Nail dremel advice.

I'm thinking about getting a dremel tool to cut Ellie's toenails. Generally, she is scared of anything that has a motor sound to it, but if I could find one that is fairly quiet, I might be able to get her accustomed to it. Does anyone have any suggestion?

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Permalink Reply by Kathryn Harbour on September 22, 2011 at 1:30pm

I know you don't "cut" with a dremel, but you know what I mean.

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Permalink Reply by ♥Deborah on September 22, 2011 at 6:02pm

Be careful that the Dremel doesn't burn her little toes...if you keep the grinding wheel on the nail too long - it gets real hot! I know only because it happens to me sometimes when I get my nails done! Have you tried using the "Pedi Paws" ? It's like a Dremel for doggies....

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Permalink Reply by Manda and Chloe on September 22, 2011 at 7:40pm

i tried one of those and took it back the next day...they are battery powered and it was not strong enough to do chloes nails.

we do use a regular dremel and she does fine with it. i hold her and frank does her nails.

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Permalink Reply by Gromit, Sparkle, and Doug on September 22, 2011 at 6:06pm

Dremel tools and other high speed rotary tools all can be pretty noisy, especially at high RPM. With Gromit I've found if I run the Dremel at low speed (I have the more expensive variable speed model) he is bothered less by the sound. I think the high pitched whine of the tools running at high RPM is more off putting to dogs with their fantastic hearing. I've read elsewhere that high pitched noises we can't hear but dogs can, are one of the reasons dogs often hate the vacuum cleaner. Gromit doesn't care for the Dremel tool but isn't bothered at all by the buzzing, low speed, battery operated trimmer I use to trim his toe fur.

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Markley on September 22, 2011 at 8:56pm

When we got Jackson a year ago, he was TERRIFIED of the dremel. It was like wrestling a bucking bronco...Jane used to just clip them and he did OK, but the dremel was definitely a time consuming task. It took us about a month, and we still have to distract him some, but he does good now. We started with just touching the grinder to one of his paws with it off, then praising and giving him a treat. We moved slowly to each toe, with it off, same praise. Did this day after day. Gradually we turned it on, very slow, and touched one. Then off and praise. Just did it over and over, slowly working up to full speed. He lets us do it now. We spread some peanut butter on Amber's arm while she holds him, and he's so happy licking it off that I can do them lickity-split. He doesn't mind at all....

It'll just take patience, but it can be done!