how to dremel a dog's nails

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Griffin is normally a sweet charmer, but take out the nail clipper and he turns into a biting terror. In Manhattan, we'd just take him to the local Petco for a trim - best $10 we could spend. He was also going out with a walker every day, and the asphalt really wore the nails down. In Brooklyn, we use daycare pretty regularly, so no chance for natural filing. His nails click when he walks, and I'm afraid he'll have foot and leg problems down the road. The final straw was when we attempted a trim with a guillotine-style clipper (apparently the worst kind to use, oops)...he bit, he flinched, we clipped the quick...blood all over the white slipcovers! After a little research, I decided to try a Dremel tool, and so far it has been a success! A few lessons learned:

1) Unless you have a bigger dog, you'll want a Dremel with lower speeds. I bought this version, with only two speeds of 5,000 and 13,000 rpms. I've read that the MiniMite is good as well, but its lowest speed is still 10,000 rpms.

2) HIGHLY recommend a rechargeable model. This thing powers down quickly, and I can't imagine how many batteries you'd have to go through with another model.

3) This Dremel guide seems to be THE definitive internet source for how to trim a dog's nails. I also watched a few youtube videos for guidance.

4) Griffin gets very suspicious of new things that make sounds, so it was critical that we introduce the dremel slowly. We began by letting him sniff it, treating him as he did. Whenever he napped, we would place the Dremel very close to him. Next, we started turning it on and off, treating him each time. We also worked on his 'paw' trick (he gives us his paw when asked) and would quickly touch the sanding block to a nail or two. We did all of this over the course of one week. Even now, I always follow this sequence: ask for paw, treat, touch dremel to nails, treat, turn dremel on, treat, ask for paw and begin to dremel nails, treat after paw is done.

5) One thing the above guide doesn't tell you is how to hold the dremel with respect to the nail. It should rotate towards you, no matter how you are holding the paw. I hold the paw and gently press on each pad, which pushes the nail out a bit, before proceeding.

6) Be super careful if your pup has long fur, as it can get caught in the spinner. You can pull old pantyhose over the paw, poking the nails through, to avoid ripping the hair out.

7) Don't spend more than a few seconds on each nail. A quick swipe or two, and then move on to the next. You'll know you are on the nail too long if you get a burning smell.

8) Griffin's front paws are easily done while he is sitting. The back paws are more difficult. The best way we've found is by having him lie on his side. Either Husband will feed him treats, or I'll catch him when he's really sleepy.

9) The guide recommends trimming every 4 days if you are trying to get the quick (the blood vessel inside the nails) to recede. This seems like a good rule. I typically do the front paws one day, and the back paws the next, then repeat in 4 days. I'm hoping he will come to expect the dremel as a normal part of his grooming routine, along with the brushing and teeth cleaning.

We honestly never thought we could handle G's nails! If you are at your wit's end, give the dremel a try!

review: old navy for dogs!

In my excitement over great ON finds, I totally forgot my raves about their dog line! Anyone who has a pup knows that although we want to pamper them in the cutest collars and whatnot, pooch accessories don't come cheap if you're searching for options beyond Petco or Petsmart. Furthermore, there's almost no point in spending a ton on accessories when pups just destroy them with wear and tear anyway.

IMO, this is such a smart avenue for ON to explore, and I hope it sticks around! I never understood why J Crew shuttered their Crewmutts line, so having some cute options at these lower pricepoints (and available through mass retail) is awesome! The line includes tees, hoodies, collars, leashes, toys, and the must-have item - a raincoat 'jacket-in-a-packet!'

food for dog thoughts

I've written before on what people food Griffin gets from time to time, but never on what we feed him for his meals! We've been through a few different types of food, and there is definitely a bit of trial and error before you settle on something.

