Thursday, January 2, 2014

Nail Biting

If you read any of my blogs, you know that I have four dogs and I love them. They all have very different personalities and give me much pleasure.

Not long ago we paid a visit to our vet and made her mortgage payment. She saw three of the four canines. Oscar had some dental surgery and Toni Louise needed a vaccination. My vet does complimentary toenail clipping, so I always know that the paws will be nicely groomed when they come home. Toni was not in need of her services, but Oscar was clipped while he slept blissfully under the aid of anesthesia. Wall-E went just to have his clipped. She only charges for his sedative. Worth every penny. He turns into a monster when you bother his feet.

Cujo went along for the ride. He stayed close to my feet and just observed. Now, just the other day I was inspecting his sweet little toes and commented that his nails never seemed to grow. And now I know why. My little guy bites his nails! He was wiggling as he sat next to me in my chair yesterday and when I looked to see what he was doing, he was chewing his nails. Like a person, when he would get a good break, he would grab the offending piece with his teeth and pull it off.

I showed him the clippers today and cleaned up some of his work. He lay on his back in the crook of my arm, like a baby. He watched and didn't object when I clipped a few nails. He became bored with it before I got to his back feet. Oddly enough, Wall-E was right next to us inspecting my work, while Toni Louise thought the discarded nails were a dog treat delicacy.

Oscar did not care to join in. He napped on his memory foam bed in front of the wood stove. It was right after breakfast, time for a nap. He naps a lot, being a senior dog citizen at age 14. His days are pretty simple. I would say the life of a dog is simple, but not my dogs. My dogs are special.

6 comments:

Val said...

Cujo bites his nails? That beats my orange tabby standing on his hind legs while trying to turn the doorknob of the kitchen door with his front paws.

I can imagine your rapt audience during the trimming process!

Kathy G said...

Our cats never go outside, so their nails never get a chance to get worn down naturally. Clipping those nails is a two-person job. One to hold the cat secure and the other to do the cutting.

Brian Miller said...

the thought of eating a dogs toenails has me slightly nauseated...
interesting on biting his nails...wonder what he is stressed over.....

Linda O'Connell said...

What we do for our fur babies. I can see him in the crook of your arm.

luksky said...

And I thought my dog was the only one that bites his nails!! I've had dogs my whole life and my dog Bo is the only one that I've ever seen chew his nails off.

mamahasspoken said...

I have one dog that does the same thing with her nails. However now that she is old, not so much. But don't go near her with those clippers, she becomes one angry dog!
True story, my male lab HATES getting his nails clipped. The vet refuses to do it so he sent home some doggie downers to give him to do it. Even with 3 pills given at one time, he still can fight us so hard that we can't do it!