One of the most important aspects of dog care is keeping your pup’s nails trimmed so that they don’t grow too long and lead to injuries, broken nails, and long recovery times. In order to do this effectively and safely, it’s best to take your dog to a professional groomer who knows how to trim your dog’s nails the right way, but if you want to try it yourself or regularly trim your dog’s nails at home, here are some tips on how to do it.
Why Should You Trim Your Dog’s Nails?
There are a few reasons for regularly trimming your dog’s nails. It keeps their feet healthy, avoids injuries to yourself or other people, and helps you bond with your pup. But before we get into why, let’s look at what you need to do in order to safely trim your dog’s nails.
How Do You Trim A Dog’s Nails?
To trim a dog’s nails, use clippers designed for dogs. You’ll also need a non-slip surface and treats as rewards. Start trimming just above where your dog’s quick begins, at your dog’s dewclaw, if she has one. If not, clip from there to an inch from her nail tip. Avoid cutting into dark patches on your dog’s nails or you could cut into his quick.
What Tools Do You Need?
All you need to trim your dog’s nails is a nail clipper and a towel or two. I recommend having more than one nail clipper on hand, as most dogs won’t stay still long enough for you to use just one.
Taking Care Of Your Dog When It Hurts
Dogs nails should be regularly trimmed. When you don’t trim your dog’s nails and it hurts when cutting them, it is extremely important to take your dog to a veterinarian immediately as it can cause damage to his paws.
Where Can You Go If You Don’t Want To Do It Yourself?
If you don’t want to trim your dog’s nails yourself, you can always pay a professional dog groomer or veterinarian to do it for you. It may be cheaper in some instances than going to a human doctor. However, you need to make sure that your vet knows how to properly handle dogs and isn’t using an inappropriate tool. It’s also not advised that you take your dog to a pet store or other commercial grooming facility unless it is specifically designed for dogs and offers nail trimming services.
When Are Your Dog’s Nails At Their Longest And Shortest?
There is a lot to consider when it comes to trimming your dog’s nails. It’s important to know what their normal nail length is, as well as knowing when they are ready for a trim. Most dogs’ nails are fairly long right after they wake up from a nap and shortly before they go back to sleep at night. This makes them easier to clip, but you’ll have less leverage on their legs while holding them down if they’re wiggling around.
How Can You Tell If Your Dog’s Nails Are Too Long?
Before you trim your dog’s nails, you should be able to answer yes to any one of these questions: · Is his/her nail bed red? · Is there a dark part or discoloration under your dog’s nails? · Do they click on hard surfaces when he/she walks? · Are they curling over and into your dog’s paws? · Does it hurt when you touch them? All of these are signs that your dog’s nails are too long. If your dog has been scratching at their feet excessively, chances are that their nails need to be trimmed. Dogs do not like having their feet touched or handled in general, so make sure that if you have never trimmed their nails before that you get help from someone who has experience doing so. You can also consult with a professional groomer for tips and tricks for trimming their nails.
