other hand, are a biomechanical fix for a biomechanical issue. ToeGrips are safe to take with supplements and medications; they are not intended to be a substitute for them. Never discontinue taking any medication without first talking to your vet.
Can my young dog or puppy wear ToeGrips? Due to their active lifestyles and innate stability, young puppies do not require or benefit from toe grips. ToeGrips, however, might in some circumstances be beneficial for younger dogs, such as following recovery from surgery.
How can I choose the proper ToeGrips size for my dog? For accurate sizing, your dog’s nails must be measured. To ensure that you choose the right size, it is advised that you trim your dog’s nails before measuring and/or putting ToeGrips. ToeGrips that are the right size for your dog’s nails should fit snugly and rest in the GripZone. The ToeGrips on your dog are probably too big if they fall off within the first few days or ride up the nail.
How do my dog’s toenails adhere to ToeGrips? They merely adhere through friction, which means that the laws of physics magically cause them to remain in place. Typically, no adhesive is used. This is why the grips must fit snugly, since they only attach by mechanical interference.
Can I apply ToeGrips with super glue? Dogs with proprioceptive deficits will likely pull off ToeGrips; however, ToeGrips may be beneficial for neurologic patients because they provide proprioceptive stimulus. ToeGrips may be affixed to the nails with super glue if necessary.
- The ToeGrips are likely placed correctly if your dog is no longer stumbling on your floors.
- For traction to occur, toeGrips must make contact with the ground.
- The GripZone is where each ToeGrip must lay.
- The ToeGrip won’t establish the GripZone if it is positioned wrongly.
- The nail bed, which is where the nail meets the skin, should never be in contact with a ToeGrip since doing so could be harmful.
- The ToeGrip may not be able to create the GripZone, contact the floor, and provide traction if your dog’s toenails are too long.
- If your dog’s paws are very hairy, this should be taken care of since it may hinder the effectiveness of the ToeGrips.
Should I coat all of my dog’s toenails with ToeGrips? Although we advise using ToeGrips on all 16 of a dog’s weight-bearing nails, certain dogs, such as those recovering from cruciate ligament repair, can flourish with only the eight rear nails covered in the product.
Is it advisable to trim my dog’s nails before using ToeGrips? This is the best situation. Dr. Buzby is a fervent supporter of at least monthly nail clipping for dogs. The effectiveness of the ToeGrips to produce the GripZone may be hampered if the nails are too long.
My dog doesn’t like having its feet handled. Is it possible for me to use ToeGrips? If you can overcome your dog’s resistance and use his or her feet, you should be okay. In all likelihood, you won’t be able to apply ToeGrips on your own if you can’t handle your dog’s paws. We suggest the following if you are aware that training your dog will be challenging:
- begin with an exhausted dog. After a lengthy walk or game, apply the grips.
- Engage a capable helper to assist you in distracting and controlling your dog.
- Prepare yourself for the work.
- Approach the task with a confident, composed demeanor.
Work within your dog’s comfort level, but remember that it’s frequently better to lay a dog down on his or her side to work on the nails. The assistance would then detain, divert, and assist in stabilizing each leg as you worked on that paw on the dog. We won’t be able to measure for or apply Dr. Buzby’s ToeGrips if you are unable or unwilling to work with your dog’s paws.
Can my dog’s nails be too short for ToeGrips to function? Although unlikely, it is feasible. ToeGrips may still be effective even if your dog’s nails do not touch the ground when standing because they often interact with the ground differently during strides than they do at rest. However, the ToeGrips on those short nails cannot give traction if your dog’s feet are not making contact with the ground when they are walking. Short nails, however, are best for a healthy posture and gait. Don’t change a thing! Even when clipped as short as possible, the majority of dogs’ nails may be protected using ToeGrips.
My dog’s rear nails appear to be too long for the ToeGrips. Do I need to trim them? Dr. Buzby’s ToeGrips’ adherence to the dictum “Above everything, do no damage” is our first goal. Dr. Buzby’s ToeGrips have undergone meticulous selection and testing in all of its components. The wall thickness was selected to cause the toenail’s natural interface with the ground as little disruption as possible. Additionally, the ToeGrip lengths were created to avoid the nail bed, where the nail meets the skin, while being long enough to stay in place on the nail. The lengths are suitable for the majority of dogs as a result. It’s highly unlikely that you’d need to change the length. You might feel that a ToeGrip is too lengthy for the nail if your dog has very short nails, especially the hind nails. In that scenario, your dog’s nails are probably too short for ToeGrips. Remember that the ToeGrips cannot generate traction if they are not in contact with the ground.