When you first pick up your pooch (be it from a rescue or breeder), you'll want to feed exactly what he was eating before. Dogs have sensitive stomachs, and sudden food changes can really upset their tummies. Our rescue group was feeding a raw diet (*shudders*), and Griff happened to have Giardia and Coccidia, so we didn't have the luxury of trying to slowly transition him. He was put on a low-residue food (mostly available through vets, this is a wet food that has little nutritional value but moves through the GI quickly and easily), and then transitioned to canned food. You'll want to transition the food over a week or two...going from 25% new/75% old...to 50/50 new/old...to 75% new/25% old...to all new.

When it comes time to start feeding your own food, you must first decide on canned versus kibble. Canned food is more expensive per meal, and since it contains water, your dog will have to pee more frequently. Kibble is easier to dispense, cheaper per meal, ensures more solid poops, and cleans the teeth a bit. Griffin barely chewed his food when younger, so kibble wasn't a great option for us. After feeding canned food for some time, we started the transition to dry food by soaking the kibble in water to soften it up...eventually soaking less and less so that finally he was only eating dry food.

Next decision is what kind of food to feed. This post on the Dogster.com forum is an EXCELLENT read before settling on a brand. Generally, it states that big-brand commercial types (Iams or Purina) have lots of fillers and aren't as good quality as the more expensive, smaller brands (Wellness, Canidae, etc.), which have more meat and meat by-products.

In our case, we started off with the low-residue vet food, and transitioned to Canidae chicken-and-rice canned food. We then transitioned to Canidae chicken-and-rice dry food...and then switched to Innova Adult Dry Food for small dogs (this is what we currently use). We tried lamb-based foods, but these were a bit too rich for Griffin - he would have diarrhea often and occasionally vomit. The chicken-based foods work well for Griff. When we want to give him a little taste of something different, we do it in the form of treats (the Wellness WellBites are excellent for this and have quite the variety).

In short, feeding your pup is a bit of trial and error. There are those who hail raw food diets, organic diets, etc. Some would never dream of serving kibble, while others do a mix of wet and dry food (a good option for picky eaters). You'll know it's right when your dog is at a healthy weight and shape, has a shiny coat and clear eyes, and has a healthy amount of energy.

A Summary of what we feed/treat Griffin:
Innova Adult Dry Food - Small Bites
Wellness WellBites (Griff loves all flavors)
Wellness PureRewards
Dogswell Breathies (for bad breath)
Dogswell Mellow Mutt
Old Mother Hubbard Extra Tasty Biscuits

Occasional Chews/Treats:
Zukes Dental Chew Bones (for bad breath)
Merrick Flossies
Bully Sticks (you prolly don't want to know what they really are, but pups love 'em!)

Griffin has something to say

Updates!

I rarely do updates on past posts, but am always thinking of edits or info I'd like to add. Let's give it a whirl, shall we?

Diet & Exercise

Update from 6/30/09: So we stopped the Apple Cider Vinegar thing...largely because even after choking down the diluted ACV we saw no changes whatsoever. I also did more research and found some pretty decent evidence that the effects of an ACV diet are negligible to harmful. I still have a little left, and it's actually kind of yummy in apple juice (tastes like a tart apple), but will definitely not purchase a bottle again.

Update from 7/20/09: On the other hand, our Green Monster routine stuck. We love them! Our base is always spinach, frozen bananas, and milk. We also usually add chia seeds. As for supplements, we've swapped out the protein powder (reviews to come) for Amazing Grass' Amazing Meal. We've tried various frozen fruit additions (Whole Foods has a good selection of frozen fruit), and decided that strawberries are def the way to go.

To ensure Husband gets enough protein to keep him satisfied until lunch, I've started making protein pancakes! They are so easy to make. For one pancake I start by mixing egg white from one large egg and 1/4 cup oatmeal. The next 1/4 cup can be any number of things...I've used pumpkin puree, mashed banana, applesauce, and a mix of carob chips and nuts. Finish it off with 1 scoop of your chosen protein powder. Mix well, drop onto a frying pan (on medium-high heat) with about 2 T hot olive oil, and cook for maybe 3 minutes on each side.

