Dear @City Slicker , sometimes they will walk tentatively on floors, or stop-and-run, or avoid, because their nails hurt or they've slipped & fallen. (With arthritis too.) And poor baby with the frostbite! :( Like ourselves where they get frostbite it will hurt more in the cold. :( Eventually for walks you can even use cotton balls in the ears (for protection from the cold). They usually hate 'booties' but they can help too, but more so protection from road salt.
Nails are usually done about once/ month, most dogs hate it but that's because they don't get done.. But they do recommend to touch their feet a lot. It won't hurt them to do their nails. Most people try to take off too much at once. The key is if you look at the nail, take off only the part that starts to curve or curl over (just the tip.) Through the nail their is a vein, if you go too much it will bleed. The problem is when they're not done often the vein goes closer to the tip. But regular trims encourage the vein to push back. The actual nail trim doesn't hurt them as long as there's no infection (just like cutting our nails). A split nail I'd watch though.
I thought they could wear down too, but apparently it takes 10 miles/ day walking on concrete to do that! :eek: (If anything, it's easier on their feet to walk on grass when it's too hot in the summer.)
It's easy to tell if they need it: on floors you will hear a click. (Silent/'thump' without). (The 'duclaw'- sp?-pronounced 'dew-claw' is the one on the side of the leg, some say they need to be removed but I have never. Sometimes they'll get caught on something and just come off, but that's ok & they don't grow back).
PS, what is good for large breeds are elevated food/ water bowl(s) (for digestion/ arthritis). And padding/ comfort like a dog bed (especially when he's thin/ large bones.)
Yes. ++ :) :inlove:
You're a sweetie & so is he. :) :hug: :hug:
Last edited:
