For all those who think they might want to buy the pedi-paw nail trimmer because it is the next best thing to slice bread watch this video.



http://www.slatev.com/player.html?id=9152426001

A little introduction to the tool is always required, no worse than teaching a dog to get it's teeth brushed, they just have to get introduced to it.

I like the Dremel tool becuase I can use it for a lot of other things besides dog toe nails.

By the way, Moose isn't bothered by the dremel. Scooter thinks he is being killed and won't have any part of it. So he get his nails clipped the old fashion way.

Jeff

I second what Jeff said! I use a dremel, but like anything, the dogs had to be desensitized to it. My objection to the Pedi-Paw is that I can't see what it's taking off the nail!

Kathy

Gayla has mentioned they have had a few in the clinic.... They fall apart easily was her clinicians main complaint.

P

JoAnn, Thanks for posting.

I agree. The Pedi-paw has inherient problems. First it is battery operated so the speed will not be constant, esp as batteries lose amp/voltage. Second (like Kathy mentioned), you cannot see what you actually are triming. Third, they are larger than a Dremel tool and heavier and more awkward to handle. An electric Dremel, multi-speed/varriable speed type,
works better and easier to use.

Before moving here, Chelsea had her nails trimmed at the Petsmart. They used a Peti-paw like device. It tore off a dew claw because the nail twisted sideways. Also broke another nail. The woman decided to 'scrap' its use and pulled out a Dremel tool. However she stood there talking to someone else and not paying attention, Chelsea backed into the tool with her rear end. Chelsea heard the sound and thought it was a "massager" - her favorite 'toy'. The woman then used the standard type of cutter to finish but because by now Chelsea was "freaked", she gave up before finishing.

Charlie

quote:

First it is battery operated so the speed will not be constant, esp as batteries lose amp/voltage.

My dremmel is a multi speed rechargeable and so far the only problem is in inability to remember to recharge it ! Otherwise I'm quite happy with it!!

Kathy

Kathy, I should have clairified better.
"First it is battery operated so the speed will not be constant, esp as batteries lose amp/voltage"
"My dremmel is a multi speed rechargeable and so far the only problem is in inability to remember to recharge it" -Kathy

Although both battery operated, the type of battery involved/used makes a difference.
The standard "AAA", "AA", "C', & "D" (Pedi-paw) are lead-acid type. Why they 'leak' if left in something. These batteries
lose voltage and amperage at a constant rate as they are used. However, the 'rechargeable type' (like built in applications used in Dremmels tools, drills, etc) are either Nickel-Cadmium or the newer Metal Hydride type. These rechargeables deliver Full Power constantly and only drop voltage quickly in the last 1-2 minutes of usage. Standard type batteries gradually drop voltage. (example, Chelsea's massagers. If I use regular/standard "AA" batteries, they last about 30 minutes. However after 5 minutes the speed slows down and continues to slow down. Same will happen to flashlights. If I use Ni-Cads, I still get 30 minutes usage, but at Full Power for the duration. The only droppage of voltage is during the
last few minutes of battery life). Your Dremmel is Ni-Cad, MH, or possible Lithium Ion. They do not drop voltage in use.

Mentioning this so you (and others) know the differences. If you use "rechargeable" batteries in the Pedi-paw, you will not get the voltage and amperage drops from useage. This info can also be applied to hunters or other outdoor adventures where you may need a flashlight. Standard type batteries (ever-ready, energizer, duracell, etc) will drop voltage, and thus brightness of light) during useage. The light will progressively dim as being used. However rechargeables (Ni-Cads, MH, L Ion) will maintain full power constantly and thus allow steady full voltage and brightness until the last 1-2 min.
So hunters, campers, outdoor dog adventures at night, use a "rechargeable type" of battery in flashlights, radios, lanterns
and any battery operated device (even GPS). Charlie

JoAnn, thanks for putting that up. I got 2 of them for Christmas (anyone want one?) and finally got around to getting batteries for one to try it out.

