Nervous Claw Chewing

[Khaiqha]

My irn has different reactions for fear. The first is to run away, usually when a big object is carried (ladder, yoga mat). The second is to be completely frozen (riding in the car late at night the first time). The third is to chew on her claws obssessively.

She does the chewing when she feels she can't get away. The first time I noticed it was being toweled by the vet. She also did it during the early parts of harness training. Once a new car was in view of the window, and she just chewed on her claws.

She doesn't damage her claws, and these cases are infrequent. The only thing that concerns me is how obsessive she is during these times. She'll ignore treats and won't care who touches her, as if she's in a trance. If the stimulus is taken away it'll take about a minute for her to calm down.

Should I be working to train her out of this? It seems like an acceptible habit. I mean, I'm working on getting her accepting of things she's scared of. She's harness trained, and is cool with stationary, ordinary looking cars.

[liz]

Rambo was doing too much preening on his feet. I put soothing cream on it but he still picked at them. I put Booster, a vitamin suppliment, on his feet so he would at least get the vitamins the doctor perscribed. Now he is preening Myrtles feet.