We have a cat who has regular nails at the top of his toes on his front
paws, and then a second set of nails going in the opposing direction on the
bottom of his toes (curling up from the pad). The bottom set is dark brown
and has no discernable point to indicate where they should be cut. The top
nails are regular.
Has anyone ever seen this before? Do you know how to cut nails like this? I
would hate to have to take him to the vet every time he needs a trim, but
his nails are getting really long on the bottom and it's apparent they need
to be trimmed.
Thanks in advance,
Marjorie
Mary - 12 Aug 2004 17:18 GMT
>Has anyone ever seen this before? Do you know how to cut nails like this?
Can you post a photo? I'd just cut them like the top nails. Just don't cut into
the quick. With dark nails get near a bright light, put the nail up to the
light and you can see the quick. I have to trim skunk nails and they're black
so I have to do it with a lot of light. You might also want to talk to the vet
about possibly removing those nails if they make him uncomfortable. Are they
attached to another digit? Poor guy. Thanks for taking care of him.
Cathy Friedmann - 12 Aug 2004 19:55 GMT
> We have a cat who has regular nails at the top of his toes on his front
> paws, and then a second set of nails going in the opposing direction on the
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Marjorie
I haven't heard of this, & am trying to picture it. When I first read the
subject line I was thinking "polydactyl", but that doesn't seem to be the
case, from your explanation. What does the vet say?
Cathy
-L. : - 13 Aug 2004 08:47 GMT
> We have a cat who has regular nails at the top of his toes on his front
> paws, and then a second set of nails going in the opposing direction on the
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Marjorie
Sometimes cats have brown growths (a rounded, horny, wart-like growth
- a modified keratin growth) that stick out from the bottom of the
pads; it is possible these are not claws? If they are these growths
they can be snipped off easily. If they are claws, just snip the tips
just less than a third of the way up. I'd love to see a pic, too.
Usually these growths only occur on some toes and not all of them. It
seems to me if they were true claws, the cat wouldn't be able to walk.
-L.