Do you dread clipping your dogs nails? Don’t worry you are not alone. Even though it’s not much fun most dog owners will have to make nail clipping part of their regular grooming.

Your favorite pet store surely has what you need. Don’t try to make do with human clippers. Special dog nail clippers have a different shape and are specially designed to make the clipping as fast and painless as possible You can even buy products that help with the clotting process, which can, on occasion, come in very handy.

There are many variations on the best way to clip your dogs nails. In general you will want to start with prolonged desensitization of your dogs feet. Once your dog is used to people touching his feet, he will sit calmly to have his nails clipped.

When clipping your dogs nails for the first time its important to ask someone who knows how to do it to show you. You can get many instructions and even some excellent illustrated instructions on how to clip your dogs nails but watching someone else clip your dogs nails will give you a chance to ask any questions you might have. If you are clipping dark nails, you need to know where your dog’s “quick” is. Most veterinarians will clip your dogs nails for you and this is obviously the best way to learn.

You should start as early as possible when the dog is young. Even if you are not really going to cut the puppy’s nails, just pretending to do it will make the puppy accept clipping as something normal.

Avoid clipping nails until you are sure you know how to do it. If you are nervous, your dog will pick up the anxiety and he will probably not let you do it.

Some dog owners think that it is easier to clip nails after a good walk. If the dog is tired, he will not fuss as much.

Some people resort to using tranquilizers to make nail clipping easier for their dogs and them. It is possible, but usually not necessary. Even just massaging your dog’s paws every day for a little while, will make clipping much easier.

And surely, if you give free treats for clipping, success is a sure thing.

Join HRU for programs that focus on emergency nursing skills and clinical nurse managers. An HRU seminar is a great educational investment for your nursing staff.

Well the first question really is, where are you going to put it? If you’re talking about kitty as an 8 week old furry babe who’s just arrived in your home, then probably you don’t need one yet. Aside from the fact that there is no urgency in putting an ID tag in your kitty because he will not wandering for some time, there is also the matter of where to place the ID tag because it would look odd to put a collar on an eight-week-old kitten.

There is no argument of the need however if your kitty is starting to exercise its independence and primal instinct to explore. ID tags are a dime a dozen so it is just a matter of choosing which one.

Some tags are really high-end and will cost an arm, and some are merely improvised and self made. Classy or fun is an open choice, but there are a few things you need to think about with the information if the tag is engraved, then the information is there permanently (well until you change it for another one, if you move for instance), but an ID tag where you write the information needs three things firstly a permanent ink pen so that the information doesn’t wear off or fade, the information must be clear so that anyone reading it can understand the address or telephone number, and it must have some form of waterproof covering so that snow, rain and puddle damage can’t erode the information.

An ID chip may also be implanted in your kitty by a qualified veterinarian. This can be done purposely or at opportune times during examinations or when undergoing a spaying procedure. Implanting an ID chip to your kitty is preferable because it will mean that you cat will not lose its ID by accident, and it would easier and faster to trace your cat in the event that it gets lost.

While many consider an ID chip as the better idea, not all like the thought and would rather stick with the tag, which is entirely at their sole discretion. The only thing to remember is that cats, especially kittens, sometimes need a little help getting back home, and so once your kitty is mobile enough to be outdoors, he really should have an ID tag that speaks for him.

Join HRU for programs that focus on emergency room triage and nursing leadership jobs. An HRU seminar is a great educational investment for your nursing staff.