7.24.2011

July 23, 2011


White Dog came to me early this morning and wanted to discuss Nuka. "Please," I begged,"don't start the morning by complaining about your sister, yes she can be pushy..." WD interrupted me, "Momma, Another White Dog feels left out because Puff got to go to the groomer. She feels like an ugly duckling!"

Nuka Angel came to us with a skin condition. She has more than two dozen papillomas all over her body; these are not harmful or dangerous and the only way to remove them is to burn them as a surgical procedure. Pre-arrival at the White Dog Army she had been shaved to remove her matting and in the process someone had ripped open all those growths leaving our new girl bloodied and in pain. We vowed never to allow that again. At her age and with the number of growths surgery is not practical so at Dr. Julia's advice, we have left them and just monitor to make sure there are not changes to shape or color or size. It DOES however make it virtually impossible to clip her or take her to a groomer.

AWD has learned with Steve's gentle persistence to sit for a massaging bath and brushing with a very soft bristled baby brush. She allows us to finger comb out her mats. We can now clean her ears without her getting upset and as a result she has had only one ear infection (for which she was notorious) since arriving here.

One thing we have not been brave enough to try is clipping her nails...until now. AWD had gotten to the point the the nails were overlong and we worried would start to impede her walking but we feared traumatizing our skittish girl. Another blogger recently did a review of Pedi-Paws a dremel-type clipper with lots of safety features. We got one and tried it on Puff a while ago; SAWD is our most cooperative one and she did well.

After White Dog came to me, Steve and I decided that Nuka would get star attention based on a nice pedicure. I gathered her in my arms. The rest of the White Dog Army arrayed themselves to encourage and watch. Nuka loved being the center of attention!
Steve did the actual grinding (deaf AWD didn't hear the noise) slowly and softly handling AWD's paw and massaging her foot to relax her. I held her and rubbed her belly. There was no complaining and all went smoothly. After, we rubbed in some musher's balm for soothing relief and wrapped her feet in a cool towel for a few minute; the WDA watched in fascination.

The payoff was when I set her back on the floor. she took a few steps and stopped to examine the work. The others swarmed around to sniff and compliment and make her feel good. She was like a girl with new shoes, walking all around and prancing up to YoYoMa, then Puff, and finally Quinn to show off her pedicure. It was only AFTER the round of approval that she returned for the treat I had promised at the beginning of the event.

12 comments:

Brian's Home Blog said...

That is such a great story and I got goosebumps with the thrill of a successful manicure! Bravo sweet one.

rottrover said...

OK. goosebumps here, too. A gal needs a pawdicure in the summer. duh...

Love the support the WDA provided :-)

Rottie Kisses!

Kari in Alaska said...

Woo! Glad to hear the nail maintenance went well

Kari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com

Angels Amber and Max DaWeenie and Mom said...

So good to hear another success story. :o)

Thank You for the good news.

TimberLove said...

Somehow we are always deeply touched by your posts, we are honored to know you WDA!! Play bows,

RA

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Awww, we are so happy that Nuka was happy. We don't like to have our nails clipped but it is a necessity. Mom had a little white cockapoo who had lots of those lumpy bumps too and every time she was groomed mom had to remind them about being careful. WD is so caring for her pack.

Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

Teddy Bear said...

Way to go, Nuka. Those are the best ways to trim our pawnails, aren't they. You look beautiful!!!

Love,
Teddy Bear & Sierra

Random Felines said...

Wow - we are very impressed. We get trims here but mom doesn't think we would sit still for any humming thing like that. What a good girl!!

Remington said...

Great post! Well done!

Hansel said...

oh man that's great!!!! So glad it worked for you! we have heard nothing but bad reviews from people- but i think that's more because of noise and the animals were afraid before the sanding begins! We wish we could do that with isis and ben. Ben has to be muzzled for mom to do his nails (which he's actually do for and she's been putting it off) and Isis well, SHOULD be muzzled but they can't bring themselves to do it. But her nails are so long she really needs them cut too. But she HATES it. And BITEEEEES

Angel Ginger Jasper said...

Thats so lovely and another example of how the love you all have wins through. I can just picture the joy of that pedicure. Hugs GJ xx

Bailey Be Good! said...

OOOH! So glad you like the Pedi Paws!! I did a review of it a while back. That's the only way mommy trims Nala's toe nails. :)

<3

Woofs & hugs,

~Bailey (Yep, I'm a girl!)