How to Dremel Dog Nails

I and many others have found Dremeling dog nails to be a great alternative to clipping them. It is not surprising that many dogs react badly to nail clipping. Even if you do not cut painfully into the quick, the motion of clipping still pinches the nerve, which can be uncomfortable and even frightening for any dog. Dremeling is a great way to maintain healthy nails, and to lessen stress for everyone involved. You don't have to be a professional to do a good job, but there are some important steps involved in Dremeling nails. If done correctly, your dog will be much safer and more comfortable. I Dremel Miles' nails once a week. If you are just discovering Dremeling and your dog has long nails, you can Dremel more often (every 4 days) until the quick retreats to a healthier length.

Essential Tools

• Variable Speed Dremel (NOT single speed). Cordless ones are heavier but less disruptive to the dog, corded ones don't require charging and are lighter.
• Sanding Drums: 1/2” diameter, Fine 120 Grit, Dremel #432 

Optional (but useful) Tools

• Safety Glasses, to keep nail dust out of your eyes
• While going to the quick is uncommon when Dremeling dog nails, in the case of an emergency, it is good to have a quality clotting agent on hand. SuperClot is my favorite as it instantly takes any pain/irritation from the affected area, and because it is clear and odourless. If you put it on instantly, your dog will never even know that you made a mistake, and any negative associations will be 100% avoided.
• Dremel Ez-Drum Mandrel, Dremel #EZ407SA. This inexpensive part is an absolute must-have, in my opinion. Finally sanding bands can be replaced easily and with no other tools. Shown below:

Positioning:

For a medium or small dog, I recommend that you place the dog belly up on your lap, at least for the first few times until you really get the hang of what you are doing. A large dog can be laid gently on his or her side on the floor in front of you. Talk to the dog in a soft voice and allow them to relax. Once the dog is used to this process, you can have them up on a grooming table. Miles is a dog that absolutely cannot stand having his nails clipped (I cannot emphasize how passionately he hates nail clipping enough), but as you can see, he is completely content to relax and take a nap while I Dremel his nails.

Safely Sanding:

Put your Dremel on a low speed. Hold up one paw, select a nail, and push any stray fur away from it. While supporting the nail between your fingers, touch the sander against the nail, and then retreat. Never leave the sander touching a single spot on a nail for more than a second. The goal is to smooth little sections off, while never putting enough friction on the nail to create any heat. That is why using a Dremel that has variable speeds is very handy for safety, because the slower the speed, the longer it takes to build friction, and the more control you have. You do not want to warm up the nail, or worse yet, burn it. As long as you never put pressure, smooth the sander along the nail, and never remain in one spot more than a second or two, you will do just fine. The best way to Dremel nails is to focus on one paw at a time, rotating between all of its toes. To see exactly how I Dremel Miles' nails, check out the following video:

Knowing when a nail is finished:

Aim to smooth the nails, and focus on creating nicely rounded ends. I suggest that you also gently take away the thin flaky layer that runs along the bottom of each nail. Doing so will prevent any flaking or cracking of the nails. Over time you will learn exactly when to stop sanding. A sure indicator of when to stop is when you begin to see a little white dot in the center of the tip of the nail. That little white dot is the beginning of the quick. The first time, don’t do too much. You can always try again in a few days. If you don't see a little white dot, but you get too close to the quick, your dog will lightly flinch. Stop sanding if your dog shows sensitivity, as this is an even clearer indication that the nail is finished.

When you are done:

When you are finished Dremeling (bottom left), I recommend that you rub a little olive over each nail to add an extra level of protection (bottom right). Newly sanded nails can be very absorbent to both dry indoor air, and outdoor moisture. Adding oil prevents the nails from absorbing nasty stuff outside, and from drying out indoors and chipping.

{   Happy Dremeling!   }

Article © 2012, 2013 Miles & Emma