How to Trim a Dog's Nails With a Rotary Trimmer

A relaxed dog is an easily groomed one.

Trimming your dog's nails is a necessary part of the grooming process. A dog with long nails has difficulty walking. It is especially important to keep a pet's nails trimmed short if the dog is older and infirm. Guillotine-type clippers are popular for groomers who know what they are doing, but can also increase the chance of injury if nails are trimmed incorrectly. A rotary-type trimmer is an alternative that can effectively trim your dog's nails in a short amount of time and with minimal stress or risk of injury.

Things You'll Need

• Fine grit sanding barrels

Instructions

1. Relax your dog by having him lie on the ground or sit quietly in front of you.

2. Select a barrel or drum sander fitting for the rotary tool, making sure it is secure and cannot come off when the tool is turned on. Use the finest grit sandpaper tip you have.

3. Support the dog's paw in your hand.

4. Introduce your dog to the tool without turning it on. Touch his nails with it. Let him smell the tool.

5. Turn on the rotary tool to a very low or slow setting, allowing him to get used to the sound. Anything too fast will cause too much friction and it will be too hot for the dog.

6. Apply the lightest pressure from the tool to the tip of the nail. Tap lightly at the tip and sides of the nail, or brush lightly back and forth, rounding off the edges as you go.

7. Grind very thin slices off the tip of the nail, and keep the rotary tool moving.

Tips & Warnings

• Introduce your dog to grooming activities at a young age.

• Introduce your dog to the rotary tool very slowly, taking your time. Get him used to both the sound and the vibration of the tool on the nail. You want this to be a pleasant experience for your dog.

• If this is your dog's first experience with the rotary tool, do only one or two paws one day, and then follow up on the next day with the others.

• Never use a fast speed or downward pressure on the tool. The tool will do its own work to sand down the nail. Applying pressure will make the tool hotter and the potential for injury will increase.

• Never file more than three to five seconds in any one spot.

• If your dog has long hair, take due caution to make sure the nail is free of hair and that you don't entangle the hair in the rotary tool.

• If you should accidentally cut or grind into the quick and cause bleeding, applying cornstarch or a product like "Quick Stop" will stop the bleeding.

References

• Dog-li-ness blog: The importance of trimming dogs' nails
• The Power Tool Geek: Trimming Dog Nails - The Power Tool Way

Resources

• The Big Dog Boutique: How to Dremel Dog Nails