Cutting a Dog's Nails

Trim your pet's toenails from time to time.

Looks like your pup's nails have grown long enough that they can be heard clacking around the house. If a dog's nails become too long, they may become ingrown and cause potentially serious (and expensive!) medical trouble. Begin trimming your dog's nails early in its life to accustom it to the process and save yourself strife each time you two sit down with the nail clippers.

Things You'll Need

• Guillotine-style nail clippers (for the regular claws)
• Scissor-style nail clippers (for the dew claws)

Instructions

1. Purchase the proper tools. Guillotine-type nail clippers are inexpensive, and a new, sharp pair will make this process easier on you and your pet. While the guillotine-type is used on all the claws that touch the ground, the scissor-type clippers are used on the dew claw, which never touches the ground and therefore doesn't become worn down.

2. Probably your pet won't like getting its nails "done" and will need restraining. If you're trimming the right paw, stand on the opposite side of the table. Put your right arm over the dog and gently place your left forearm against the back of its neck to keep it in place. If it begins to get up, lean with your body against the dog's. Hold the paw facing upward with your left hand while trimming with the right.

3. Look at your pet's claws. If they're light-colored, you'll be able to see a pinkish mass near the pad, deep inside the nail. That's the quick, and is to be avoided. If you clip too far, your pet will experience pain and will bleed. If your pet's claws are black, make very small cuts up the nail to avoid clipping the quick.

   Hold the clippers perpendicular to the nail and so that the side with screws faces your pet and the blade faces you. Slide the nail into the circular hole in the clippers. Be careful! If your angle is too shallow, the nail will splinter and crush. The ideal distance between the blade and the quick is 2mm.

4. Squeeze the clippers. Do one paw and then switch sides of the table and do the other. It's rare that a dog's back claws need clipping, so focus on the front.

Tips & Warnings

• Talk to your dog to calm it while you cut its nails.

• Supply treats between paws to keep your pet happy and obliging.

• If you make a mistake and your pet bleeds, you can brush the wound with a styptic pencil to stem the flow of blood.

• Check with your veterinarian before endeavoring to clip your pet's nails by yourself.

• If you clip too close, your pet will bleed. The bleeding should last no more than five minutes. If it lasts longer and your pet is clearly in pain, call your vet.

References

• Washiongton State University: Clipping a Dog's Claws: 2011