When you hear the telltale "click-click-click" as your dog
walks across the tile floor, you know it's that time again - time to
trim the toenails. Trimming your dog's nails is not just a part of
grooming; it's important for your pet's health as well. You should
remember that untrimmed nails can cause a variety of problems including broken nails, which are painful and bleed profusely.
While
some dogs don't seem to mind when you're trimming their nails, others
just plain don't like it. If your dog is reasonably comfortable with nail trims, Wag Zone can easily take care of this task for you. We will cut and smooth his or her nails for you with our new dremel. This tool gently grinds the dogs nails to a soft, rounded finish while causing less stress than conventional clippers.
If you prefer to clip your dog's nails on your own, make trimming time fun and not a struggle. If
your pet is not used to having his nails trimmed, start slowly and work
up to it gradually. Following these suggestions for a proper nail trim
might help you give your dog a more pleasant pedicure.
Start young.
The earlier you start clipping your dog's claws, the
better used to it he will be. Frequent trims when your dog is young
will help diminish any fear. Have your veterinarian show you how to do it the first time.
Learn the anatomy.
Within the center of each toenail is the blood and
nerve supply for the nail called the quick. In clear white nails you
can see the quick, a pinkish area in the middle of the nail.
Unfortunately, the common black nails do not allow an easy view.
Cutting into the quick will result in pain
and bleeding. You cannot see the quick on dark colored nails, making
them more difficult to trim without cutting into the quick. Cut dark
colored nails in several small cuts to reduce the chance of cutting
into the quick.
Use the
proper instruments.
Be sure to use only nail trimmers that are
designed for dogs. There are a variety of nail trimmers available at pet stores or your veterinarian's office.
A Clip or An Overhaul?Before
you start clipping, determine how much needs to be trimmed. The basic
rule of thumb is that the nail, which curls downward, should be even
with the paw pad. Whatever hangs over must be clipped.
Procedure
Some dogs will happily sit in your lap or on a table while you trim
their nails but many require some form of restraint. You may want to
sit on the floor with your pet, hold your pet in your lap, or have
someone hold your pet on a table. If your dog has light colored nails,
eyeball the quick and aim a few millimeters away from it. If you cut
into the quick, referred to as "quicking," it will hurt your dog and
the nail will bleed.
Using a nail trimmer for pets, cut the nail below the quick on a
45-degree angle, with the cutting end of the nail clipper toward the
end of the nail. In dogs with dark nails, make several small nips with
the clippers instead of one larger one. Trim very thin slices off the
end of the nail until you see a black dot appear towards the center
when you look at it head on. This is the start of the quick that you
want to avoid. The good news is that the more diligent you are about
trimming, the more the quick will regress into the nail, allowing you
to cut shorter each time. Trim nails so that when the animal steps
down, nails do not touch the floor.
Although you will take great care not to hurt your pet, sometimes
accidents happen and you will cut into the quick. Have silver nitrate
products on hand - you can get them at your veterinarian's office or
pet store. You can also use flour or cornstarch to stop the bleeding.
If that doesn't work, apply a light bandage for about 15 minutes. If the bleeding continues, call your veterinarian.
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