My dog hates nail trims. What can I use to sedate him safely?

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!

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!

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.

Hi Patricia! I'm sorry to hear about your situation - it's kind of you to try and help this dog, and I understand having financial constraints. Unfortunately, it sounds like you really are going to need a vet to help you with this. There are no over-the-counter medications you can give that will be safe and effective for sedating her for something like this - in most cases, injectable sedation is required and the dog must be monitored carefully while she is sedated in case of problems. If the nail has grown into the paw pad, she will also need antibiotics and pain medication for this. You may be able to find a low-cost SPCA clinic that could help, or you could try calling local vet clinics in your area to see if they take payments. Another option would be to apply for Care Credit, which is a payment plan accepted by most veterinarians: www.carecredit.com.

The price will depend on the type of sedation used and also varies from area to area and vet to vet. I do not understand why your veterinarian is not giving you a quote. I suggest you call a few vets in your area to find out. You could also take your dog to a veterinarian for the nail clip, but make sure that they know that he is difficult. There are a lot of very good techs that are good at dealing with difficult dogs and with a muzzle (and possibly some sedation before bringing him in, in exceprional cases) they may be able to do this.

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.

You can take Jake into your vet's office to have his nails cut, and the vet can safely give him a sedative in order to have the procedure done. Melatonin and Benadryl will not "knock him out," nor will it the sedative properties to ensure you can get his nails cut without issue. Speak to your vet about having him sedated at their office so he can safely have his nails cut.