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Nail trimming is an essential part of dog grooming, and trim nails are one clear sign of your dog鈥檚 good health and hygiene. Professional groomers will perform the task for squeamish owners, but dog nail trimming is a simple procedure if done correctly.
Since nail trimming can be an anxiety-laden experience for many dogs, start handling your puppy鈥檚 feet and trimming their nails when they鈥檙e young, so they become accustomed to the process. Some dogs will sit in your lap or on a table while you clip their nails, while others may need some form of restraint.
Luckily, you can make the process more fun for your dog by letting them lick off a while you handle the nails.
Getting Your Dog Comfortable
In as little as one week, you can have one of those rare dogs who doesn鈥檛 mind nail trimming one bit. But, if it takes your pup a little longer to get used to it, don鈥檛 despair. Be patient, keep a gentle and positive attitude, and continue to offer praise and . Make sure to use safe, or grinders.
It helps if you frequently touch and hold your puppy鈥檚 paws (gently and cheerfully) right from the first day, so they won鈥檛 become sensitive to having their feet handled.
Day 1: Let your puppy sniff the nail clipper or grinder. Give a treat and praise.
Day 2: Touch the nail clipper or grinder lightly on each paw. Give a treat and praise.
Day 3: Touch the nail clipper to each paw and squeeze the clipper so the puppy hears the sound, or turn the grinder on and let the puppy feel the vibration. Don鈥檛 actually trim a nail. Give a treat and praise.
Day 4: Touch the nail clipper or grinder to your puppy鈥檚 feet again. Give a treat and praise.
Day 5: Try trimming off just the very tiniest tip from one front paw nail. Only do one nail. Offer lots of happy praise and a treat if your puppy lets you.聽 Even if they let you do more, just do one. Repeat every day until they let you do this and don鈥檛 seem to mind.
Day 6: Try trimming just the tip off of just two nails.
Day 7: Keep working your way up, trimming additional nails each day, until you鈥檝e got them all and your puppy doesn鈥檛 mind. Practice even when you don鈥檛 need to clip a nail. Even pretending you鈥檙e clipping and going through the motions helps your dog get used to the whole process.
Trimming Your Dog鈥檚 Nails
There are several types of dog nail trimmers, including , , and guillotine types. You can use whatever type you鈥檙e most comfortable with, or whatever works best for your dog. It鈥檚 a good idea to have some or other clotting powder on hand to stop bleeding in case you cut a nail too short.
鈥淚f you鈥檝e never clipped a dog鈥檚 nails before, you may want to have your veterinarian or vet tech give you a lesson on how to do it,鈥� suggests Dr. Jerry Klein, AKC鈥檚 chief veterinary officer.
Here are the steps to follow to properly trim your dog鈥檚 nails:
- Pick up a paw and firmly, but gently, place your thumb on the pad of a toe and your forefinger on the top of the toe on the skin above the nail. Make sure none of your dog鈥檚 fur is in the way.
- Push your thumb slightly up and backward on the pad, while pushing your forefinger forward. This extends the nail.
- Clip only the tip of the nail, straight across. Include the dewclaws, located on the inner side of the paw.
- Avoid clipping past the curve of the nail or you risk hitting what is called the quick聽(the pink area of the nail that contains the blood vessels). A nick there is painful and will bleed. For dogs with dark nails, watch for a chalky white ring.
How to Grind Your Dog鈥檚 Nails
If you鈥檙e using a dog-friendly nail grinder on your dog鈥檚 nails, it鈥檚 important to know how to safely use a dog-friendly nail grinder before using the tool on your dog鈥檚 nails. Here are a few tips to ensure you properly grind down your dog鈥檚 nails:
- Grind your dog鈥檚 nails using a safe tool designed for dogs
- Only grind a small part of your dog鈥檚 nail at a time. Support the dog鈥檚 toe firmly but gently.
- Grind across the bottom of the nail and then carefully in from the tip of the nail, smoothing rough edges.
- For better control, hold the grinder higher up, towards the top.
- Keep your dog comfortable and take note of any sensitivities
- If your dog has long hair, make sure to keep it back from the grinding tool so it doesn鈥檛 get caught.
Importance of Maintaining Your Dog鈥檚 Nails
Regular nail maintenance is more than cosmetic. Unhealthy nails can cause pain, and in rare instances, trigger irreversible damage to the dog.
A dog鈥檚 nail consists of the living pink quick and the hard outer material called the shell. The quick supplies blood to the nail and runs through the core of it. Nerves in the quick cause bleeding and discomfort when cut. Regular nail trimming will cause the quick to recede from the end. Short quicks are the preferred length for the dog鈥檚 well-being and easy maintenance.
Long nails can turn a sound paw into a splayed foot and reduce traction, and they can cause deformed feet and injure the tendons over an extended period. As the long nail hits the ground, the pressure puts force on the foot and leg structure. Some dogs wear their nails down and won鈥檛 need to have them clipped as often.
This article is intended solely as general guidance, and does not constitute health or other professional advice. Individual situations and applicable laws vary by jurisdiction, and you are encouraged to obtain appropriate advice from qualified professionals in the applicable jurisdictions. We make no representations or warranties concerning any course of action taken by any person following or otherwise using the information offered or provided in this article, including any such information associated with and provided in connection with third-party products, and we will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages that may result, including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.