your dog’s nails

How to cut a dog’s nails is one of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to grooming dogs.

Knowing how to trim a dog’s nails is very important and if you are wondering how to trim a dog’s nails, you need look no further. As usual, we did all the research for you and present a step-by-step guide to this delicate procedure.

Knowing not only how, but also when to cut a dog’s nails is very important. Your dog’s nails are constantly growing and how often they need to be trimmed will depend on your dog’s lifestyle. If your dog walks a lot on hard surfaces, it is very possible that he will need little or no additional help in keeping his nails short, as his nails will naturally wear down from friction.

However, if, like our dogs, your dog is mainly kept on grass, sea sand and forest paths, trimming the dog’s nails becomes an essential part of grooming and it is important that you know how to trim. dog’s nails

Not knowing how to trim a dog’s nails and failing to trim dog’s nails will lead to crippling pain in your dog’s paws and could lead to permanent damage and malformations.

If clipping dog nails isn’t really your strong suit, take your dog to the vet or groomer. They know how to clip a dog’s nails, and it’s amazing how much less a prima donna will be her dog with strangers!

When to start

Dogs are often reluctant to have their nails trimmed, so it’s a good idea to start the process at a very young age.

Initially, get your dog used to you by simply holding and petting his paws. Then progress by applying light pressure to their paws and nails, lightly pinching their nails between your forefinger and thumb. Reward them for allowing this.

Then, after a lesson from your vets on how to trim a dog’s nails, lightly trim a couple of nails a day. Only trim the ends, this reduces the chances of cutting too deep and scaring your dog.

Talk to your dog in a soft voice all the time and reward him with his favorite treat and a romp right after. Gradually you will get used to this unpleasant procedure and learn to at least put up with it.

Tools you will need

When wondering how to trim a dog’s nails, there are a variety of nail clippers and trimmers on the market. The guillotine type is my favorite tool for clipping dog nails, although a strong claw cutter may be required for larger breeds and basset hounds – they have insanely large claws!

Sometimes you may want to use a small file or dremel tool to file down the jagged edges after trimming a dog’s nails, but frankly, my dogs can’t wait to get away from me, so I’m happy to let them finish off. any roughness in the normal course of your daily walks.

It’s also a good idea to have a styptic pencil handy in case you get snagged in your dog’s quick, but more on that later.

Anatomy of a dog’s nail

Knowing how to trim a dog’s nails is easier when you know the anatomy of a dog’s nail.

A dog’s nail is built with a hard outer shell, which protects the soft inner part that contains blood vessels and tender nerve endings. In dogs with light-colored nails, you can often see that the sharp one has a slightly pinkish color and therefore it is easy to avoid cutting it.

In the most common black nail variety, the quick is totally invisible. Therefore, knowing exactly how to cut a dog’s nails in this case is a must. In these cases, it is more advisable to cut small bites instead of large slices.

Keep checking the trimmed portion of your dog’s nail and look for a dark spot in the middle of the newly trimmed area; this shows the beginning of the fast nail; don’t cut too much into this. Taking only small bites, you will begin to see a third pale inner circle. Stop there, or else you are likely to injure your dog.

Also, don’t forget your dog’s dew claws. By growing on the inside of their paws and not in contact with the ground, they don’t wear down and sometimes curl up completely, causing your dog to snag on brush, your bedding, etc. This can be very painful, so keep them well trimmed as well.

The best way to cut dog nails

The best way to trim a dog’s nails is to have the dog lie down on a raised table or other surface. Remember to put a non-slip mat for your dog to sit or stand on so they don’t slip and get hurt. Having someone strong hold your dog in his arms while you quickly trim a couple of his nails is another effective way to do this.

However, your dog can be as good as gold and let you clip his claws without a problem, in which case you are a very lucky person!

Carefully read the instructions for the nail clipper of your choice. For example, with the guillotine, you want to cut from the bottom of your dog’s claw up. Never trim down.

Put the tool in the right place, wait for the right moment when your dog stops squirming, double check that the clipper is in the right place, and squeeze firmly and gently; the nail will simply pop off.

When wondering when and how to trim your dog’s nails, little and often is the best policy. Simply nibbling on the ends of each claw will be less stressful for your dog – and for you! The point to look for is to trim off any protruding parts of your dog’s pad. Therefore, when you stand up, your dog’s claws should not touch the ground.

The good news is that, just like our own nails, the more you trim your dog’s nails, the faster he will back off. So trimming dogs’ nails doesn’t have to be done all at once, take your time.

oops! You’ve cut through the fast!

No matter how experienced you are in knowing how to trim a dog’s nails, accidents will happen.

Trimming the quick will make your dog howl in pain. I hate when that happens. And, just like if you cut yourself fast, there will be a fair amount of bleeding. As much as you try not to let this happen, it will at some point, so you better learn to deal with it.

Please let me assure you that it is not half as dramatic as it seems. Stay calm, face the situation, and give your dog a big hug and his favorite treat when it’s all over.

If learning how to trim a dog’s nails is too much for you, take your dog to a groomer (some will even come to your home) to have his nails trimmed. It doesn’t cost much and at least your dog won’t hold it against you if you accidentally cut his nails too deep!

If bleeding occurs, you have three options:

Let the bleeding stop normally, but this could continue for about 5-7 minutes (call the vet if it continues longer) and get caught in your rugs as your dog tries to get away from you. Also, your dog will try to lick his bleeding nail, which could cause the bleeding to continue longer.

You can hold a piece of tissue paper or a dab of cornmeal firmly against the source of the bleeding, if your dog stays long enough! – Prayed

You can keep a styptic pen or stick on hand as part of your dog’s grooming kit, which when applied to your dog’s nail will stop the bleeding instantly. It doesn’t hurt your dog, which is a plus. You can get this from your vet or a good pet store.

General Foot Checks
While knowing how to trim a dog’s nails is important, it’s just as important to check your dog’s paws regularly.

Check their pads for thorns or broken glass. Our dogs love to splash around in the sea and I always make sure they wash their paws when they get home, as dogs’ skin is quite sensitive to salt water.

I always check on them when they return from their walks in the woods, watching for any signs of lameness. Our dog, Holly in particular, who has long hair, tends to take half the walk through the woods back home and I have occasionally found prickly bits buried deep in her coat.

In winter, I pay special attention to our dogs’ paws because of the salt grit that is produced and also because they may have stepped on something they couldn’t see under the snow.

In conclusion

It is very important to keep your dog’s nails trimmed and his feet in good condition. Walking with nails that are too long is painful, can lead to broken nails, nail bed infection, and a large amount of bleeding, and can also lead to ingrown toenails that break on your dog’s paw pads.

Just a little regular preventative action on your part can make life a lot easier for your dog. Knowing how to trim a dog’s nails and a little extra care and attention will go a long way in keeping your dog active and healthy for a long, long time.