Nail trimming is a very important task, it helps in keeping your Goldendoodle’s paws healthy. Long nails interfere with the dog’s gait, and can make walking uncomfortable and/or painful. They can also break quite easily. This usually happens at the base of the nail, where blood vessels and nerves are located and results in a trip to the vet’s.
If your dog’s nails make a clicking sound on the floor, that means that they are too long. Dogs which are exercised on hard surfaces such as pavements (sidewalks) naturally wear down their nails more quickly than dogs which are exercised on soft surfaces such as grass.
You can ask your groomer to trim your Goldendoodle’s nails. If you do it yourself, you will need a specially designed clipper. Most have safety guards to prevent you from cutting the nails too short. You want to trim only the ends, before the ‘quick,’ which is a blood vessel inside the nail.
You can see where the quick ends on a white nail, but not on a dark nail. Clip only the hook-like part of the nail that turns down. Its fair to say that many dogs dislike having their nails trimmed.
You can make it a painless procedure by getting him used to having his paws handled in puppyhood. Start trimming gently, one nail at a time, and your Goldendoodle will learn to trust you. If you accidentally cut the quick, stop the bleeding with some styptic powder.
Another option is to file your Goldendoodle’s nails with a nail grinder tool. Some dogs may have tough nails which are hard to trim and this may be less stressful for your dog, with less chance of pain or bleeding.
It may take a little while for your Goldendoodle to get used to the sound of the grinder, so start with very short sessions. If you find it hard or even impossible to trim your dog’s nails, take him to a groomer.
Eyes – If your dog’s eye or eyes have a discharge, if they get a little sticky, or if he has dried deposits in the corner of his eyes, clean them gently with damp cotton wool. Do not use anything else unless instructed to do so by your vet. If the problem persists, consult with your vet.
Anal Glands — The two anal glands, or anal sacs, are located on each side of your dog’s anus between the external and internal sphincter muscles. These glands secrete a liquid that is used for marking territory and identification by other dogs, so when you see your dog sticking his nose into another dog’s rear end, remember that it’s his way of introducing himself!
The glands can spontaneously empty, especially during stress and if this happens, you will notice a very sudden and unpleasant change in the odor of your dog. The anal glands usually empty when your dog poops. However, they might not empty if, for example, your dog’s stools are too soft and in such cases this may cause discomfort.
Expressing (emptying) the anal glands is normally done as a routine part of a trip to your groomer. You should specify that you’d like your groomer to do this. If your groomer isn’t comfortable expressing them, ask your vet to check them on your next routine visit.
If you notice your Goldendoodle dragging himself along on his rear end or licking or scratching his anus, he may have impacted anal glands, or he may have worms or allergies. Either way, he needs some attention!
