Clipping dog nails

Sunday 8 April 2012

How To Trim Dog Nails

Have you ever clipped your dog’s nails only to have him yank his foot away and yelp out in pain? If so, rest assured you are not alone. Many pet owners have experienced similar situations with their dogs. It is often hard to know the correct way to trim dog nails without causing pain. But with proper instruction and a little practice, you could soon be as good as a professional.

Dog Nail Anatomy
To get a good understanding of proper toenail trimming techniques, you must first understand basic dog toenail anatomy. Dogs have four toes, also called pads, each having a toenail. In many breeds there is also a fifth toe located on the inside of the leg. The toenail for the fifth toe is called the dew claw.

Dog nails are very similar to human fingernails and toenails. Once the nails have grown out, the ends are dead and painless when trimmed. But trim too close and you will cut into the quick, which is the living tissue of the nail bed.

How to cut a dog's nails is one of the most frequently asked question when it comes to grooming dogs.

Knowing how to cut a dog's nails is so important and if you're wondering how to trim a dog's nails - you need look no further. As usual, we've done all the research for you and presented you with a step by step guide on this delicate procedure.

Knowing not only how, but also when to cut a dog's nails is so important. Your dog's nails grow constantly and how often they need to be clipped will depend on your dog's lifestyle. If you dog does a lot of his walking on hard surfaces, he may very well need little or no extra help in keeping his nails short as his nails will be naturally worn away through friction.

Dog Problems: Clipping Nails

Clipping your dog's nails can be difficult for you and your dog.

Trimming your dog's nails can be difficult. He can wriggle and will not hold still long enough for you to trim a nail. Perhaps you are afraid to trim nails, because you do not want to hurt your dog to hurt or to make his blood. There are several things you can do to make nail trimming easier on you and your dog.
The elements have on hand

One way to trim your dog's nails using pliers, which is less time consuming. Another is to use a grinding tool. The advantage of the grinding tool is that the nail will not have sharp edges that could snag. The disadvantage is that the chopper noise can be disturbing to your dog, and the friction of the grinder will heat up the nail, which can also cause your dog pain.

TOENAIL TRIMMING

Is an important part of keeping your pet healthy? Allowing the toenails to grow excessively
can cause the following problems:

Foot deformities
Nail bed infections
Pain when walking
Injury to pet -- such as scratching the eye
Scratching the owner and the house

QUALITY TOENAIL CUTTERS:
Don’t make the mistake of buying cheap toenail trimmers. The steel in the blades of cheap cutters
Dedicated Servers is not strong enough to cut toenails smooth, but rather “crushes” the nails, which can be very
harmful to the interior parts of the toenail. You may purchase a quality pair of nail trimmers
through our clinic.

BLEEDING:
Cutting the toenails too short will result in bleeding. Although it looks like a lot of blood, it really
is not. It is impossible for a pet to “bleed to death” from a toenail trimmed too short. Commercial
preparations are available to stop the bleeding. A simple home remedy is to push the bleeding nail
down into a bar of soap. The soap will pack up into the nail putting pressure to stop the bleeding.

TOENAIL CAUTERY:
The “quick” grows out as the toenail grows longer. Keeping the toenails cut short allows normal
walking pressure to keep the “quick” short. If the toenails are not kept trimmed, the “quick” will
grow out so far that the toenails cannot be trimmed back properly without making them bleed. In
cases where this has happened, we recommend a toenail cautery procedure. This procedure
involves sedating the pet to prevent pain so the toenails can be cut back to proper length. After
they are trimmed to proper length, the “quick” is cauterized to stop bleeding and seal the “quick”
to prevent infection. An antibiotic injection is also given to prevent infection. Sometimes oral
antibiotics are dispensed if nail bed infections were discovered at the time of the procedure. It is
important after the procedure to keep the feet clean and dry for the next 7-10 days until healing
occurs

Clipping a Dog's Claws

Clipping a Dog's Claws (Toenails)

This information is not meant to be a substitute for veterinary care. Always follow the instructions provided by your veterinarian.

In the photographs below, unless otherwise noted, the top if the paw is facing up. The dog who was photographed has black pads on her toes. The black pads on the bottom of her toes will help you orient yourself as you view the photographs.
Variations on these instructions exist.
Most dogs do not like having their claws trimmed. Start trimming claws in young animals so that they get used to the process. Some dogs will happily sit in your lap or on a table while you trim their claws but many require some form of restraint.

restraining the dog from the opposite side of the table

One method to restrain the dog is to place her/him on a table. Stand on the side of the table opposite to the claws you are trimming.
Drape your arms and upper body over the dog. When trimming the front claws, keep your left forearm over the neck to keep the dog from lifting its head. Hold the paw in your left hand and hold the trimmer in your right hand.
If the dog tries to stand, lean your upper body over his/her shoulders to prevent him/her from rising.

If your dog is too wiggly, try laying him/her on his/her side.
Use your right arm and upper body to keep the dog laying on his/her side. Hold the trimmer in your right hand.
Use your left arm to keep the head on the table and use the left hand to hold the paw.

It is easier to perform this procedure if you have a helper. See the section on restraining a dog for some additional suggestions.