dremel

d r e m e l i n g

n a i l s

I know the procedure of dremeling nails has been covered many times. Most people have to train their
dog to accept the Dremel - not me. Ilsa came to me already Dremel-trained. As a result, I've never had any firsthand experience training a dog to a Dremel.

IF YOUR DOG DID NOT COME TO YOU DREMEL-TRAINED, PLEASE READ
THROUGH THIS LINK THOROUGHLY:

http://www.greytalk.com/~jrosenberg/dremel/dremel.htm

BIG FUZZYBUTT DISCLAIMER:
I am not a veterinarian or a veterinary technician. I am just an Interior Design major who just happens to be a pet groomer and work at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital. I am in no way at fault or responsible if you somehow injure, maim, torture, traumatize, or vaporize your pet while dremeling. I am also not responsible if you hurt yourself dremeling. Dremeling is safer than clipping but it is NOT foolproof. You CAN hurt your dog if you dremel incorrectly, so please READ EVERYTHING ON THAT LINK POSTED ABOVE! Please note that those instructions weren't written by a veterinarian or a veterinary technician either.

Okay, now that the disclaimer is out of the way, let me explain my techniques. These are just helpful hints, and you'll really need to read the information on that darn link before trying this on your own. (I think I'll shut up about the link now...)

Anyway, here's our procedure:

First I set out everything I need to dremel Ilsa's nails. This includes:
~ Rotary Tool (I use a Black&Decker Wizard, but cordless Dremel Mini Mites are also quite nice)
~ Cookies
~ Styptic Powder (I've never had to use it)
~ Mission Impossible Garb (a.k.a. no loose clothing to get sucked into the tool)
~ Safety Goggles (what else am I going to use my chem lab goggles for?)

Next, I bring Ilsa into the kitchen and put on my safety goggles.

Ilsa is then told to assume the usual position - flopped over on the floor. I've found that this is the easiest and most comfortable position to do nails. It helps restrain and calm the dog, as well as provides you with a good vantage point. It also allows the dog's legs and feet to be bent as twisted around at your convenience... after all, they dont' need their legs to stand on if they're flopped over on the floor!

Then I sit down behind Ilsa and lean over her to grind her nails.

Always dremel the nail as if it were perendicular to the ground. Dremeling the underside really doesn't take much off, and won't farce the quick back. Getting nice round nails takes practice. I usually take the bulk off, then go back to round the sides and top.

To help you access the nail, push on the back of the pad to extend the nail.

THE FINISHED PRODUCT! Please note that your dog's nails will probably never be this short - Ilsa's nails were cut back to the toeflesh when she was anesthetized for ear cropping. Her surgically shortened nails have been maintained since she was 7 weeks old. They have never been long - the've never clicked on the floor.

SOME MORE HELPFUL HINTS FROM PET OWNERS THAT DREMEL

"For dogs with shaggy hair, put the paw in some pantyhose and poke the nails through to avoid getting hair wound up in the Dremel!"

"If you have long hair, pull it into a ponytail or wear a hat - getting your hair stuck in the Dremel hurts like heck!"

"Cordless Dremels are easier to maneuver."

"There is an extendable 'snake' that you can attach to a Dremel to kep the motor further away from the dog. This is a great alternative for nervous dogs."

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