Stupid pug nails

I wish there was a way to make them not grow. This is more of a whine, lol...but, you all know that Hooligan is the worst pug in the world with nails. It takes 3 vet techs to restrain him, and even then, you can barely clip them. Well now with all his back issues, we can't even attempt to do it, because he will buck and thrash like a wild horse, so his nails are even worse than the normal atrocious levels. And he's on crate rest so I can't even take him on a walk to try and get them down a bit (plus it's too hot). I feel like a horrible pug mom but there's nothing I can do about them right now.

Whine away, I feel your pain. :(

Mickeys are getting pretty scary to but he doesn't do well either (I don't think the prior "person" did a very good job to begin with but that's irrelevant) and with him being HW+ , we go the distance for him to not get hyper/excited/stressed because he coughs so bad.

I do a little at a time when he's on my lap with a nail file but that doesn't accomplish much at all and it'll probably be Oct before we can really begin to work on them by restraint. Not something either of us are looking forward to I'm afraid.

Saira, would you think about light sedation? Something to make him a little relaxed and loopy?

Man oh man, what is it with Pugs and their nails? Full disclosure coming up - I clipped Imi's for the FIRST time in all the years she's been with me, a few weeks ago. I always knew she was the perfect Pug. Not a wriggle, not a squeal, nuttin'. She let me at 'em with no probs. And then Miss Pearl - DITTO!! Out of all the eight Pugs I've had, these are the first ones I've able to do without sounding like I'm slaughtering pigs! Imi and Pearl's nails are usually kept short with our walks, but I think with the wet weather we were having we had a growth spurt and not enough walks on concrete.



But I do feel your pain Saira.

Renee wrote:Saira, would you think about light sedation? Something to make him a little relaxed and loopy?

I was thinking the same thing. Natures remedy?

Renee wrote:Saira, would you think about light sedation? Something to make him a little relaxed and loopy?

Mel wrote:

Renee wrote:Saira, would you think about light sedation? Something to make him a little relaxed and loopy?

I was thinking the same thing. Natures remedy?

All those "natural" remedies don't do anything for any of my pugs, we've tried Rescue Remedy, benadryl, the pheramones, plug ins, and all the similar products.

I was going to call my vet to see if there are any options, I wouldn't be totally opposed to light sedation IF there are no other options. And if they have to do a full sedation, no way. At least once he's off crate rest, I can walk him!

I know you wouldn't want to do this right now w/ his injury, but have you tried using a Dremel?

My guys still don't like it, but it's a lot easier and they are measurably calmer than when I used to use a clipper--now, I still don't do it as often as I should , as it's still a true chore that we all hate, but it does make it less traumatic for all of us.

Eph91 wrote:I know you wouldn't want to do this right now w/ his injury, but have you tried using a Dremel?

My guys still don't like it, but it's a lot easier and they are measurably calmer than when I used to use a clipper--now, I still don't do it as often as I should , as it's still a true chore that we all hate, but it does make it less traumatic for all of us.

We actually use a dremel, but he hates it just as much, if not more, as getting them clipped. At least I worry less about quicking him with the dremel. But the main thing is his struggling, and even after he's off crate rest, I'm worried about him doing that and re-injuring himself. He used to be ok with his nails but years ago, the groomer cut his too short, and then right after that, he pulled one out. Ever since then if you even get close to his feet, he goes nuts. We keep trying the touch and treat method too, but it hasn't made any difference so far.

Indy's the only one who is doable with his nails!

Saira wrote:

Renee wrote:Saira, would you think about light sedation? Something to make him a little relaxed and loopy?

I was going to call my vet to see if there are any options, I wouldn't be totally opposed to light sedation IF there are no other options. And if they have to do a full sedation, no way. At least once he's off crate rest, I can walk him!

Yes, I was talking about the light sedation the vet does, not the OTC stuff. I have had Ichiro lightly sedated for a procedure. They didn't knock him out or anything, they just made him very, very drunk / high. They said he was so loopy, they were all laughing at him.

Oh, I remember him losing a nail. I guess I can't blame him. Poor guy; and poor you!

Poor Hooli, it just never ends, does it? I'm very lucky - Penny will fight like a demon for clipping, but bring out the Dremel, and she holds her front paw up like a dowager getting a manicure! Gentle sedation may be the answer. Huge gentle hugs to Hooli and a big one to you, too, Saira!

I just had pug spa day yesterday at the Bormann house! All mine are pretty good, they don't love the nails done, but they only fight a little. Bella used to be a screaming banchee, but even she wasn't too bad. We have found that standing them up on something that has little traction makes for less of a fight. They always did better for the vet than they did for me, so I figured I would make them stand on the three feet I wasn't clipping at the time. It has helped. Gus is the worst, but I figure at his age, he can be fussy, lord knows if his nails were ever done before. We can only get about 1 foot, maybe two done before he gets too stressed. He is also better for my vet, not much, but some. Mine react worse to the dremmel I think, because of the sound. The clippers are easier now than the dremmel.