock. I used Fray Check to keep the sock from unravelling. Once the Fray Check is dry, just slip the sock on your dog’s paw, poke their nail through the hole, one at a time and Dremel until short & smooth.

Reward with lots of treats, kibbles and snacks.

Do you have any tips to make cutting or dremelling dog nails easier?

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pj

Wednesday 7th of June 2023

just FYI if you use the cordless Dremel (the Dremel light or Dremel paw control), it recharges with mini USB but it has enough power to do nails at even speed one or two (it has four speeds). I usually switch out the sanding bands for a tungsten carbide flame shaped cutter in "coarse" that is sold for human acrylic nail removal or shaping but you do have to change out the collett because it's usually smaller than what comes with the Dremel. A flame shaped tip gives you some narrower areas of the bit that can be useful sometimes especially to get the flaky layers on the underside of the nail. Also, I suspect it doesn't get as hot as quickly. and it seems to stop pretty quickly without as much pulling if hair gets caught.

I would also be careful not to get an extra coarse one, my dogs did not like that compared to the regular "coarse."

Jodi & Kolchak

Sunday 9th of July 2023

Thanks for the tips PJ!

Lynn

Saturday 22nd of June 2019

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ex5JodgH9WdJh1Ss9 After the vet

Lynn

Saturday 22nd of June 2019

https://photos.app.goo.gl/MJUEQhnyLXDAtpY28 Before the vet removal.

donna

Saturday 5th of May 2018

I tried the sock but now I just grab a small baggie--pop a hole for the nail I am working on then wrap the baggie around the rest of the paw--it works! Took a long time but I finally got my girl happy with the dremel--lots of treats!

Michelle A

Wednesday 29th of July 2020

Why didn't I read this before I ordered some socks and the fray check? LOL. Would have been a lot less money lost since I ended up ditching the sock (once I got comfortable with the dremel) and just holding his fur back away from the nail I was working on. He has a thin wire coat, so not a ton of hair down there to hold back. It's easy peezy. =)

Shannon

Friday 9th of September 2016

This is a great idea. I used to dremel my beagle mix's nails, but she had short hair. My new dog is a chorkie and he has long hair, so I've been afraid to dremel his nails for fear of getting his fur caught in it, but I don't like cutting them either because they are black and I've gotten the quick a couple of times. I had resigned myself to having to pay someone else to do it, but I'm going to try this. Thanks,

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