How can I take the ToeGrips off? The method of removal is quick and simple. Simply pull downward while stabilizing the toe with the other hand while making contact with the grip with a fingernail or fingertip. The hold will just dislodge.
Why must I check my dog’s toenails for ToeGrips? ToeGrips should only be used on animals under under supervision, just like any other product. Check the grips out visually each day to make sure they’re in place and in good shape. This process ought to be quick. Make sure each ToeGrip is positioned in the GripZone, which is directly behind the base of the nail tip. Positioning changes may need to be made periodically. Rarely, ToeGrips can migrate into the nail bed, annoy a nearby toe, and even injure a toe if they are not taken care of. Check your dog’s ToeGrips every day for success and safety.
Does it need to be taken off before my dog bathes, swims, or utilizes an underwater treadmill? Water has no effect on ToeGrips. We do advise taking off and washing the grips as soon as your dog returns from the beach. Sand may get between the grip and the nail, which would be abrasive, and salt water could cause the grips to fade.
Do I need to frequently remove and reapply the ToeGrips? The natural, biodegradable material used to make toe grips will eventually wear out. You can thoroughly examine your dog’s toenails, clean the grips, replace any that are severely worn, and reapply any that are less than 20% worn by taking the ToeGrips off. They will have been rotated (like car tires) when you reapply the worn ToeGrips that are still in good shape, which will increase their lifespan.
Can I apply ToeGrips with soap, olive oil, or Vaseline? No. Use should be avoided since soaps, olive oil, and vaseline can react with the ToeGrip substance. Although we advise using isopropyl alcohol, you can also use water or a lubricant with a water base.
When using ToeGrips, do you suggest trimming the hair under my dog’s paw? Yes, removing any long hair that is near your dog’s pads or toes is necessary for ToeGrips to work properly. The hair will function like a slipper and prevent the ToeGrip from giving grip if the ToeGrips make touch with it before they make contact with the floor. To avoid inadvertently cutting your dog, it might be safest to have a groomer handle this task for you.
- Does the dog move too much for ToeGrips to stay on? ToeGrips were created to prevent slippage in older, disabled, and rehabilitative dogs. They are not meant for dogs that are active.
- Does the dog have impaired proprioception? The ToeGrips will be torn off by dogs who drag their paws. Super glue can be used to attach ToeGrips to the nails; otherwise, the dragging motion will easily pop them off.
- The dog—is it a tripod? Three-legged dogs place unnatural stresses on their legs and paws when they adjust their posture and stride. ToeGrips typically don’t adhere to tripods as well, but a quick fix is super glue.
- Does the dog have ToeGrips that are the right size? Success requires measurement. ToeGrips won’t stay on if they are sized incorrectly—either too big or too small.
- Have you correctly applied ToeGrips? According to this GripZone diagram, the toenail tip must stick out through the grip.
- Did you apply too much lubricant? In our previous packaging, a water-soluble lubricant was included to make it easier to slide the ToeGrips onto the nails. Lubricant use is still permissible, but if too much is applied, the ToeGrips become difficult to handle and are more prone to come off.
- The lubricant that we currently recommend utilizing is isopropyl/rubbing alcohol. The alcohol immediately evaporates and does not make the ToeGrips slippery to handle. ToeGrips also stay in place for a longer period of time and more reliably because the dried alcohol leaves no residue.
- Is the dog shedding ToeGrips in the backyard or on rugs or carpet? If a dog is active on hard surfaces like sisal rugs, plush carpets, or turf, ToeGrips can be ripped off.
The ToeGrips are mostly kept on by my dog, but she periodically loses one. Is this standard? Yes, a dog will occasionally drop a ToeGrip here or there. That is typical. For your convenience, we include four extra grips and enough ToeGrips for four paws (16 toenails).
When I first put the ToeGrips on, they fit comfortably, but now they keep coming off. How can I solve the issue and why did this happen? If they start to peel off after a few hours to a few days of application, they are probably the wrong size. However, if they initially adhered properly but are now coming off, you have a different problem. The grips and the nails may become clogged with dirt or sand, which could weaken the grips’ grasp on the nail. Reapply all of the ToeGrips after cleaning the grips and your dog’s nails.
