Email Opal at
puppppyluv@aol.com 417-831-9105
Join our free Newsletter list to be notified when we add
something new
CLICK HERE.
|
|
|
|
Toe NailsMaltese toenails grow like human finger and toenails. The ends of the toenails are dead tissue and the quick of the nail contains the blood supply. The trick of nail clipping is to trim off as much of the dead tissue as possible without cutting the sensitive live tissue of the quick. Sometimes dogs will file their nails down just by running on concrete. But most dogs should have them clipped every two or three weeks. Nails that are too long can scratch your bare skin, distort the way your Maltese stands and even interfere with his/her gait. If you accustom your puppy to having his feet handled, you won't have problems with clipping his nails as an adult. Teach him to sit and to hand you his paw while you clip each nail. Adult dogs who are unused to having their feet handled may wiggle too much and you risk painfully clipping the quick. Try turning your Maltese upside-down on your lap while you're sitting on the couch. With you in a dominant, more commanding position, he is less likely to squirm and his nails will also be more accessible. For some adult dogs, however, it is better to make a nail clipping appointment with your vet or groomer rather than wear yourself out or risk hurting him. Purchase dog nail clippers at a pet supply store. Kinds available include
"guillotine" style and scissors style. The guillotine style has replaceable
blades and the scissors have a notch cut in the blade to fit the nail.
Never use human clippers which can split and
injure the nails. Dogs have thick nails, so be sure your clippers have sharp
blades. Have a styptic pencil, flour or cornstarch on hand in case you
accidentally nick a quick.
Clip your Maltese nails under good lighting. Most Maltese nails are white or light colored, and the darker area of the quick is unmistakable. However, some Maltese have dark nails and the quick is not visible. In this case, clip only the ends of the nails. You may have to cut them more frequently to achieve a proper length. Cut at a perpendicular (90 degrees) angle to the nail. Remember to also clip the nail of the dewclaws (if your Maltese has not had them removed as a puppy), the fifth nail on the upper inside of its ankle. Maltese have dewclaws only on the front feet. After you clip them, filing the nails with a human or dog nail file helps to smooth the sharp edges. Trimming The Toenails & Hair Between The Toes I know, you just got a Maltese Puppy. You have asked all the right questions and now your little bundle of joy is playing underneath your feet. You have information on how to wash them, how to brush them, how to feed them, and how to train them to "go outside". However, the one thing that wasn't covered, is how important it is to keep the nails trimmed and the hair between the toes trimmed out. If your pup is very young, at 6-8 weeks, for example, it is of paramount importance to clip the nails every week - just after a bath is the best time when the nails are soft. Trimming the hair from between the toes can be done at least every other week. I know this is not a "glamour question", nobody ever wants to know about toenails - but that is just the point of all of this. A young pup especially, and to a degree older dogs as well, must have good solid footing for the musculature and bones to grow, knit, and mature properly. A dog with untrimmed nails and hair growing so thick between its toes that it is slipping and sliding (especially on hard flooring) must overcompensate with exaggerated movements in order to maintain its balance and propel itself around. By ignoring this simple and quick grooming regimen you may cause your pup to develop an unnaturally poor movement in its front as well as to cause the toe pads to become "splayed" prematurely in your pet's life. Sorry, but I just felt compelled to address one of those often overlooked and "never asked" points that seem to never get covered by new Maltese puppy owners and the pup's breeders. Credit: Information provided and used with permission of Clive Forrester of Maltese Breeders United. THANK YOU for letting us share this information.
|
|
Thank you for visiting our puppies.
***NEW
Fully Automated Program for making Personalized Holiday Letters*** |
