Has anyone tried this product?

[Patty, Linus and Co.]

I saw an ad for Peticure, a cordless, quiet rotary tool/sander for nail trimming. I think I'm going to order one. It sounds like a great device for our birds. You can watch a video about it at www.peticure.com. Whatcha think?

Larry, did I break any rules here??

[Chrissy and Flock]

That looks pretty neat, if I couldn't use it on the birds I do have four dogs that don't like to get their nails clipped. I may have to check into that further. :)

[birdscomefirst]

NO, NO, NO, No and NO!! It is designed for dogs and not birds.

Number one, it is a rotating sanding wheel, kinda like a dremel tool in a bottle. It counts on the toe of a dog only allowing so much nail into the device. The rotating wheel if used on a bird would draw the toe right into the wheel and actually grab the toe and the revolving motion of the sanding wheel would pull the entire toe inside the device, the toe would be caught inside there up against a rotating sanding wheel. The outcome would be terrible.

Next, even when vets use these types of sanding wheels, it makes me cringe. I've seen vets use them and actually cause smoke to be visible. Rotating sanding wheels create incredible friction. Friction creates heat, heat hurts the extremely sensitive nerve in the claw. It is painful and traumatic to a bird.

For the same reason trimming a beak with some sort of sanding wheel is an even worse proposition. Now, I know this gyzmo wouldn't be used on a beak, but I'm on the subject. The beak of a bird is intensely sensitive. There is a nerve and a blood supply that can be effected by a sanding wheel and the heat that is generated.

If a beak or nails need to be trimmed (and in reality, they shouldn't) a proper hand clipper should be used by a trained professional followed by a light sanding with a V shaped file suitable for avian use. Sanding wheels are a poor shortcut that even trained vets will take. It's a bad shortcut.

Perches should provide enough wear that nails shouldn't need trimming, still they sometimes need it.

Unless there is a medical reason such as a malocclusion issue (the upper and lower mandibles don't line up exactly right and the upper and lower beak doesn't meet right), there is never a need to trim a beak.

Those that trim a beak because it is sharp don't get the point:-) The beak is supposed to be sharp, that's how a bird cracks into foods or tears up wood for play.

Many people think that beak trimming is a routine thing to do every so often. It's not.


Back to the original question on this item for sale: The whole concept is a mistake where birds are concerned.

Honestly, unless you have a saint of a dog or cat, it wont work on them either. Remember, they trained that dog to sit there and have his nails done. The odds are you would have a real tough time positioning that thing to use it so that you didn't hurt your dog or get hurt yourself.

Thanks,
Bill

[Chrissy and Flock]

All of that makes so much sense, what kind of perch do you recommend to help keep the nails trimmed?

[Jeanie]

So glad to se the post about the dremel type nail thing...I was wondering about it for our dogs but as you said Bill, I don't know (and doubt) I could get them still and properly positioned etc...glad you brought it up Chrissy:hihihi:

[Chrissy and Flock]

After really thinking about it I doubt I could get my dogs to sit there and let me trim their nails.... I will just continue to let the groomer or the vet do it depending on which dogs it is.

[birdscomefirst]

The best perches are made of extremely hard wood. Manzanita is one and madrona is another that we see a fair amount of here in the west.

Also, it is almost impossible for birds to chew apart.

[Chrissy and Flock]

Manzanitas last forever (at least for the little birds) I have them for the tiel and conure and they were the first perches I bought and I have had both those birds for almost nine years. Ones thick enough for the umbies are hard to come by in this area, if the pet stores do get them in they sell them just as fast. I keep trying though.:D good excuse to tour the four pet stores around here.

[Patty, Linus and Co.]

Bill, The main thing that you mentioned that alarmed me was the heat issue. I don't know why that didn't occur to me. I have a dremel and was shocked how hot a coconut shell got once from the dremel I was using to cut it open for Linus. Thank you so much. I'm glad I asked and very glad I have you to count on for a straight-up answer.

[FoxersArtist]

THANK YOU Bill for such a profound post. I was horrified reading your thoughts about a toe getting sucking into that device - what a horrible risk for a bird.

Sadly, we have to take Peggy Sue to get a professional trim about once a month because her beak is so mis alligned (she has a scissor bill). The person we take her to does use a dremel and has been teaching me all about beak trimming. One of the first things she brought up was how hot the tool can get while trimming and how it can easily burn a bird. She uses a technique (that looks similar to sketching with pastel on paper) where she moves quickly and frequently pulls the dremel away from the beak so that there is less exposure to heat. It breaks my heart to watch Peggy go through this and I KNOW it hurts her, but her issues cannot be resolved with filing and clipping as the most mal formed area is on the roof of her mouth where a file is very difficult to use. I sure wish there was a more comfortable way as it breaks my heart to watch her go through this so often. Some of our other birds go in periodically to have scales removed, but Bill is right in saying that a bird who uses it's beak to climb and play usually doesn't need any trimming. What a good point about the tip of the beak needing to stay sharp! I'm so glad to see you participating in posts more, Bill! It's great to have you around. :)
-Anna


NO, NO, NO, No and NO!! It is designed for dogs and not birds.

Number one, it is a rotating sanding wheel, kinda like a dremel tool in a bottle. It counts on the toe of a dog only allowing so much nail into the device. The rotating wheel if used on a bird would draw the toe right into the wheel and actually grab the toe and the revolving motion of the sanding wheel would pull the entire toe inside the device, the toe would be caught inside there up against a rotating sanding wheel. The outcome would be terrible.

Next, even when vets use these types of sanding wheels, it makes me cringe. I've seen vets use them and actually cause smoke to be visible. Rotating sanding wheels create incredible friction. Friction creates heat, heat hurts the extremely sensitive nerve in the claw. It is painful and traumatic to a bird.

For the same reason trimming a beak with some sort of sanding wheel is an even worse proposition. Now, I know this gyzmo wouldn't be used on a beak, but I'm on the subject. The beak of a bird is intensely sensitive. There is a nerve and a blood supply that can be effected by a sanding wheel and the heat that is generated.

If a beak or nails need to be trimmed (and in reality, they shouldn't) a proper hand clipper should be used by a trained professional followed by a light sanding with a V shaped file suitable for avian use. Sanding wheels are a poor shortcut that even trained vets will take. It's a bad shortcut.

Perches should provide enough wear that nails shouldn't need trimming, still they sometimes need it.

Unless there is a medical reason such as a malocclusion issue (the upper and lower mandibles don't line up exactly right and the upper and lower beak doesn't meet right), there is never a need to trim a beak.

Those that trim a beak because it is sharp don't get the point:-) The beak is supposed to be sharp, that's how a bird cracks into foods or tears up wood for play.

Many people think that beak trimming is a routine thing to do every so often. It's not.


Back to the original question on this item for sale: The whole concept is a mistake where birds are concerned.

Honestly, unless you have a saint of a dog or cat, it wont work on them either. Remember, they trained that dog to sit there and have his nails done. The odds are you would have a real tough time positioning that thing to use it so that you didn't hurt your dog or get hurt yourself.

Thanks,
Bill

[birdscomefirst]

Anna,
I understand your situation. When there is a need for beak trimming as there definitely is in your situation, the person doing the trimming has to fully understand the anatomy of the beak and understand the mechanics of the tool used to do the trimming.

It seems as though you found a person that knows the best way to do it and that is fantastic.

Your description of how it is done for Peggy Sue sounds like there would be the least amount of discomfort involved in the procedure.

Thanks for sharing that with us.

Bill