A dog's dramatic reaction to his owner's attempts to trim his nails has captivated TikTok users

• A TikToker posted multiple videos of her attempts to trim her dog's nails.
• He barks, shrieks, and flails about when she even touches his paws.

A dog named Arthur has won the hearts of millions of TikTok users thanks to his dramatic reaction to an attempted manicure.

Throughout July, TikToker @jibberjabberwockey has posted videos of her attempts to trim Arthur's nails.

As she shared on her TikTok, animal control brought 9-year-old Arthur — who is a Shih Tzu and Westie mix — to a shelter in Chicago, Illinois, on November 6, 2022, after he was found on the streets. He appeared to not have been cared for in some time, as the TikToker said he needed parts of his ears and the end of his tail amputated due to severe matting.

The TikToker adopted Arthur in December 2022, and he has been living happily with his new family ever since, according to her page. @jibberjabberwockey did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

But there is one thing Arthur hates: having his nails trimmed.

On July 11, @jibberjabberwockey shared a video of Arthur sitting in a grooming sling, suspended in the air. He also had an inflatable dog cone around his neck.

In the video, which has over 10 million views as of Thursday, Arthur's mom attempts to cut just one of his front toenails, but the small dog shrieks, growls, and cringes when she approaches him with the nail clipper or even holds his paw, even though he had been given anti-anxiety medication.

"He would not let me near him," she says in the video. His dislike of getting his nails cut didn't appear to be a surprise to Arthur's owner, as she posted a video of him growling when she touched his feet in February.

The TikToker has posted multiple follow-up videos since, documenting her journey as she attempts to trim just one of Arthur's nails a day. She's been gentle with Arthur in all of her posts, sometimes just holding his paw to help him be comfortable.

In one video, she stops attempting to trim the hair on his paw pads because Arthur is flailing around and barking.

But she was persistent, sharing a video from the same day where she was able to clip a nail on one of his front paws.

A vet told Insider it's important to desensitize your anxious dog to nail trimming

Dr. Stacy Choczynski Johnson, a veterinarian who goes by Dr. Stacy online, told Insider it's not uncommon for dogs to have anxiety about getting their nails clipped and it can be painful for them if the nails are cut too short.

If your dog becomes anxious or aggressive when getting their nails trimmed, Dr. Stacy says to "go slow and provide lots of treats" to make them more comfortable.

"We call that systematic desensitization, but really what it is is introducing components of the procedure coupled with something delicious or something calming and then fully acclimating them to the procedure," she said.

For instance, she keeps her nail trimmers near her treat jar, so her animals associate them with a positive experience. She also recommends petting your dog while playing the sound of the nail grinder, and you can also provide them with a lick mat full of a treat they like while you trim their nails to distract them.

You can also make the experience more positive for your dog by using a bigger trimmer that is sharp, as a dull edge will squeeze the dog's nail before it's cut, Dr. Stacy said.

She told Insider that if your dog is showing signs of extreme distress, such as urinating, defecating, or biting at you when you cut their nails, it may be time to take them to a professional groomer or your veterinarian.

"In general, pets are more comfortable at home, so if you're able to get the job done at home, that's excellent," she added.

And the absolute best time to cut your dog's nails is if they're ever under general anesthesia at the vet, according to Dr. Stacy.

"Any time your pet's undergoing an anesthetic procedure, please ask for them to have their toenails trimmed because that's how you can get them the shortest and they don't even know what's happening," she said.