JenLane Poodles

Regular care of dog nails is a necessity.  Overgrown nails can cause pain when your dog walks and if nails grow too long, they can curl and puncture the pad of the dog’s foot.  Imagine how painful and uncomfortable that would be.
 
What tools are needed to keep the dog’s nails looking great?

A Dremel is the main tool.  When I was in search for a Dremel, I was specifically looking for the Mini Mite, a cordless lightweight Dremel.  The stores around here didn’t have the Mini Mite, so I opted for a little larger one, the 7.2 v cordless Dremel.  It has 2 speeds (5,000 and 10,000 rpm) but I always operate it on the lower setting.  My Dremel came with a bag full of assorted bits, most of which were shoved into a drawer.  I use the ½” sanding bands in 120 grit, and most likely this will be all you need.  I tried the ¼” sanding bands, but they were just too small for my tastes.  Perhaps, if you have a toy breed, the ¼” would be something you may want.

By using a Dremel, which you can purchase at any hardware store of online, you’ll be able to trim your dog’s nails more quickly.  The Dremel acts as a nail file that shortens and smoothes the nail all at the same time.

Also, it is always good to have a pair of dog nail clippers, styptic powder, and Vaseline (or something similar).

How do I Dremel dog nails?

If the nails are too long, take some of the nail off with nail clippers, making sure not to cut too close to the quick.  Then use the Dremel to sand down and smooth the nail.  Use light stokes.  Don’t stay in the same place too long and don’t apply pressure.  Follow the Dremel.  When the nails are all done, apply a little Vaseline to make the nails shiny and remove the sandpaper look.

With the poodles, I Dremel their nails when I trim their feet.  Since they are accustomed to having their feet done with clippers, the Dremel doesn’t phase them.  However, if your dog is not used to having its feet touched, toe nails clipped, or trimmed with clippers, some desensitization will be required.  During the desensitization period, you may only be able to do one nail at a time until the dog gets accustomed to the process.

For detailed instructions, visit: www.doberdawn.com.  On the left side, scroll down to How To Dremel Dog Nails.

Posted by jenlanepoodles at 03:23 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The topic of pet insurance crosses every pet owner's mind at some point.  We ask ourselves, would it benefit us to have this?  In my opinion, pet insurance is expensive and useless. 

 

Pet insurance, like any kind of insurance, has a deductible and maximum coverage limit which means you will have to spend money out of pocket even though you have insurance.  Most of the time, you have to pay the vet and then get reimbursed by the insurance company.  Pet insurance companies also have a long list of things not covered, like hip and elbow dysplasia, congenital/inherited conditions, chronic renal failure, etc.  Visit http://www.akcpethealthcare.com/ to view more of theirs.

 

There are several companies out there that provide pet insurance and the fine print varies.  Some companies have plans to cover routine stuff like vaccines and spay/neuter while some companies only cover the major stuff like bloat or the dog getting hit by a car.  

 

Let's think about all the costs that go into owning a dog.  First of all, there is the purchase price, which by the way doesn't even compare to the hundreds to thousands of dollars that will be spent on the dog over the course of its life.  Then there are yearly vet check-ups, vaccinations, heartworm prevention, food, spay/neuter, toys, bedding. etc.  All of these things are going to be covered (if you can't cover these, you may want to re-consider owning a dog) with no problem.  On average, routine care might cost $1,000 a year for one dog.  But what if there is an emergency that exceeds what money we have?

 

My suggestion is to open up a separate savings account for the pets.  Each month, put the pet insurance premium (what you would pay if you had pet insurance) into the account and leave it there.  You consistently put money in there each month and before long, you have a nice account built up for those medical emergencies.  You may go years without having a major medical emergency which is great.  But when something does happen, you will be prepared and you won't have to worry about whether or not the insurance company accepts the emergency.  Sure, there may be something happen that you don't have enough money for, but most vets will work with you to help save your pet.

 

In the meantime of building up your savings account, another suggestion is to have a separate credit card just for those major medical emergencies.  Keep the balance at $0 or very low.

 

Recommending Reading:

 

Pet Insurance: Lifesaver or Ripoff?
http://www.answersforme.org/article.php?id=362

 

Should you buy pet insurance?
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/AssessYourNeeds/ShouldYouBuyPetInsurance.aspx

 

If you do decide to purchase pet insurance anyway, please read the fine print before you purchase, and make sure your premium payments are NOT going to support animal rights organizations like HSUS or PETA whose main purpose is to eliminate our rights to own pets.

Posted by jenlanepoodles at 12:49 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)