Update from 7/30/09: Good news and bad news on the workout front. I gave up kettlebells. I truly did love the twice-weekly workouts. But, my amazing instructor left and they canceled one of the classes. I was also developing some knee and back pain...the combination of high impact moves with occasional running was doing a number on me. I thought this was a great opportunity to branch out and try some new classes. And...I'm now obsessed with spinning! Something I NEVER thought I could get into (after one sad attempt at 30 minutes on a stationary bike followed by a week's worth of sore quads). I'm even looking at special cycling shoes! Stay tuned...

Beauty

Update from 8/26/09: As much as I loved the Aveeno Hair Minimizing lotion, it just doesn't stand up to the central heating in my apartment building. I'd forgotten how incredibly dry, flaky and itchy my skin gets when the outside temp drops. Going back to my tried and true Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Butter lotion until next spring/summer.

Update from 10/9/09: Again, another beauty product bites the dust come winter. The Boscia eye treatment is wonderful, but it just doesn't provide enough moisture for my skin right now. I wake up to flaky and super dry skin, and that red, raw look has slowly returned. The hunt for an eye cream continues...hearing good things about Origins so that may be my next try.

Fashion

Update from 10/10/09: So many updates here! Well first, I decided against getting a cape. I checked the Anthro one out, and it was actually a greenish taupe color (not the oatmeal I saw on the website). Also, I decided it just wasn't practical for me. I get cold, I need sleeves. Incomplete arm coverage will only do it for me when it's maybe 55-60 degrees. Any warmer, I grab a hoodie or light sweater...any cooler, I need a real coat. The good news is that I picked up a great leather jacket (love it even more than the Vince one pictured)...it's the perfect transition piece and I've already worked it into so many outfits.

I did manage to locate the Anthro Bull's Eye dress, which sold out in my size online...and no thanks AT ALL to the sales associates at the 16th and 5th Ave location (filled out my info for a charge send and they forgot all about it...never heard from them again, UGH). Will def post a review once it arrives!

Finally, I'm totally SOL with regard to the JCrew chambray shirt (sold out online and seemingly in every store), so I can only hope it'll show up at a factory outlet someday. Ditto with the green Anthro purse. It went on sale, was still too much for me, and it disappeared online and in-store. *shrugs* I guess they weren't meant to be.

Finally, the Anthro Cross Your T strappy shoes! They sold out quickly on the website. But thanks to Kim over at Anthroholic, I found out that they are not exclusive to Anthro! I'm watching out for a coupon code or sale on the Seychelles Vaudeville heels!

Dog/Pet

Update from 6/30/09: Our fur baby is almost 9 months old now! And quite the traveled citygoer. He's been on the subway, in various cars, and even on a flight to Miami with us! In each case, he has been a calm little guy - mostly sleeping or being curious. On the subway, we always carry him in a bag and no one seems to care or pay attention. This makes the original linked story pretty curious for me. Maybe her pug was in an open-top bag? And maybe she just got super upset about it and was belligerent with the police? If it were me, I would have exited at the next stop, tended to my pup, and hailed a cab. Well actually, I would have taken a cab to begin with. Anyway, it's the last time I comment on a random story with incomplete facts!

Update from 8/31/09: We finally got Griff some pet insurance - settling on Trupanion. I think we pay around a $40 premium per month with no deductible. Since then, we've had 2 medical issues with him, so thank goodness we finally settled on a package. Will update once we complete the claims.

what I'm loving now: Kiehl's

Lately I have been loving Kiehl's products! The original store, which happens to be the flagship (store #0001 on the receipts) is just 5 blocks from our apartment, and I find myself there often. Our gym (Equinox) has also started carrying Kiehl's products in the locker rooms...allowing me to test products I wouldn't normally try out.

