How to Trim Your Dog’s Nails

Just like you, the nails of your canine companion also grow constantly. Do you know how often the nails of your dog cut? You can decide it on the basis of breed and lifestyle. However, you must be aware of how to trim dog nails.

Cutting the nails of your dog is not terribly important. The nails of many dogs naturally wear down by walking and playing. However, if your dog is inactive, nails may not wear down. Older dogs prefer to walk on softer surfaces. So, their nails will not wear down naturally. Long claws are prone to infection and splitting.

Correcting the Nails of Your Canine Companion

You can hear a clacking sound while walking if the nails of your dog are too long. The sound will be loud when they walk on hard surfaces.

It is very simple to find out whether the nails of your dog are too long or not. The long nails will affect the walking style of your dog and it will lead to more serious joint and bone issues. Do not fear while cutting the nails of your dog. Information in this article helps you doing the task with confidence.

Get Ready with the Right Equipment

You can select the nail clippers according to the breed. You can select a guillotine-style nail clipper or a pair of scissors that are designed for clipping nails of dogs. Both these tools are perfect for clipping dog nails. However, guillotine style clippers may not be effective if the nails are very thick.

If you cut the nails too short and into quick accidently, you can use a styptic powder to stop bleeding. You must keep lots of treats during the entire session. You should reward them when they cooperate during and after trimming.

In such a way, you can make the nail trimming session a great success. Even if you try your best to avoid cutting nails too short, it may happen with the most experienced professionals.

Select a Convenient Time

You can start the trimming session when your dog is relaxed and comfortable. It can be after a meal or when he rest after playing or exercising. During this time, your dog may be too tired to struggle or wiggle.

Keep your Dog Calm

It is highly important to make the trimming session calm and comfortable for your dog. So, you need to talk to him in a calm and quiet voice.

You should also sit with him a few minutes in a day. If you gently rub his feet and legs, he will become more comfortable. You should start clipping nails only when your dog in a comfortable stage. You can provide him treats as rewards for making him calm.

Start Clipping Nails

Before cutting the nails, you should decide where to make the first cut. First of all, you need to identify the position of the quick.

It contains a nerve and a blood vessel, so you should avoid the quick. You can identify the quick very easily if your dog has white, light, or clear colored nails. It looks like a small, pink tube, which ends before the tip. You cannot see the quick if the nail is black or dark color.

Even if the quick is visible, it is very difficult to determine its end. So, it is always better to avoid cutting too short. It will be painful and will cause bleeding. If you hurt him, he will not allow you to clip the rest of his nails.

Grasp his Foot Firmly but Gently

You should hold his foot firmly, but gently. The bottom of the nail is relatively straight. You can start cutting off the tip by continuing that straight line.

However, you must avoid the quick. If you cut the quick of your dog accidently, stay calm. You should also talk to your dog gently. You can also give him the treat to distract and pacify him. Thus, you can calm him very easily. If your dog becomes aggressive or angry during clipping nails, you should take him to the veterinarian for professional clipping.

After the completion of clipping, you can file the nails for avoiding the rough edges by using a nail file.

Keep your dog Calm

Your dog will naturally pull away his leg while cutting nails that is a natural instinct. If he does so, you should reassure him quickly and calmly that he should expect it. You can also use treats to help him keep calm. After clipping a few nails, you can give him a break.

If you make any injuries, it is important to remain calm and confident. However, you must be ready to treat any problem while clipping the nails of your dog. If you cut the quick accidently and the nails start bleeding, should not allow your dog run around or wrench away from you.

It will lead to pain and further damage. You should keep your dog calm, which is essential for controlling bleeding.

To stop bleeding, you should apply styptic powder as quickly as possible. You should hold his paw and press the powder onto the end of his nail till bleeding stops. If you do not have styptic powder, flour, cornstarch, or even a bar soap can be used.

It is highly important to keep him calm and quiet. Even if you do not give any treatment, the bleeding will stop within around 5 minutes. The clotting and healing process will slow down if your dog licks the wound. So, it should be avoided.

If your dog has longer nails, the quick will also be long. Thus, it is better to cut the nails a little at a time. You should cut a little from each claw. Then, you need to way for a few days or week. So, the quick recede before you cut the nails again. If you think that the nails reach a sensible length, then you can cut monthly or as required.

It will lead to pain and further damage. You should keep your dog calm, which is essential for controlling bleeding.

Trim his Claws Regularly

Clipping or trimming nails is an unpleasant experience for many dogs and they will not allow doing it. So, you can start it at a younger age if possible. You can also start it at any age if you handle it gently. You should take things slowly.

It is not good to clip all the claws in one session. You can make it as a part of the schedule. Besides, it is important to inspect the foot.

Painful feet are the primary consequence of long toenails. When the toenail of your dog contacts hard grounds like kitchen floor or sidewalk, the hard surface pushes the nails back up. As a result, the toenail may force to twist to the side or puts pressure on all the toe joints.

Thus, the toes become sore or arthritic. All animals depend on information from nerves in their feet. The assessment skill of your dog will be impaired due to the long toenail. It will also create lots of discomfort and pain to your dogs.

Even the bone structure of your dog becomes deformed if he has long nails. Infection, ingrown or broken nails, etc are the other problems of long nails. The infectious materials may lodge inside the nails very easily. It will lead to infection when it contacts with the blood vessels at the base of the nail.

Thus, trimming or clipping nails of your dog is very important. In such a way, you can keep your canine companion healthy and happy. It is also essential for avoiding lots of problems that are associated with growing nails too long

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