How to Groom Dogs' Furry Paws
It is important to clean and trim your dog's paws regularly, to maintain your pet's good health and appearance. Long nails and matted fur in a dog's paws often result in painful ingrown nails and knots. Trips to the dog groomer can be expensive, however. With the appropriate tools, you can easily groom your dog's paws at home.
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Things You'll Need
- Dog nail trimmers
- Styptic powder or pads
- Small curved scissors
- Comb
- Nail file (optional)
Instructions
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Trimming Fur
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1
Prepare your dog for the grooming procedure, if it does not like having its paws touched. Handle your dog's paws several times a day, and give him a treat each time. This will help your dog form a positive association with having his paws groomed.
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2
Hold your dog's paw in your hand. Remove any debris from the fur between the nails, using a comb if necessary. Comb through any small tangles or knots in the fur. For larger knots, gently snip them out using small curved scissors.
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3
Trim the hair around the largest pad on the underside of the dog's paw. Keep the scissors parallel to the foot pad, to avoid injuring your dog.
Trimming Nails
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4
Ask another person to restrain your dog, particularly if you own a larger breed. Trimming your dog's nails while attempting to restrain it yourself can be difficult, and is more likely to result in injuries.
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5
Clip the tip of the dog's nail using canine nail trimmers. Avoid clipping the quick, which is a bundle of tissue and blood vessels at the base of the nail. In dogs with lighter nails, the quick will appear as a darker line at the base. The quick can be harder to see in dogs with black nails, so trim only the sharp tip of the nail at the thinnest point.
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6
Repeat this procedure on both paws. File your dog's nails to keep them even and smooth, if desired.
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Tips & Warnings
Some dogs are frightened by the sound of the nail clippers. Before trimming your dog's nails, clip matchsticks in half using the nail trimmers, and give your dog a treat every time it hears the snap.
Stay relaxed and confident when you are grooming your dog's paws. Your dog may become agitated if it senses you are frightened or uneasy.
Clip your dog's nails immediately after a bath, when the quick of the nail is more visible.
Clipping the quick can cause pain and bleeding. If you accidentally clip the quick, apply styptic pads or powder to stop the bleeding. Kitchen flour will work, if you do not have styptic materials on hand.
If your dog is limping, or you find cuts or abrasions on your dog's paws, consult your veterinarian. Do not attempt to groom injured paws.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