I know Kiehl's products can be expensive and hard to find in certain locations. But several of them are really great, and a nice indulgence every now and then. They are also SUPER generous with samples, which is refreshing. Here is a quick rundown of the products we are loving:

Creme de Corps body lotion
The cult classic. We first fell in love with the SPF-containing version on our honeymoon. It was perfect for soothing sun-kissed skin, and the smell is to-die-for. Whenever I feel like being transported back to vacation memories, I use this. I also slather this over my face after tough workouts (yes, really!). I've found that it's perfect this time of year, when my skin tends to get super dry and flaky. After a workout, my skin is flushed and pores are open...this sinks in nicely and provides a glowy look. I don't have it on for more than an hour or so (once I get home, I shower it off), and I'm sure it would wreak havoc if I tried to wear it all day, but it's a nice indulgence that feels lovely.

Scented Lip Balm - Coconut
This stuff smells fantastic...subtle and not in-your-face. The moisturization is great (not too heavy, but does not disappear like Rosebud Salve sometimes does), and it's not sticky at all. The applicator could be better (as in, there could be one), but other than that quip it's a great, everyday balm. I have one in every bag!

Ultimate Brushless Shave Cream
Your man will thank you for this. Husband was using standard shaving creams before he met me. Okay, he actually never even knew there was a world of high-end men's products before me. :) He LOVES this stuff. A little goes a long way and one tube lasts forever. It is moisturizing and provides great protection from the blade (although he complains that it is slow to rinse away unless using super hot water). I stocked up from Hautelook a while back for half price, but even at full price, this is really worth the investment (particularly if your man has to shave every day for work). Kiehl's also carries a version in a blue tube containing Camphor and Menthol, Husband found this a little drying and irritating.

Facial Fuel SPF 15
Husband walks to work every day, and frankly, he's not getting any younger. He had been using Vaseline body lotion on his face (shudders), before I purchased this product. It is lightweight, non-greasy, fairly soothing post-shave, and has sun protection. Haven't heard any complaints, so I assume this will be sticking around in the med cabinet.

Cuddly Coat Grooming Shampoo & Conditioning Rinse
Even our fur baby is pampered! Although he hates baths (he acts as if he is dying in the tub), we love the Kiehl's products for him. The shampoo cleans well and smells wonderful. It rinses away quickly and completely, and leaves his fur super soft and fluffy. We haven't tried the conditioner yet, since his fur hasn't been too long, but plan to this weekend.

Spray-n-Play Cleansing Spritz
All dog parents can thank me later for this...one of the best concotions we've used. Since Griff hates baths, we don't give them often. To extend the time he can go before he gets a little too stinky, this spray has been a godsend. Just spray liberally, rub in it well (Griff seems to love this), and wipe with a towel. It wipes away cleanly, and leaves no residue. I have also used this to clean his paws after a walk in the rain, or his face after he eats.

PSA: Trixie & Peanut Sample Sale!

It's a mere 40 degrees outside, and our baby needs a coat! I was searching my usual online pup sources and saw that Trixie & Peanut is having a sample sale starting tomorrow! Although the reviews on this store are mixed, I've always had good experiences. The stuff is expensive, but no worse than any other decent pup boutique in town. Also, their selection of collars, leads, and harnesses are one of the best I've seen. I'm planning to go tomorrow!

Doggie Designer Sample Sale

When: Friday, October 16 (11am - 8pm), Saturday, October 17 (11am - 8pm), Sunday, October 18 (12noon - 5pm)
Where: Trixie + Peanut Pet Emporium, 23 East 20th Street (btwn Broadway & Park Ave. S)

http://www.trixieandpeanut.com/

*10/16 update: I stopped by after the gym (still sweating from spinning, ahem) and the place was a madhouse. Put on my sample sale gameface and dove into bin after bin. Decent selection that is going fast!

people foods for pooches?

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Before we got Griffin, we would spend every night going through a stack of puppy books. All of the books had sections about feeding times with the same tenets - dry kibble is best, and 'people food' is a no-no. Unfortunately, our baby couldn't handle the dry food...his jaw and teeth were too weak, and his stomach couldn't properly digest it. So, the dry kibble wasn't happening...

