Another Nail Trim Try
The Benadryl didn’t work so the vet prescribed 2 mild sedatives to give to Arlo before our next nail trim attempt. I followed the instructions and gave him 2 of the one med and 1 of the other. I put them all in a teaspoon of peanut butter. I presented to finger full of peanut butter to him. Nope. He didn’t want to lick it off my finger. So, I rubbed it onto the kitchen floor. He smelled it and started licking. I watched as the brown spot on the floor disappeared. Lick, lick, lick. He finishes all the peanut butter and looks up at me. I notice a white cylinder still in the now clean spot. He didn’t eat one of the pills. I scoop out a little more peanut butter and cover the pill in it again. Same thing happens. There lays the pill. I scoop out yet another small amount of peanut butter, say a prayer that I won’t have to do the shove it down his throat that my Mom used to do to give our dogs growing up treats (Get him to look up. Pry his mouth open. Insert the pill way in the back of his mouth. Hold his head up and rub his neck to force a swallow.) I’m not sure he would even let me do that.
I held the peanut butter covered pill in my hand and presented it to him. He gave it a lick so I shoved the pill into his mouth. It worked! Ok, now the wait. I busy myself but check the clock often. I’m to wait between 1 and 2 hours before trying to trim his nails. At just over an hour I check on him. He’s laying in the hallway, very calm. I walk over close to him. He lifts his head but drowsily. I sit down beside him and do the test. I start petting his back. I then let my hand slip down his leg. He jumps up and runs into his kennel. Ok. Too soon I guess. I’ll give it another hour.
Another hour passes and he is now snoozing on his love seat in the living room. I sit down beside him and he instantly puts himself back into his kennel. I didn’t even touch him. Darn it! I wait another half an hour to try just one more time and no luck.
I get my phone and call Pet Supplies Plus. “Do you have a way to handle dogs that do not like having their paws touched?” At first she is dismissive, “Most dogs don’t like having their paws touched.” I explain my situation in detail - how it is impossible to even get near his paws even when he is sedated. She advises to schedule a nail trim appointment at a time when all 4 groomers are there. She suggests Friday at 4p because there are no other dogs scheduled at that time. I ask, “What if another dog does get scheduled at that time?” She advises that she put a note on his appointment advising not to schedule another dog in that slot. She goes on to tell me that they will strap him in a harness suspended from the ceiling, one groomer will hug him, one will trim the nails and the other 2 will assist. I’m imagining a fiasco. She said that if they are not able to trim his nails I won’t be charged for the visit.
So now, I have to hope that my gentle giant stays true to character and doesn’t try to bite anyone during this act to immobilize him. I was told that if this doesn’t work we may have to make a vet appointment and have him fully sedated for nail trims. NO!!!! I don’t want to do that! There are risks every time someone is anesthetized. He’s young now, but he won’t be forever and that risk increases with age.
Say a prayer all goes well this Friday.