My dog’s paw had one ToeGrip come off, but he or she still appears to be grasping just fine. Should I replace it? We’ve noticed that dogs may retain an appropriate grip with as little as 2-3 grips per paw, but for the greatest results, we advise having ToeGrips on all 4 weight-bearing toes.
What can I do to extend the life of my ToeGrips? Weekly cleaning and reapplication requires the removal of ToeGrips. The grips will wear in a more equal pattern and last considerably longer, up to three to four months, by being removed and reapplied, similar to rotating the tires on your automobile.
How should I wash the ToeGrips? ToeGrips can be cleaned using cotton swabs and either water or rubbing alcohol. Any kind of detergent should not be used.
The ToeGrips on my dog are damaged and worn out. Can I keep using them? No, a ToeGrip loses integrity after it has more than 20% of its length worn through. It can therefore extend and slide on the nail as a result. Additionally, it is no longer giving your dog the traction he requires.
Do my dog’s toenails still need to be trimmed? ToeGrips are not a replacement for proper nail care, that much is true. One of the most crucial things you can do for your dog is to take care of their nails, despite the fact that this is one of the neglected aspects of maintaining their preventative health.
- Wild dogs have extremely short nails. They continually move over unlevel ground while running, climbing, and digging. The majority of our domesticated dogs’ lives are spent on our flat, smooth floors, as well as on our couches and beds. As a result, their nails lengthen considerably.
- When a dog’s nails are overly long, they make unusual angles with the ground and apply aberrant stresses on the toes. The dog’s proprioception—its perception of its position in space—is impacted by this. This dog’s stance/posture will deteriorate, and its gait/stride will also suffer.
- The ToeGrips may not be able to create the GripZone, make contact with the floor, and provide traction if your dog is wearing them but has abnormally long toenails.
Proper nail care will significantly enhance your dog’s posture and movement and, to some extent, even improve slippage.
Is it possible to use the ToeGrips to cut my dog’s nails? It wouldn’t be something we’d advise. There may occasionally be a hook at the bottom of the nail after clipping the nail through the grip, which inhibits the toe grip from resting in the grip zone. Additionally, it is much harder to drag the ToeGrips into the GripZone once the nail is trimmed than it is to put them into place while applying.
How frequently should I cut my dog’s nails? Depending on how they grow and wear, dogs’ nails should be cut every 3-6 weeks. Nail trimming can be replaced by dremeling, which can be done more regularly.
How do I trim the nails on my dog? We advise giving your dog a bath with dog shampoo and water if their feet are covered in mud, sand, or other debris. However, washing down adequately clean nails with a moist towel should be sufficient for a quick polish.
Should I be concerned about allergies to latex? Proteins that trigger latex responses are reduced in the substance we use in production. However, if you are allergic to natural rubber latex, we advise staying away from the product. We warn you on our packaging: “Natural rubber latex, which is present in Dr. Buzby’s ToeGrips and may cause allergic reactions in certain persons. There have been no reports of latex allergies in our canine friends.
What does your package say on it? “Keep away from children’s reach? We want owners to be informed that a ToeGrip could pose a choking hazard if it is dropped or pops off their dog’s nail and they have young children around.
Do ToeGrips come in additional hues? not right now. We wish to emphasize that ToeGrips are a therapeutic tool, not a piece of clothing. We purposefully don’t sell ToeGrips in neutral colors because we believe that owners should carefully watch how this item affects their dog’s toes. That is made simpler and more difficult to overlook by our hues.
Can fungus develop underneath the ToeGrip? Dog nail tips do not frequently develop bacterial, fungal, or yeast infections, in contrast to nail beds. As a precaution, we advise that the ToeGrips be frequently taken off, cleaned, and the nails examined.
On snow or ice, are ToeGrips safe to use? ToeGrips have not yet been put to the test on snow or ice. However, we have heard from users who claim that ToeGrips work well in snow and ice.
Can my cat wear ToeGrips? ToeGrips are not appropriate for feline paws due to the anatomy and shape of feline claws.
Do cats and other small animals that use ToeGrips face any risks? One 2 kg cat that had consumed at least six ToeGrips the size of a Labrador was reported to have developed an obstruction as a result of the ToeGrips. Despite the rarity of this occurrence, we advise keeping the ToeGrips out of cats’ and other animals’ reach.
