--
Shari Heino, UT Law, class of '98 * And the Totally Wild Kingdom:
sh...@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu * Dogs: Wylie, Sebastian, Atta, & Ricochet
http://ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~shari * Parrots: Scooter, Pooki, & Kiko; Cat: Gus
D. Adams
dmacaw @aol.com
: D. Adams
: dmacaw @aol.com
It all depends on who is doing the work here. The first vet we wnent to
almost killed our budgie with his damn dremel! He nicked the bird's toes
in about 4 spots and nearly cut off one toe completely! And he couldn't
get the bleeding to stop! My wife finally called her girlfriend who
recommended we take him to her vet and he finally got the bleeding under
control. The toe was "saved" but stayed swollen and unusable.
--
Right at the start of this thread I posted the comment that if the
perches a bird has are of the correct diameter, then no nail clipping
should be needed, since the perch is keeping the tips of the nail worn.
None of my 7 pet budgies and 7 pet cockatiels (these are the house pets,
not my aviary pets) ever need a nail trim. I use eucalypt branches as
perches thick enough to ensure the tips of the nail share in holding on.
If any of the birds start to develop sharp or long nails, then a fresh
perch will fix the problem in a few days.
cheers, Mike Owen, Queensland, Australia.
Glad to see someone else has found the same result of using natural
perches, wihich keep the claws short and keep the birds entertained. We
put fresh Eucalypt and Acacia branches into our home and shop aviaries at
every opportunity. Eucalyptus oil has a reputation to rival the old
snake oil for curing all bird ills, and feather plucking is not a
problem.
cheers, Mike Owen, Queensland, Australia
>The guy who wrote about using a Dremmel power tool got flamed for it (from what
>I could tell), but what's so bad about using a Dremel power tool? I've used
>one with all my animals without a complaint. Is there something I'm missing?
>-Shari
The best damn vet in the Phoenix area uses a dremel tool regularly for
may things. Nothing's wrong with it as long as you know what you're
doing.
>Right at the start of this thread I posted the comment that if the
>perches a bird has are of the correct diameter, then no nail clipping
>should be needed, since the perch is keeping the tips of the nail worn.
>None of my 7 pet budgies and 7 pet cockatiels (these are the house pets,
>not my aviary pets) ever need a nail trim. I use eucalypt branches as
>perches thick enough to ensure the tips of the nail share in holding on.
>If any of the birds start to develop sharp or long nails, then a fresh
>perch will fix the problem in a few days.
I do not believe this is 100% true. BTW:Eucalyptus is a smooth, hard
wood.
>Another thing I noticed (and maybe you can corroborate): after such an
>eucalyptus fest, the 'tiel would sit looking contented and mellow. I always
>wondered if this was because he was happy after having much fun destroying
>something, or if it had to do with him ingesting eucalyptus oils that may have
>a soothing/calming/sedating effect. I know the plant is used by people for
>its astringent, antiseptic, expectorant and bug-repelling qualities. I just
>love the stuff :)
>
Cathy, Sounds familiar - I'm sure its because they have had a great time
chewing, AND, the eucalypt oil makes them feel good.
If the eucalyptus was okay with 'tiels would it also be okay with budgies?
Thanks,
Jen
>The best damn vet in the Phoenix area uses a dremel tool regularly for
>may things. Nothing's wrong with it as long as you know what you're
>doing.
Dennis, I may be the cause of this thread. In another thread someone
made the comment that they used a Dremel for their birds nails. I
simply made the comment:
I wouldn't recommend that a novice use power tools to trim
their birds nails.
Or something similar.
I still believe the above statement to be valid.
I also added the following comments:
It is too easy to cause harm to your bird.
It is very difficult to sterilize properly.
I believe these points are also valid.
The fact that the "best damn vet in the Phoenix area" uses a
Dremel does not imply that everyone should use one.
I think you hit the nail on the head when you said:
"Nothing's wrong with it when you know what what you're doing."
So what's wrong with the Dremel tool anyway?
Nothing, it's just a tool! The problem is in it's use or misuse.
John
--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Kesling - jkes...@eng.utoledo.edu or jkes...@shell.portal.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA8ZGO - via AX.25 packet radio WA8...@W8HHF.OH.USA
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cheers, Mike Owen, Queensland,, Australia
>The guy who wrote about using a Dremmel power tool got flamed for it (from what
>I could tell), but what's so bad about using a Dremel power tool? I've used
>one with all my animals without a complaint. Is there something I'm missing?
>-Shari
Try trimming your toe nails with one and then ask that question.
