using a dremel to reduce the quick on nails

[willowfaery]

I just started working at an animal hospital and I've just recently heard of using a dremel tool on dogs to reduce their quick. Has anyone ever gotten this procedure done on their guinea pig? Is it humane? I don't know anything about it really so I wanted to see if anyone on here has anything to say about it.

[Haley0489]

My vet used a dremel like tool on my guinea pigs nails. He says he never cuts the nail, only sands them; I assume it's for fear of trimming off a piggie toe in the midst of a struggle.

[willowfaery]

Originally Posted by Haley0489

My vet used a dremel like tool on my guinea pigs nails. He says he never cuts the nail, only sands them; I assume it's for fear of trimming off a piggie toe in the midst of a struggle.

Sorry if this sounds stupid, but do they put the guinea pig to sleep to do this? Is it the nail that is filed down or the nail AND the quick? Because if it's just the nail, then how does that get rid of the quick? And if it's the quick, then wouldn't that be painful? I keep trimming my pig's nails and the quick is not getting any shorter. I heard that it would but it's not.

[Toadies]

By keeping the nail short, the quick gradually retreats farther up the nail bed but it doesn't happen overnight. It takes time. No, they do not anesthesize the piggy, it just takes 2 people.

[Haley0489]

My vet didn't go past the quick, just up to it so that it would gradually recede. I've been trimming my piggies toenails every two-three weeks to get the quick to recede because they were over grown before, they're finally getting to a good short length now.

[pigsmakemesmile]

I think it perfectly humane for a vet to use a dremel tool to sand down nails, I view it as just another "tool" to use other than nail clippers PROVIDED that the individual using the tool knows how to file the nail without injuring the animal. There's a new tool out for dogs called "Peticure" used primarily to sand down toenails on dog's and I believe cats too. I have a dremel tool myself and am going to file my dogs nails to see just how affective it is. I'll practice on a piece of wood first to get the feel for it. In the mean time I'm gonna cont' using cat nail clippers on the pigs until I'm very comfortable using the dremel and even then I may not use it on them. The quick does eventually shrink back over a period of time provided that I'm consistent with trimming every two weeks. I've seen big improvements on the quick.

[daftscotslass]

Personally I think it's a daft idea - guinea pig nails are a lot smaller than dogs.

If a vet doubts their ability to cut an animal's nails with a simple pair of clippers then I wouldn't want to be letting them anywhere near my pet with a power tool.

[willowfaery]

Thanks everyone for your help. I'll just keep trimming my pigs' nails with regular cutters for now just to be on the safe side.