I didn't have much problem desensitizing my dogs to it. It isn't very noisy. My problem with it is that it's pretty wimpy, it doesn't take much off at all, and as someone else said, you can't really see what you're taking off. Of course that has NOTHING to do with my old eyesight!! LOL. It has a clear case, but it gets dusty right away so you're really guessing.

But I don't think you're in much danger of filing off too much because it's not fast enough and the sandpaper not coarse enough for really hard nails. Of course I've never used a real dremel, but I think it would be a more durable tool than this thing. It might suit a little dog with small nails but for a big CBR with hard nails it just didn't seem to do much.

One of my dogs has awful nails, they grow really fast, chip really easily, and she hates having them cut. SHe didn't mind the peti paws at all. The other dog's grow pretty fast but they're very hard to cut and she's also a big whiney baby about having it done, and did not mind the peti paw.

And then there's Panda. SHe's got those kind of nails that NEVER need to be cut, but I played around with it with her and she wanted to eat it. She, too did not mind it. It's easy to use but just doesn't seem like it's designed for big hard toenails.

Charlie,

Thanks for the lesson on batteries. Never knew this.

I have two dogs who really need their nails done. Up until I got my Standard Poodle I just used Guillutine (sp?) cutters to do the CBRS. Poor Scottie had been somewhat neglected in the last year before I got him and he came to me with nails that were nearly a half inch long!! I had the vet cut them back when I neutered him, but am still trying to push them back further to a correct length, and he does not like cutters. A couple of years ago I got an Oster nail grinder, but never liked it....hard to put the grinders in, and the paper disks didn't fit right and would slide up and down on the holder while I was trying to cut, so I stopped using it until Scotttie came into our lives! So, I started using it on Scottie! Then one day a couple of months into actually making it work somewhat correctly, I went to plug the cord into the transmitter (that plugs into the electricity), and there was nothing to hold them together, i.e. something must have fallen out of one end or the other because the plug end of the cord had nothing to bite into and it wouldn't work. A friend loaned me her rechargeable dremel and what a differece. I used her's once and went to WalMart and bought my own. It's effecient, easy to use and easy to charge.........BUT, now I have to remember to charge it peridiocally!!

So, now I use the cutters to snip the tips of the poodle, and the chessie who grows dracula nails, then use the dremel to take them down as far as I can without creating a blood bath and slowly am pushing both dgos' nails back! And now that they are used to the dremel we no longer have a fight either!!

Probably more than you wanted to read though !

Kathy

Julie, Kathy, et al,

"My problem with it is that it's pretty wimpy, it doesn't take much off at all"
"I don't think you're in much danger of filing off too much because it's not fast enough and the sandpaper not coarse enough for really hard nails."
"BUT, now I have to remember to charge it peridiocally!!"

Julie, get a pair or two of rechargeable batteries and a charger (about $20 for all). The Full Power delivered will prevent the "wimpy" performance. Ni-Cads are (for AA's) 800mA and (for D) 1500mA. MH are 3x stronger at (AA) 1800-2300mA and (D)2500-3400mA. More power and last longer - esp needed for your continuous growing crew.
Ni-cads have "memories" although and require that they are 'fully charged' for the first initial few charges or they will not accept a charge above a certain level. MH type have no memory and can be charged at any state or power remaining.
(kathy - look on Dremmel. It will say what internal rechargeable type. If Ni-Cad is listed, you should occasionally let the tool completely run down (drain the battery). Then fully charge. This prevents the tool from stopping before all battery life is used up. Then you can occasionally charge for 20-30 minutes after usage to maintain). If MH/L Ion, you can spot-charge (short term charges without fully charging without loss of function or performance).


Julie, Dremmels have a removable 1/8" shaft with two size sanding heads - tube sandpaper inserts. The Pedi-paws may only have interchangeable 'heads'. You can buy dremmel accessories that will fit. They make the standard sandpaper discs - medium, fine, and course. However they also have a "diamond dust" or diamond coated sanding pad/tube. These cost 3x as much
but will almost last forever in this application (unless you tear it). They will work better for the harder cbr nails.
Also these type of discs (tubes) will cut faster and have a "cleaner cut" (smoother) and be easier to control.

