My dog is terrified of nail trims. Can I use Benadryl or melatonin?

You can try using the Bendryl on Pele. Give it an hour to take effect. If this doesn't work (not all dogs get sedated on it), then contact Pele's vet who will have stronger meds that will work better. Many dogs HATE having their nails done so this method is commonly used. Best of luck with Pele!

Some pets are so fearful, that anesthetizing them is safer for everyone involved. However, finding a vet office that is Fear Free certified or has techs or doctors that are can really help. There are definitely drugs that can be given, such as Trazodone, that can help to reduce anxiety. There are proven nail trim desensitization programs that can be done to help fearful pets as well. Also, teaching your dog to accept a basket muzzle in a fear free way and getting him his own can really help to make the process easier and safer! Bringing really good snacks like canned cheese, peanut butter or hot dog pieces can also help. Benadryl does not reduce fear at all so definitely talk to your vet about options!

The only safe and effective sedatives for dogs are available from the vet. Unfortunately it's illegal for me to recommend using anything, including OTC drugs, because I can't see Duke in person. That's because doing so requires a veterinary client patient relationship which cannot be achieved via an internet forum. In addition, the experts cannot say for certain if a specific drug is safe for your dog. He's an older dog, and specific drugs may be contraindicated in him due to potential health problems such as heart disease. I'd make an appointment with his vet. The vet can give him a safe sedative and trim the nails for you. Best of luck, I hope this helps.

If you are having a lot of problems cutting Rio's nails, you can have them done at the vet's office. Alternatively, you can ask your vet if there are any sedatives that can be prescribed for him so you can cut his nails safely. Unfortunately there are no OTC sedatives for dogs. If he's getting very upset, leave him be for now, and make him an appointment at the vet. Best of luck!

One option may be to use an oral sedative from your veterinarian. Ask the vet about Acepromazine or Trazodone. Working on some positive association may also help. You may need both the association and a sedative. Begin by having a high value treat. Start toughing his feet and reward him as soon as you touch his toe nails. Do this for a few days. Once Sparks seems comfortable with this behavior, show him the clippers. Rewards him every time he looks at the clippers. Gradually move the clippers closer to him until they touch his nail. Give him treats frequently. Then cut one nail, reward him immediately and stop the trimming for that session. Work up to multiple nails. Be patient and don't stress him or get injured. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Zeus is gorgeous! Thanks for including a picture. The problem with strong dogs is that they quickly realize that they can overpower you. I have problems with this with my own pit bull. The best way that I have found to trim his nails is to use a Kong filled with peanut butter to keep him busy, then nonchalantly trim his nails. Certainly that won't work for Zeus right now if he is very anxious with nail trimming. There are a number of medications that we will try to use for nail trimming at home (or to decrease anxiety in the clinic). Trazadone works great for some dogs, but sometimes we have to adjust the dose. So, you could give the recommended dose 2-4 hours before trying a calm nail trimming with positive reinforcement. You may only be able to trim a few nails, but I would consider that a success for a nervous dog. Be patient with the process. If the Trazadone does not decrease his anxiety enough, then I would recommend talking to your vet about other options or the possibility of adjusting his Trazadone dosing. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I'm sorry that Belle is suffering from some anxiety. Unfortunately Benadryl can have the opposite effect on dogs; instead of sedation, it can make them more anxious. In addition, I cannot legally recommend giving her either drug without seeing her in person. Put her in a dark quiet room by herself to self-soothe. You can also turn on the TV or music to block out the sound. One important thing to do to when your dog acts scared is not to reassure her. We think we are comforting her when we do that, but it's actually reinforcing the behavior and telling her it's ok to be scared. Give her vet a call to see if you can get something prescribed to help with her anxiety. Best of luck.