Husband and I LOVE food, and I'm a total pushover (have you ever looked into the eyes of a hungry puppy?), so our plan to keep 'people food' from him totally failed. Oops. Now, I've seen some crazy stuff on tv...the woman who had 'tea time' with her dogs, the one who cooked a complete veggie and meat dish for her dog while nuking tv meals for her husband and son, and the woman who kept an unending supply of popsicles in her freezer for her dogs. Crazy! We are NOT those people. We keep it pretty basic and infrequent:

*Yogurt: Specifically Greek yogurt (it's what I eat everyday). I'll leave a tiny bit of yogurt and honey at the bottom of the container and let Griff lick it clean. He loves it (comes running as soon as I pop off the foil), and it helps with digestion and regularity.
*Apples: I usually cut a few small pieces and let him munch on them...always incorporating training, with the apple pieces as rewards. Don't forget to remove the skin and seeds before feeding!
*Bananas: Some dogs go crazy for bananas! Griff doesn't beg for this like the other foods, but he'll take a taste every now and then.
*Baby carrots: Great for their teeth and super healthy. Freeze them when your pup is teething...it'll be really soothing for him, and keep him occupied.
*Chicken and rice: The best remedy for an upset tummy. Boil the chicken (not sure why this is the best cooking method) and mix it with some plain rice. A meal or two of chicken and rice will usually get your pup's GI on track.
*Honey: Griff only gets this with my yogurt. I would have never thought to give it, but when we picked him up from the rescue group, the rescue worker gave a squirt of honey before some bitter medicine. Griff takes meds like a champ, but we might try this trick if he ever becomes difficult.
*Cheese: Umm, dogs LOVE cheese. Griff loves cheese. This was our treat of choice when housetraining, to really offer something special for the...occasion. Griff doesn't discriminate...feta, swiss, havarti, cheddar, goat...he'll happily take it all.

The list of TOXIC foods for dogs is pretty surprising. Everyone knows that chocolate is a no-no, but so are onions, grapes, and raisins. It's a good idea to do a quick google search before treating your pup. This is a good chart that shows foods to avoid.

wordless monday

to do: get pet insurance now

I could have been here with Husband and friends:

US Open

While Griff spent his day here:

Happy Paws Pet Resort

Instead I'm alone here:

Because Griff was:

We spent the first part of our evening enjoying a leisurely dinner outdoors at Pipa with some old friends, sipping on sangria and savoring what could be one of the last warm summer nights in NYC. Returned home to a vomiting puppy with diarrhea. Now Griff has thrown up before, and he's certainly had his fair share of nasty number twos. But this seemed different, so around midnight, we packed him up and headed to the nearest 24-hour animal ER. Small dogs - especially puppies - can get dehydrated and hypoglycemic VERY quickly...plus, we wanted to make sure there was no strange obstruction in his stomach (we are transitioning to dry food and he seems to swallow most of the kibble whole!).

Several hours and many $ later, we were able to take our baby home. But not before a battery of tests - bloodwork, fecal tests, a radiograph for his stomach, etc. For months now, we've been meaning to purchase pet insurance...putting it off with little thought that we may actually need it. It's complicated enough figuring out your own health insurance, and possibly just as difficult for pet insurance! Most people wonder if they even need health insurance for their pet. But then, they face a vet bill that costs hundreds or even thousands of dollars...most of which could have been covered by pet insurance.

I'll admit...Husband is far more knowledgeable about this then I am. I know that higher deductibles tend to mean lower monthly premiums (and vice versa), and in most cases you must pay your vet upfront and later submit your claims for reimbursement. Reimbursement is commonly around 80%. Petinsurancereview.com is a great site to compare plans, with detailed reviews of certain plans and coverage options. These: (article #1, article #2) are great lists to get started with. Finally, to learn more and get in touch with other pet parents, the Dogster.com forums are a wonderful resource.

The plans we have been focusing on are Trupanion, VPI, and the ASPCA Pet Insurance, but there are many plans out there. My advice is to look through the options and consider what kind of coverage you need. Many people opt for illness and accident coverage, while others prefer comprehensive coverage that expands to routine veterinary care. Yes, it can add up, but as with human health insurance, you rarely use what's available until you truly need it. Consider the cost-benefit ratio - what it would cost you to pay for veterinary services upfront, versus the potential reimbursement you could have received. Additionally, where are you located? In the city, the sidewalks and streets are a perpetual hazard for dogs and dog walkers..there are more threats to avoid than the suburbs or country.

