How to Trim Dog Nails With Confidence
Why Pet Parents Need to Trim Their Dog's Nails
There are risks to letting your dog's nails go untrimmed. First and foremost, it's very painful for your pup. Long nails that grow out will curl and cause great discomfort by digging into your dog's paw. Overgrown nails are also much more susceptible to tearing and splitting, which is not only agonizing for your dog but results in quite a bloody mess as the exposed blood vessel will make your space look like a crime scene.How Often Should You Trim Dog Nails?
If your dog is the sedentary type, Dr. Karen Gellman DVM PhD recommends trimming every 16 days or so. If your dog is relatively active and their nails file down naturally, keep an eye on their dewclaw on the side of their paw (the dog equivalent of a thumb) as the nail of this particular appendage does not typically touch the ground. Every dog is different, so a solid rule of thumb for determining when to trim dog nails is by listening. If you can hear your dog's nails clicking on hard surfaces when they walk, it's time for a trim.Pawdicure Time: Best Practices for Trimming Dog Nails
- Dog nail scissors or a nail grinder
- Styptic powder like Kwik Stop (if you don't have styptic powder, cornstarch will do)
- Plenty of treats for encouragement
- Grasp the Paw: Grasp your dog's paw gently yet firmly, and use your fingers to separate each toe as you clip. Come at the nail with the clippers from underneath, not above like you might do for trimming human nails. Never put the whole length of the nail in the opening.
- Identify the Quick: Place the end of the nail through the opening and take extra care not to slide it in over the quick of the nail. If your dog has light nails you can see the quick is the pinkish part before it turns white at the tip. Dark nails conceal the quick, so if your dog has black nails start by making very tiny cuts until you reach the pulp. The pulp comes right before the quick and is identified by a small dark spot in the center.
- Make the Cut: Trim nails with caution. Cut the end of the nail below the quick at a 45 degree angle, taking off small amounts at a time. Stop when you reach the pulp. Reward your dog with a treat after clipping each nail to make the experience more gratifying for them.
- Give Treats: Reward Fido with more treats for getting through nail clipping! You did it! The snacking reward will put them at ease and over time they will associate the nail clipping process with getting tasty food.
I Cut the Quick! What Do I Do?
If you accidentally cut your dog's quick, don't panic! Yes, it can be scary because of how rapidly the bleeding starts, but rest assured, everything will be alright. If the nail got cut too short you can stop the bleeding quickly and easily with styptic powder or cornstarch. A cut quick is extremely painful for dogs. When shopping for a styptic powder look for one that includes benzocaine for pain relief and keep it in your dog's first aid kit. To use styptic powder, dip your dog's injured nail into the powder or apply a generous amount with a moistened cotton pad. To stop bleeding hold it there while applying gentle pressure for five to 10 seconds. I f the bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes consult your veterinarian as soon as possible.Trimming Dog Nails: The Bottom Line
Category_Dog Knowledge
Lifestyle
