How to Clip a Dog's Nails

Clipping a dog's nails is necessary to maintain proper paw placement when walking. Nails that grow too long can cause discomfort. Clipping a dog's nails is painless unless you accidentally cut the quick. Sometimes, you may have to restrain the dog when you are clipping its nails.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Restrain the Dog

1. Place the dog on a table laying on his stomach.
2. Lean over the dog from the side away from the paw you will be trimming the nails.
3. Lay one arm over the dog's abdomen and one arm on her neck.

Clip the Dog's Nails

4. Grasp the dog's paw with one hand. The bottom of the dog's paw should be facing down, slightly tilted at an angle.
5. Look for the quick in the dog's nail. This can be found by looking for a pink area in the nail. This is where the dog's blood supply and nerves are located.
6. Clip the nail about 1/8 inch below the quick. The cutting blade of the nail trimmer should be facing you to avoid cutting too close to the quick. Remember to clip the dew claws if the dog still has them.
7. File the edge of the nail to remove rough spots.
8. Repeat these steps for each of the dog's nails.

Tips & Warnings

• If you cut too close to the quick and it starts to bleed, use corn starch or a styptic pencil to stop the bleeding. To use corn starch, dip the dogs nail in a shallow dish of corn starch. To use a styptic pencil, follow the directions provided in the package.
• Contact your veterinarian if you cut the quick and it doesn't stop bleeding in 5 minutes.