How to Trim Your Pets Nails
Trimming your pet's nails regularly will keep them healthy. Nails that are too long can turn and grow into the skin. You can trim a dog's nails every one to two weeks and a cat's nails once a month. If you are not sure when to trim its nails, hearing the nails while your pet walks on a tile or hardwood floor is a good indication that it is time for them to be clipped.
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Instructions
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Make your pet comfortable by allowing it to sit on your lap or having someone else hold the pet. Pick up the paw gently and handle it in a casual manner to assure the pet that you are not going to harm it.
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Grasp the pet's paw in your hand and apply gentle pressure on the pad; this will allow the nails to protrude slightly and give you the chance to trim them more easily.
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Begin clipping the nail a little bit at a time where the nail starts to curl under, avoiding the quick. If your pet's nails are light-colored, the quick will appear pink. If its nails are dark-colored, trim a very small amount at a time until you see a pink dot where you just cut and stop trimming.
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Apply slight pressure to your pet's nail if you accidentally clipped the quick and it begins to bleed. Dip the nail in styptic powder and wait until the bleeding stops.
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Tips & Warnings
If your pet is not accustomed to having its nails trimmed, introduce the idea gradually by handling its paws regularly before attempting to trim them.
References
- Photo Credit Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Getty Images
