Community Chat

[Desert Lily]

For PETS that is.

Due to my fur baby's UTI on Christmas Day, the vet advised me to shave/clip that area every 8 weeks. Really?

My dog goes wild whenever I try to trim her tail or nails. Wild. Her nails alone take me 3 hours.

So, I bought a small grooming table, grooming arm with hoops, a hanging sling, & a clipper set.

I couldn't get the legs to attach to the separate grooming tabletop, & have no idea what finally locked them on after 10 minutes of trying.

I couldn't detach the legs later, & ended up hauling the table with legs still attached into the basement after our grooming session.

I figured out how to attach the grooming arm but it had to go on 1 of the long table sides bc the underside table edge was too narrow at the short sides for the clamp. TG she's a short dog.

My fur baby is <7 lbs. & I measured a couple times to get the adjustable arm height right.

I tested the table & arm for strength knowing my fur baby's physical antics.

Twice the table bumped lower a notch & I gasped. Once she tried to get off & dislodged the arm. Yikes.

After 3.5 hours, I had trimmed her backside, her tail, & did only a semi-good job on her nails.

I never used the clipper set. I just continued to use a blunt-end kiddie scissors I have to snip her fur. I did use 2 people hair clips to hold back her tail fur.

I wasn't able to hold her up in a standing position to be sure I cut the hair around her UTI area, which is the reason I bought the grooming table & accessories.

I then cut the long hair around her legs, but I could only sort of see underneath & used the blunt kiddie scissors.

I have no idea how I did; I do know that I never really got a view of the UTI area I needed to trim.

I used the hanging sling while I trimmed her nails. We both hated that. But I have to say that it was better than the usual of my laying on the bottom stair landing using my foot to keep the surgery cone I put on her head to face the steps so she can't see what's happening.

She hated the whole table scenario. I hated it, too.

Groomers might be worth their weight in gold, eh? Lol

[Desertdi]

Huh.   I growled, hissed, and scratched whenever my mama came anywhere NEAR me with those "tools".

That way, I got a trip to the groomer and got a nice blow dry!

            ≈^••^≈

♥   Love, Kitty  ♥

[Carmie]

I have dogs that will let me clip.  I have to trim the fur on their feet on top and underneath so they don't slide.  I use a battery operated clipper.

But, cutting  their nails is difficult.  They fight me.  I even have a dremmel to smooth their nails...they hate that too.

Their goomers say they sit perfectly still for them.  Go figure.

I was thinking about getting one of those hanging slings.  I am getting desperate.  It costs me $30 each for just a nail trim, plus tip. Way too much, IMO.

Tip:  did your clippers come with cutting guards?  If so, just attach and smooth the hair away in the sanitary area....much easier than using shears.

[Mz iMac]

Excellent.  I can't be bothered.  My cat & dog each have their own personal groomers.    Dog has 2, cat has 1.

[Carmie]

@monicakm   $10 is a bargain to trim nails.  My groomer charges $30 and my vet tech charges $35.  My dogs need their nails trimmed about every two weeks.

2 dogs x $30 =$60 + tip $10 equals $70

That's $140 a month!   My dogs have black nails, so you can't see through them to find the vein.  Scary for sure.

I do what I can and they get groomed every few months and get the works.

I should have opened a pet salon instead of a salon for humans.

[Puggywuggy]

We take ours to a groomer every month and I am so grateful because I can't even imagine doing their nails and glands myself. ❤️🐾

[JoyFilled Warrior]

  heh @Desert Lily 

You're  a Hoot!!

I can see it vividly now.  Your description! heh

I used to have a sweet, Pure Bred, Lonnng Hair Persian & needed the Privy Cuts also.  She'd be standing up, all fours. I'd grab a long vertical handful of her backside, privy hair, up her, upper leg (but NOT too close to skin) and just cut with scissors, quickly (but carefully not close enough to possibly get any skin)). 

      Then brush, fluff it out a bit.  This part she doesnt want anything to do with!  (She had her fill already) heh

I'd rather take a little bit, Privy cut, more often, than risk cutting too much, too close to the skin, infrequently.

  And, after the cutting, I'd give her something she particularly likes, so she knows this wasn't punishment for anything.

This wasnt her favorite thing to have done, but she accepted it (briefly) heh

Better if she's a little dopey from just having awakened.

And if I have to do one Privy side, then later, the other side, is okay.  It still gets done.

And not too close to her skin, just enough to keep her clean from straggle hairs, when relieving herself.

[catter70]

My cats like to be brushed, but a struggle to clean eyes, ears or to give meds.

[Harpa]

Good recounting, @Desert Lily !

By time Judah (Yorkie) gets to us to stay, he's a disaster!  They never bother! He'll be here in March, so I know what we'll be facing.

First, it's trimming nails. DH's job. With this little contraption that buzzes. Judah doesn't that at all, so he wiggles and squiggles to beat the band. DH is over there somehow managing, but with all manner of verbal expressions!

When that's done, Judah races to the cabinet for a treat, and we oblige.

Then I take over with my good hair scizzors. DH holds him down, and even though I've done this many times before, I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. Somehow he ends up looking much, much better! DH and I switch places, and he trims his private area.

Then into the drink for a bath w/ Yorkie shampoo. DH's "expertise", but I have to be there holding Judah's paw (so to speak). After the kitchen floor and Judah get a good thorough soaking and cleaning, Judah again races to the cabinet! How do we say no?

But at least we have a sweet smelling dog for the week, and he really is the best dog after all that hoopla!

[CalminHeart]

I did my dog's nails and grooming for many years. One day, he wasn't having it and hasn't allowed me to do his nails since. 

I refuse to traumatize my dog in any way. He was horribly abused before rescued and when I adopted him. I now take him to a pet shop for his nails and he does very well there. It's pretty inexpensive and worth not upsetting him.

I have to pick him up to get him in the shower....and get him in there with all 4 legs sticking straight out. LOL. I take him to a groomer a couple of times a year for his bath too.