Dog Nail Clipping Tips

For A Well Manicured Pup

Dog nail clipping is one of the most important grooming elements to participate in. This is because long nails on a dog can cause them to have trouble walking and can eventually lead to infection on their paws.

Overgrown nails are likely to splinter, crack and even grow back into the paw if left for long enough. Imagine if you were trying to walk around with this condition and then remember that your dog has to walk on all four paws at all times. This can be an extremely painful condition for dogs. If left for too long, the overgrown nails can turn into nails that begin to wind around and grow back into the paw. This will cause serious infections on top of the fact that it just is no fun for your pet to live this way.

How often: With this in mind it is essential when dog nail clipping to do so on a regular basis. Outdoor and active dogs that like to dig and run and play may not need their nails trimmed as often as companion dogs, since their nails will become naturally dulled. Active dogs may only need dog nail trimming every 2-3 months, but other dogs who do not spend a great deal of time outdoors will need their nails trimmed at least once a month.

Dogs have veins in their nails, often called the “quick.” If this is hit while trimming, it can cause bleeding. If you have a dog with black nails, it may be more difficult to determine where the vein in the nail starts and ends. With this in mind, it is best to only cut off a small tip of the nail and to trim more frequently to avoid bleeding.

Steps for Dog Nail Clipping: Of course you can take your dog to a grooming store or to the veterinarian to have their nails trimmed, but this will usually cost between $10-$15 and the time of taking them in. If you have a pet that absolutely will not sit still, then you may have to consider this option. Otherwise, cutting nails at home should only take a few minutes of time.

1. Before getting started, it is essential to go purchase dog nail trimmers. The nails are too rough to be trimmed with human nail clippers and this may potentially damage the dog’s nails.
2. Be prepared with a towel to lie on the ground to collect the clipping, a towel in case of bleeding, as well as baking powder or cornstarch to help stop the bleeding.
3. Choose a time when your dog is the most calm. This might be at night before they go to bed or right after they have had a walk and are tired and relaxed.
4. Place a small dog in your lap or in a position where they will be unable to move about. With a large dog, it is important to ask them to lie down and stay. If necessary, have someone else hold or pet the dog while you begin to work.
5. Firmly grasp their entire paw in your hand so that they cannot wiggle free. From here, look to see where the “quick” or the vein of the nail begins. If the nails are black, this is not possible. You will just cut off the tip in order to prevent bleeding.
6. When dog nail clipping you should always clip a dog’s nail from the bottom up, so should be holding the clippers with the movable part of the clipper is facing your fingers and the stationary part is in your palm.
7. Some dogs are prone to jerking their paw away, but as long as you do not hit a vein or draw blood, this is painless. Remember if you do hit blood, immediately coat with powder and apply pressure from a towel. If the bleeding does not stop within a few minutes, you should call your veterinarian.
8. Remember to clean up the clippings and to check for frayed nails. If necessary, retrim or even use a file to dull down a splintered nail. This is it for dog nail clipping until next time!

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