Len
Le...@earthlink.net
L.Zie...@genie.geis.com
Len...@AOL.com
>For the sake of the argument, if we are talking about a human with long nails,
>the sensation will be similar to what a bird feels: there will be noise, and
>there will be vibration. If you are talking about using a dremmel tool close
>to the person's finger or bed of the nail, I'll agree that it's bound to be
>painful. However, that is not how bird toenails are set up.
That's true. If your bird has dark nails it virtually impossible
to see the quick and know where to stop. It's much easier on humans.
> - it can't be sterilized between birds
> This is a concern if a 3rd party's dremmel is being used
>(e.g., a vet's or a professional groomer) but if one's doing it at home it
>should be a minimal concern.
>
I think the concern should be more than "minimal". Even if
you only have one bird and only use the Dremel for that birds nails I'd
still be concerned. The stones used in the Dremel are porous, I would
expect they would provide an ideal place for bacteria to breed.
Add to that some of the things that may be on your birds nails, feces,
partly decomposed soft food, maybe a little blood from the last time
the quick was hit. I'd be very concerned with sterilization.
> - it cauterizes the capillary should the quick of the nail be reached
>[and this can happen, in particular with birds with VERY overgrown nails it
>may be a necessity in order to bring the nail to a safe, comfortable length.]
Are you sure about that? What temperature does it take to cauterize?
If you are using the Dremel properly you shouldn't be generating enough
heat to cauterize. Not to mention that if you do hit the quick the blood
released would reduce the friction and the temperature even more.
> - if done well, it can speed up the process and produce a very good
>result (smooth nails... not what I usually get, say, by using a toenail
>clipper). Speed can be very good because a restrained bird is usually
>struggling and probably getting more overheated by the second.
If the birds nails are long it will take longer to grind the excess length
with a Dremel than it would to snip it with the proper clipper. The
results probably would be smoother with the Dremel however.
>Then get an assistant to help you as needed. If you don't feel
>comfortable doing a certain procedure, have someone else do it, pay up and
>be pleased with yourself. Groom the animal as needed (as opposed to delaying
>it or blowing it off). Use common sense.
Good advice!
The Dremel is just a tool. Used properly it can be a plus, even when used
on birds nails. But if used improperly, on birds nails, it can be a source
of discomfort and disease.
Cheers, Mike Owen, Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
to see where Mooloolaba is try:-
http://peg.pegasus.oz.au/~futurecom/map.htm
> In article <41ut7c$k...@dingo.cc.uq.oz.au>,
> Mike Owen <mo...@peg.apc.org.au> wrote:
>> After seeing all this talk about Dremel tools, ad nauseum for a couple
>> of weeks, can someone enlighten me about just what a Dremel tool is
>> please?
> A dremmel is nothing but a motorized drill-like tool with attachable
> bits.
> down the surface in question. I think Dremmel is a brand name, btw.
Hmmm how can I describe a Dremel tool.... Dremel is indeed a
brand name, pronounced DREM-mul, and it's a very-high rpm bit
rotator (I'd hesitate to call it a drill) shaped and held like a
huge pencil. Dremel tools produce both very-high rpm rates and
enough torque to seriously wound a human, let alone a birdie
foot. Dremel tools are unwieldy and anyone using a Dremel tool
should be qualified to do so, and should wear appropriate eye
protection, etc.. I bet anyone within ten feet or so could get a
pretty good stab wound from flying broken-bit pieces. In my
opinion there are safer things to use to trim nails and beaks.
> drill that dentists use is nothing but a glorified dremmel.
I haven't been to the dentist in years (I'll omit the childhood
terror stories) but the drill my dentist had had the motor hidden
somewhere and the bits were turned by a really long belt drive.
> The dremmels I have
Dremel is a brand name, like Jeep, Kleenex, Rollerblade, and
Skil. :) I don't exactly remember what Dremel calls their
pencil-like tool, but Moto-Tool sticks in my mind for some
reason. (Moto-Tool would still not be a generic name.)
There are similar less-dangerous bit rotators that could probably
be candidates for nail/beak trims. The Black & Decker cordless
screwdriver comes to mind (low rpm). I like what our vet uses --
good old nail clippers and manual filing. She does have a Dremel
tool but I've never seen her use it on anything except cutting a
disc for Sidney's collar (which Sidney isn't wearing right now,
YAY!).
Anyone really interested in seeing a Dremel tool should be able
to visit their local hardware/tool shop. They're handy to have
around for non-nail-and-beak-trimming uses. :)
--
Kevin Chu, an OS/2 user. kev...@wimsey.ca
Store in a cool dry place. This note is not legal tender.
Recyclable where facilities exist. For best results use alkaline
batteries. Do not eat. Best before 08/28/96.
How would you feel about a $5 rotory nail file for humans?
Thanks,
JIm