Did I mention that we left the animal ER with no actual diagnosis for Griffin? Yeah. Just some anti-nausea medication and an antibiotic. And many many dollars spent. We plan to decide on an insurance plan by the end of the week. If you're a pet parent, I urge you to look into insurance if you haven't already. September is Canadian Pet Insurance month (random, I know), so it seems as good a time as any!

Pup-a-palooza!

It's official...we are obsessed with our new baby! We adopted Griffin at 9 weeks old and it's been an amazing process to see him grow and learn. So many lessons learned, which I'm sure could help a few dog parents! None on housetraining, which we are still working on. Every time we think he's had a breakthrough, he pees on the carpet. Not. Cool.

1) Purebred vs. Mutt - We didn't have a particular preference, but knew we wanted something small (under 20 lbs.) and a male (we'd read that females can be, well, bitches). There are a bunch of online 'breed quizzes' you can take that will match you with certain breeds. Take into consideration your lifestyle (if you are super active, a toy breed may not be a good match) and work situation (if you work late most nights, consider the more independent breeds, rather than companion breeds). Also, be prepared for grooming and care responsibilities that come along with a long-haired breed. If you are looking at mixes, know the parent breeds to get a sense of temperament (Griffin likes to cuddle with us like Shih Tzus, but also gets a bit fiesty and sneaky like Brussels Griffons).

2) Buy vs. Rescue - I am personally a proponent of rescuing. Yes, you can find that purebred toy breed, or the designer mix you love through rescue. No, not all pet stores support puppy mills, but MANY do, and it's difficult for them to know for sure if they have puppy mill pups. We went through Petfinder.com, and spent months looking at listings and applying. We also kept an eye on breed-specific rescue groups. In the end, we were able to help a great rescue organization (which also happened to be a registered 403b), and find our perfect pup. Truth be told, many of the puppies in rescue originated from puppy mills...but they may end up in a foster home where they will receive some socialization...a nice bonus. Furthermore, I'm not necessarily opposed to breeders. I just think that there are SO many puppies and adult dogs out there, waiting to be rescued and adopted...too many are euthanized while more are bred (ethically and unethically). It just doesn't make sense! My only caveat is if you are looking at specific breed with certain health issues (like Cavalier King Charles Spaniels), in which case knowing the pedigree and health of past generations is critical.

3) Study, study, study...and then Improvise - We read a stack of books on everything from Puppy 101 guidelines to Dog Health. It definitely made us feel more comfy with the process and helped us get prepared. But honestly, every dog is different, and many of the things that worked with Griffin were tricks we created, after nothing from the books worked. Oh and remember, everyone will have an opinion for you about training...just figure out what works best for your pup and stick to it (or join a puppy class, which we did)!

4) Socialization - This is the buzzword among NYC dog owners, since we all live on top of each other and each other's pets. As soon as you receive the go-ahead from your vet (we did about a week after his second round of shots), take your pup out into the world! Have him meet anybody and everybody (if you have a puppy, you will be stopped constantly anyway)...kids, elderly, men, women, big dogs, small dogs, etc. It will go a long way to helping your dog become well-balanced, polite, and loved by all. Griffin is fast becoming the neighborhood favorite, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

5) Poop - Especially if you get a puppy, you will examine each poop like a detective. When Griffin poops, we throw a potty party on the sidewalk, then get to our detective work. Is he still eating carpet fluffs? Is there any blood (he has a sensitive GI, and gets irritated frequently)? How big is it (ie: will he have to go again in an hour)? Oh and just so you know, puppies get diarrhea. A lot. Deal.

6) Take pictures and video. All. The. Time. - I barely remember that I could practically fit Griffin in my hand when we picked him up. Thankfully, we look through our albums and videos constantly to remind ourselves. They grow up fast. Document it!