Hope this helps, Charlie

I got a chuckle out of the video and thought other dog owners would also. It's funny how in the pedipaw commericial the dogs just hand their paw over no big deal and then when the testers tested it a whole different thing happened.

At work we use a rechargeable dremel also and have no problems with it, works great for those brittle nails that split real easily.

Julie, can't believe you got TWO, now you have a spare for when one breaks down as red earth said.

This is a well timed thread for me, as I just bought a dremel tool to do some decoy modification and might as well try it on the dogs' nails, too.

What speed and bits have worked best for you folks? Mine's a two speed portable that came with both sanding drums(?) and a little cone-shaped grind stone(?).

Rick, "What speed and bits have worked best for you folks? Mine's a two speed portable that came with both sanding drums(?) and a little cone-shaped grind stone(?)."

Low speed. The RPMs are suficient for nail grinding. High speed will create too much heat & friction.

Sanding discs (tube drums). A cone stone or round disc stone are too hard and will cut the nail too quickly. Also a stone
or the metal file attachments will also create too much heat and friction. Besides cutting/filing/grinding the nail too quickly, the heat build-up can be counter-productive. A nail that heats up also increases blood flow in the 'quick'. The increase blood flow can increase the possibility to bleeding and injury.

-Charlie

PS You can also use (as mentioned above) the diamond dust/diamond coated sanding drums. More durable, cut smoother, and lasts longer. Regular sand-paper drums are only reliable as lond as the 'sand/grit' remains attached to the drum. The diamond coated type (or emery type - wet/dry paper) will not shed the material as quickly.

Thanks. We eased them into it, and the dogs were fine with the regular sanding drums, but I found their grit course enough to snag and make the tool jump some if I wasn't careful. Will probably look for a finer diamond grit drum.

Like the smooth, rounded edges the method leaves, as I've a paper-skinned 80yr-old live-in mother-in-law with dementia who regularly "forgets" not to encourage the dogs to break our "no paws on the people" rule. (Though she seldom forgets to quickly hide whatever forbidden treats they're getting when I walk in the room...)

Rick, yeah the diamond-coated type is finer and more consistent with the size of grit. Also you won't get the flying pieces of sandpaper/grit like regular standard type paper. Not good for the eyes when working close (I'm blind in right eye and left is getting bad 20/40 so I have my face almost on paw).

The other surface type (emery) would word great for you too. They're the black paper wet/dry sandpaper.
They will work if they get wet. You can wet the nail for a smoother, less friction cut/grind. Also reduces heat by wetting.
Be careful although, wet nails are slippery and the drum tends to move about alittle. But due to your 'marsh' type area,
mud, gook, "gator droppings" - could not resist, and everything else LA has to offer that can coat and embed on the nails,
the ability to use a dremel when nail is wet to wash off will be useful.

Another trick is get a "buffing disc". It is a hard cotton wad (disc shape or rounded ball) often used to polish jewelery.
However it will buff the dog's nail smoother and also clean out groves and imprefections on the nail. Chelsea has brittle nails. Also she has nails that tend to scratch easy. When she walks in soft ground with sandy type stones and grit, the nails/paws sink into the ground and scrape on the fine debris in the soil. This leaves small grooves and indentations on the nail. Then they get filled in with wet muck. Have to watch bacteria growth in these areas. However buffing with the cotton pads remove this. A drop or smear nail with a dab of baby oil before buffing will make a clean, shiny nail too.

-Charlie

The dremel came with a buffing wheel, but I suspect we're already going as far as we're going to with nail care. My mutts spend so much of their time clawing and muscling their way up undercut banks and onto floating turf that I could easily second guess just clipping their hooks much less trying to stay ahead of road wear:



But thanks for the walk-through!

The Pedi Paws pet nail trimmer leaves the nails rounded and smooth so they won't ... The pedi paw pet nail trimmers works at a RPM of 5000, the voltage is 1.5.
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