How to Easily Trim Your Dog's Nails

If your dog's nails are clinking against your floors or are getting snagged on fabrics, furniture, or carpets, then it's time for a quick nail trim. Trimming your dog's nails at home is a great way to save time and money, too!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A reliable styptic powder, such as Kwik-Stop
• Sharp, quality pet nail cutters that are appropriate for your dog's nail size and thickness.
• A small file or dremel tool to file down any jagged edges after trimming a dog nails

1. First you need to know when to start. Naturally, dogs do not enjoy getting their nails done. Because of this, it is always best to start at a young age. Hold their paws one at a time in your hands and apply a light pressure, meanwhile praising him in a soothing voice. Make sure to reward your dog for allowing this behavior. Gradually he or she will become used to this behavior, allowing you to trim the claws more easily.

2. Next you need to know about the quick. The quick contains blood and nerve vessels. In dogs with light colored nails, the quick can often been seen as being faintly pinkish in color and is thus easy to avoid cutting into. In the more common black nailed variety, the quick is totally invisible. With the darker nails it is best to trim a little at a time rather than removing large chunks.

3. Hold your pet's paw in your hand, comfortably holding the nail to be trimmed separate from the rest of the paw.

4. Position the tool in the right place, wait for an opportune moment when your dog stops wriggling, double check that the clipper is in the right place and squeeze firmly and smoothly - the nail will just pop off.

5. Keep checking the clipped part of your dog's nail and look out for a dark spot in the middle of the newly clipped area - this shows the start of the quick - do not cut too far into this. Taking just tiny nibbles, you will then start to see a pale third inner circle. Stop there - or else you are likely to hurt your dog.

6. Don't forget your dog's dew claws. These nails grow above the paw, on the inside of the dog's leg, and do not come in contact with friction, which makes it especially important to trim. Left to grow, they can snag on carpets or curl into the pet's flesh and cause an infection. If allowed to curl into your pet's leg the only way to remove them safely is surgery.

7. After all nails are trimmed you can smooth the rough edges of the new cut with a file or dremel tool. It's completely up to you, and of course, your dog. Another option is to let your dog wear down the edges on his or her own with his or her own natural activity.

Tips & Warnings

• If necessary, have someone else your pet is familiar and comfortable with to help hold your pet's body while you are trimming.
• Keep an eye on how fast your dog's nails grow with a weekly check. It's also a good idea to inspect your pets paw pad for thorns, broken glass, etc on these checks.
• When wondering when and how to cut your dog's nails, little and often is the best policy. Just nibbling off the ends of each claw will be less stressful for your dog - and yourself! The point to aim for is to trim off any bit that protrudes over your dog's pad. Thus, when he stands, your dog's claws should not touch the ground.
• The good thing is, very much like our own nails, the more you trim your dog's nails, the more the quick will recede. Therefore, clipping dog nails doesn't have to be done all at once - take your time.
• Carefully read the instructions for the nail clipping tool of your choice. For example, with the guillotine-styled clippers, you need to cut from the underneath of your dog's claw upwards. Never clip downwards.
• Clipping into the quick will cause your dog to yelp in pain. This is when to apply the styptic power, which will not hurt your pet. Just dab it on the nail and hold for a minute until the bleeding stops. Please, let me reassure you that it is not half as dramatic as it looks. Keep calm, deal with the situation and give your dog a big cuddle and his favorite treat when it is all over.
• NEVER use the stone attachment with the dremel tool, only the sandpaper attachment.
• If your dog becomes very upset during this process do not attempt to continue with the trimming. Instead, talk to your vet or a professional groomer for some advice catered to your pet.

[francisfour]

on 8/17/2009 Thanks for your article. I needed help with this and can't always afford to take my Ben to the paw salon.

[mvalora]

on 8/16/2009 Good article. Thanks.

[soanyway]

on 8/16/2009 Great tips! My dog's toes are clacking so I guess it's time! Welcome to eHow. I have recomn'd you. Pay it forward to all! ;-)