Nail Trim While Under Anesthesia -- Quicked!

[observer]

Missy had her teeth cleaned yesterday. They do a complimentary nail trim while they are under. She came home yesterday sound but very sleepy, obviously still medicated. She slept all evening. I made her bed on the floor, but she surprised me by hopping up on the bed. So far so good, until this morning, when she could not, would not, put weight on right front. Whining, clearly uncomfortable. And, since her left hip is most affected by the arthritis, she had a hard time standing up. I piled a bunch of blankets up to get her off the bed. Gave her some Metacam in a little pumpkin about 15-20 minutes ago. She limped in here by me a few minutes ago, still whining.

Her nails were not the shortest going in, they never have been short since I've had her-- prior owner didn't trim them much if at all, clearly. I have not been studious about working with her on them to dremel them down. So, this problem is partly my fault.

Wouldn't the nails have had to have bled some for her to feel this way now, so they would KNOW they quicked her? Anything else I can do to make her more comfortable, until I can call the regular vet in 90 minutes or so?. This dog is not a baby about pain, given how long she hid her arthritis, so she's got to be ouchy. I'm just feeling really sorry for her.

[groupieindenial]

Yeah, cutting too close to the quick can hurt without bleeding. Have you ever cut your nails too short and they hurt? I've done it once before, he let out a little yelp and tucked his paw under him growling at me, it didn't bleed, but the pressure of the cut so close to the quick sure hurt. But he's been fine ever since about cutting his nails.

Do you think she just might be a little extra stiff from being put out do to the dental cleaning?

[Sheenagirl]

Yes, I agree cutting too close is down right painful (without bleeding).
Even in horses - farrier cut my horse's hooves too short one time and she was limping and visibly hurting - boy was I mad!

[observer]

Well, this was a weird one....

She's gone from a three legged dog to just fine now. AFTER I called the vet and went to pick up some Tramadol. When I got home, she had made her way into her other spot in the living room. I gave her the pill. She got up and followed me into the other room, limping a little but clearly using all four legs. Within a minute or two, she was walking around out in the yard just fine.

Sabina-

I think she was stiff and wobbly from all she went through yesterday -- given the arthritis in the hips she already has, it did make this episode harder on her. But, there was clearly something acute going on in that front leg, whether quicking or a foreign object or a muscle spasm or....

Jenny-

I've had my horses quicked, too, (makes me mad, as well), but boy, this was different. I would wonder if she had something in her foot that came out, but she wasn't licking it or fussing with it, so who knows. I sure feel better knowing that SHE feels better!

And, her teeth look GREAT!

[AngelBunny]

Personally, I doubt she was limping from being quicked.

Over years of doing nails on personal dogs and fosters, I've quicked dogs. I usually take the dogs for a walk after their go-overs, as a treat.

I've seen just-quicked dogs run around like the wind on these walks, acting as tho they hadn't a care in the world. From time to time, in the winter snow, I've seen blood spots from the cut quicks.

I've never had a dog limp from being quicked and I haven't done anything to stop the bleeding if we're going for a walk. Otherwise, it's a dab of QuikStop.

[observer]

The more I look at the whole situation, it is hard to imagine her being THAT sore from a quicking. Makes the whole scenario all the more mysterious.

They always find ways to keep us thinking.....

[rottcrazed]

When Justice was a puppy, 4 months old, he had a histiocytoma removed from his face. His breeder was not a stickler for nails, and I was having a heck of a time trimming them back (he was a good puppy for his nails). So, when he was under, I had them cut them back as short as they were comfortable, not stupidly, but back so I could get on top of them. All of them had to be covered with silver nitrite (I think that is what it is).

He was no worse for wear at all.

I don't like to have to do this, and I have not since Justice, but I felt since he was going to be a working dog, his nails were something l absolutely needed to be on, and since he was under anyway, why not?

My mom did it with her Pom when she was under for her teeth last year on my request, since I groom this dog and her nails are more like talons ... Trouble was no worse for wear either. Granted, she had 4 teeth pulled, so comparably, I think the pain in her mouth would have overshadowed her toes ....

Kristi