Went to Petco to have Ozzy's toenails trimmed. He sits pretty well now and doesn't need a muzzle anymore. However, the total terror in his eyes is obvious. Other than talking to him and reassuring him everything is OK, is there anything else I should be doing? We've come a long way from the snapping and growling, but I hate the idea that he is so afraid.
While in Petco, doing some shopping, one of the salespeople asked me if I had heard of, or tried, a new brand of food specifically for dachshunds. It's called Royal Canin Dachshund 28 (tm) Formula. It is allegedly formulated to maintain joint and muscle health, along with a special design that produces a brushing effect on the teeth while the dog is eating. I'm not too keen on the ingredients, seems like a lot of stuff there. Plus, I'm not real interested in changing Ozzy's food at this point. Here is the website, if anybody is interested or can give a more expert opinion on the ingredients.
www.caninehealthnutrition.com/dachshund.htm.
By the way, a BIG thank you to whomever suggested yogurt for bad breath. I've been giving Ozzy a small spoonful of non-fat yogurt with his food, and his breath has definitely improved.
Not sure about the toenails. I do my babies. Frankie definitley doesn't like it
but he's learning to behave.
The food. I wish mine could eat it. Dottie has stomach problems.
The vet believes that it's an allergy to meat protein.
She eats Royal Canin's prescription food that is soy based mixed
with their sensitivity formula that is fish based.
It's very good & keeps her coat beautiful. I've been having
trouble getting it because RC has redone their entire line of food.
Maybe some day Dottie will move up to a formula like that.
I'd love to give them something to support their joints.
All that being said, from my experience RC makes good foods.
My babies are happy, active & healthy.
Sgt used to be terrible at getting his nails done. Finally I got tired of paying to have it done and started working with him at home. I would wait until he was nice and comfy in my lap and then I would be able to clip one nail before he would have a fit. For weeks I cut one nail a night. Then I decided to have my daughter help me, so I laid him on my lap like a baby, she held his mouth closed and rubbed his belly and I told him what a good boy he was while I clipped them. Then he got a treat right after. Now I wait until he is sleepy and then clip away, he does not try to get away anymore, he just lays there. It was a long process, but I can clip his nails now. I started clipping Libby's when she was tiny, and she never gave me any problem.
I have not heard about that food, but would be very interested to hear some opinions on it.
HAve you tried giving a little Rescue remedy before clipping his nails? That might help calm him some.
From a quick glance at the food ingredients I'm not really impressed by it. Corn is pretty high up there and I try to avoid that as a main ingredient in food for Cajsa. Although I'm currently trying to get her allergies figured out so she's not getting much of anything.
Toenails - always an interesting topic with various solutions. We do our two with a portable dremel tool. It's easier to grind than to clip, plus you don't have those awful moments when the dog jerks his foot just as you apply pressure to the clippers. :BangHead: If the dog pulls his foot away while you're grinding, no harm done. It takes two people - one to hold/distract the dog while the other does the actual grinding. Sophie will let me grind her nails as long as Deb holds her and talks reassuringly. She's little and I can grind all four feet in a couple of minutes, tiny nails don't take long. Stormy, on the other hand, does not like his feet handled. He doesn't panic or struggle, he just constantly pulls his foot away. We solved this by arming Deb with a supply of small lo-cal treats. She then holds Stormy on his back between her legs and feeds him treats. As long as he is actually chewing on a treat, he will let me grind. Stormy's a big (30 lb.) boy and his nails are big and tough and a grinding can take 10 minutes, what with letting the nail cool, replacing the battery in the grinder, etc. but using this method he will lay still as long as the treats keep coming. :thumb:
I also use a dremel. I prop the kids on my bent knee to do the front and then turn them over like a baby in my arm for the back ones. I talk the whole time reassuring them....and if it is a nice day, I do it outside - the sun helps relax them....of course - my neighbors probably think I am nuts talking non-stop for 10 minutes....then getting excited because the kids have each earned their TOE TREAT !!!!
Brandy does better than Rudy - Rudy also jerks his feet away.....I just remain patient (try to !) and rest if needed. I grind once a week.....Rudy could probably use more - his are very thick and take some time.
Not sure about this food - have never heard of it !
In my opinion, the breed thing for the different foods is just a marketing gimmick. I don't like the ingredients either. Although I do have a sample pack of it and I throw 3-4 kibbles on the floor each time Hallie comes in from going potty (she is totally housebroken but I have never had the heart to stop the routine lol). I must say, she won't touch the chihuahua version, only the doxie! :) I would rather supplement her food with the things she needs rather than feed a food with extras of things she might not need. I do love the dog on the front though!
As for nails...Hallie was afraid at first too and would pull her feet away and almost panic. So I didn't actually clip her nails for a long time, I would just hold her upside down, talk soothingly to her and just touch the clippers to her nail, "GOOD DOG" and a treat. I did that a couple of times every day, until she was relaxed with that, then I held her there longer and touched more toes til she was comfortable, then I went to one little clip, "GOOD DOG", treat, til she was comfortable with that. Never lose your patience with him while doing this. Make it all positive and try not to stretch his limit at first. Now when I turn her over to do her nails, she usually falls a sleep and doesn't struggle at all. I also do a little dremmeling but can usually get all I need with just the clippers. I did the same thing to get her used to having her teeth brushed, we still have a little ways to go with that one but we're almost there, and miles ahead of where we started.
Rich I loved reading about the kids getting their nails trimmed. :) I can just picture it.