Mortaine’s Blog

I trimmed Hammer nails today. They were long– he broke one off last Friday, and I think it got a little infected until I could soak it on Sunday (yes, diluted Betadine is good!) Anyway, I trimmed the nails, hit the quick on about three of them, including one that I really gouged good– ouch!

My standard first aid for bleeding nails is a quick application of corn starch until the bleeding stops. I should really get what the vet uses, but corn starch is $1.50 a box, and lasts for years and works almost as quickly.

So, I pack the nail with corn starch, then let him go. He lies down in my room and proceeds to lick the corn starch off his nails.

Which is fine on the two that were just nicked. But the one that was pretty bad was still bleeding a little.

So…. back to the kitchen to retrieve the little dish of bloody cornstarch (I usually just put some in a cup and dip his foot in it as needed). Yes, I am smart enough not to wash the plate until after it’s clear he’s not going to start bleeding again, thankyouverymuch.

I swear, this dog is trying to frame me. Whenever he cuts his tail, he splatters blood all over the walls so it looks like an axe murder has just occured. And when I clip his nails, I have to leave bloody plates of corn starch around like a prop from some nasty bloody-nose cocaine-cartel action thriller movie.

Oh, yeah. And he’s still more popular than me!