How To Trim Your Dog's Nails
Some lucky dogs (and even some breeds) seldom, if ever, need their nails trimmed. But if your dog spends most his time indoors and doesn’t go for regular walks, it’s easy for his toenails to get too long.
If you hear your dog’s nails click when he walks on a hard floor, it’s time for a trim!
Letting a dog’s nails become too long can be uncomfortable at best, and downright painful or harmful at worst. I’ve seen some poor dogs with nails so long they curl, causing the toes to twist against the floor.
But most dogs are just in need of a good ol' fashioned nail trim.
No worries... long nails of any size, shape, and color can be gotten back into shape with a little patience and some good dog nail clippers.
There are a few things you can do to make your dog's nail clipping day a pleasant and even enjoyable experience for both of you.
Make It Fun
First on the list is getting your pet used to you handling his feet. The sooner you start, the better.
Many dogs have very sensitive feet and toes, so this is an important step. If you’ve just adopted a puppy, now is the perfect time! Plus, it's so much easier because a puppy's nails are so small and soft.
Try to make nail trimming part of your fun playtime together. Stroke his feet, hold each paw in your hand for a few moments, gently but firmly. Lots of ooohs and ahhhs, kisses and treats, a little belly rubbing for good measure, and he should soon get the idea and will know you aren’t going to hurt him. And hey, this really is kinda fun!
Here's a great video showing how you can get your dog used to the process of nail clipping.
When A Dog Doesn't Like It
Despite your best efforts, some dogs don’t like getting their nails clipped. One of mine couldn’t care less, and her sister is just the opposite.
While some people prefer to keep the dog standing, what works best for me is when the dog is relaxed and lying down. It works even better if our problem child is snuggled up next to hubby on the bed. He keeps an arm over her, sweet talks, and sings doggy songs. Plus, he can help steady a leg if need be, so I can concentrate on the nail clipping. Whichever way you choose, be careful not to twist a leg or foot into an unnatural angle.
Another thing that’s a great help if you’re uncomfortable with the idea of nail clipping is to have your vet or vet tech trim your dog's nails once or twice, and explain to you as they go along the best way to avoid clipping into the quick.
Choosing Nail Clippers
Good quality, sharp dog nail clippers are a must. There are many varieties on the market, but they fall into two basic categories: the guillotine type and scissors type.
While I’ve used both, I definitely prefer the scissors type. The biggest reason for me is, I feel I have more control, and you don’t have to slip the dog's nail into a round hole in order to clip it. If the dog tries to jerk his paw away, his nail can pull the guillotine type clippers right out of your hand, which isn’t a fun experience for either of you. But that’s just me -- you may find you like the guillotine type nail clippers better.
How Close Should You Clip?
If your dog has white toenails, you can easily see the quick, which shows up as a pink area starting at the base of the toe and out towards the tip of the nail. The quick is basically a blood supply, and if you clip into it, it’s painful to the animal and will bleed like crazy.
But as long as you’re careful to leave a little space between the quick and where you clip, you won’t have any problem. It’s no different than clipping human nails.
If your dog’s nails are black, you’ll have to be a little more careful, but it’s still no problem. What my vet told me was to clip just the tip off the nail to start, and look at the cut edge. If it looks flaky and dry, you can clip a little more. When it starts looking less dry, stop!
Also it’s not a bad idea to keep some styptic powder (or on hand just in case. My vet always did, even though she’d clipped hundreds of nails and I never once saw her clip a quick.
It’s really important to know that the quick will grow longer as the nail grows. Never try to clip an overly-long nail to a nice and short length all at once, or you might cut into the quick. Ouch! But if you clip your dog's nail tips regularly (every few days), then the quick will start to recede and it won’t be long until you have your dog's nails in perfect shape!
RELATED:
How To Trim A Dog's Toenails (photos)
Answers To Questions About Dog Nail Trimming
How To Dremel Your Dog's Nails
Nail Clipping Tips For Dog Groomers
How to Clip A Dog's Nails (video)
I agree wholeheartedly with something you said... the part about "trimming your dog's nails just a little at a time".
I actually do this for several days in a row, and for me, that is the key success when trimming my dog's nails.
Since my dog's got black nails, it's REALLY hard to tell when you're too close to the quick. So by snipping off a tiny bit one day... then re-trimming the nails again 2-3 days later... and then again 2-3 days later makes the process MUCH easier -- for both you and your dog!
Nice article. I must confess I always wuss out when it comes to clipping my dogs nails and just take him to Petco for a bath once a month where they shampoo him, wash the ears, and do the nails. I can always tell when he needs them done though because he clack clacks all over the laminate floors. ;)
Thanks for all the good tips! I've been having the groomer take care of clipping my pup's nails, but I'd really like to start doing it myself.