When you know what to look for and how to do it securely, trimming your dog nail from home is simple.
Dog nail trimming your dogs nail is a delicate task, especially if your dog's nails are black rather than white.
You can plainly see the pink quick with white dog nails, but with black nails, you're left guessing where the quick is when you're about to nail trim.
When it comes to black nails, the challenge is to first figure out where the quick is.
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On black dog nails, where is the quick?
Lift your dog's paw gently see the quick.
The beginning of the quick of your dogs nail can be seen with a little black circle at the center of the nail.
Any nail with a circle on the center should not be clipped too long since you will be clipping into the quick and it will bleed.
Why do dogs' nails occasionally grow overly long?
When dogs' nails come into contact with the ground while walking on hard surfaces like tarmac or concrete, they naturally wear down.
There are four reasons why a dog's nails become too long.
For starters, their nails should not touch the ground while they walk.
Some of the dog's nails are higher up on the leg and never touch the ground.
Alternatively, a dog's toes may be slightly bent, with the nails pointing in a different way, to prevent them from touching the ground.
Second, a dog's nails may not wear down if they solely exercise on soft surfaces like grass.
Third, some dogs have thicker nails that do not quickly wear down.
Finally, some dogs do not get enough exercise to wear down their nails.
Do you walk your dog to keep their nails trimmed?
Walking on hard surfaces helps keep dogs' nails short, but it won't assist with overgrown nails, so you'll need to follow tips like ours on how to deal with them when they go too long.
When a dog's nails become too long, what happens?
A dog's nail curls can be seen in a semicircle as it grows longer, eventually curling all the way around and digging into the dog's skin, causing your dog discomfort.
A dog will usually lick the painful spot where the nail is digging into the skin.
If the nail grows any longer or it is an overgrown dog nails, it will cause actual harm to the area where it rubs.
Is it possible that my dog's long nails will harm him?
When an overgrown nail presses against a dog's skin, it results in a painful wound.
Overgrown nails cause the dog's toes to splay out in an awkward manner, which is painful.
A grey dot can be found inside a dog's nail.
Because the quick is red, it's simple to spot when a dog's nails are white or clear.
Because you can't see the quick on a dog's black nails, you're left guessing where that lethal quick is.
If you're close enough to a black nail's quick, you'll be able to see it if you're paying attention.
You want to stop pruning as soon as you notice it.
Are you still a little apprehensive?
Here are some pointers on how to clip your dog's black nails.
The Dog's First Experience with Nail Trimmer
Make sure your dog is comfortable with you handling their paws before you begin cutting.
Starting this when they are young is always a smart idea.
Take their paw in your hand and gently massage it before putting it down.
This procedure should be repeated a few times.
If your dog appears to be at ease, try rewarding them with food for excellent behavior, or make your own peanut butter or spray cheese and spritz a few squirts in front of them or on a wall or cupboard.
The fight isn't worth it if you or your dog is bitten.
Slowly begin trimming your nails.
If your dog appears to be in good health, begin clipping their nails one at a time.
Remove little amounts, even slivers, at a time.
Don't yank half of their nail off.
Continue shaving until you notice the start of a grey oval.
The majority of people should quit when a black oval begins to develop. You'll be at the fast in a few more slivers.
With one more trim, the dot will be a lighter grey, nearly whitish in some of the nails.
You should stop trimming your dog's black nail at the grey dot.
This is the maximum distance you should dog nail trimming.
If you can't stop yourself and have to keep going, you'll hit the quick and the blood will start to flow.
If your dog has white and black nails, you can use the white nails as a clue to where the quick might be on the black nails, but bear in mind that all nails are different, and the quick might be longer or shorter on other nails.
Be careful when using dog nail clippers in black dog nail as it may cause your dog nail to bleed when you cut the quick.
Use styptic powder to stop the bleeding.
Cut your dog's nails from the bottom up, not the top down.
If you're worried because you don't see a grey dot for whatever reason, apply pressure to your dog's nail and see if they react, or simply stop cutting.
To finish the process, you can use an emery board or a Dremel.
Check to see if your nail clippers are sharp.
Crushing the nail with blunt clippers makes clipping considerably more difficult.
Don't panic if you hit the quick and the nail starts to bleed; you can quickly stop the bleeding.
To stop a dog's bleeding nail, read this article.
If your dog's nails are overgrown, start small and trim them off one at a time.
You don't have to finish it all in one day; you can come back the next day.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What do you do if your dog's nail is overgrown?
You'll need to clip long dog nails on a weekly basis if your dog's nails have grown out of control.
This allows the quick to move away from the paw.
Once your dog's nails have reached an acceptable length, continue to cut them on a weekly basis.
If you don't groom your dog for a week or two, his nails will begin to touch the ground.
What if my dog's nails are too long?
When your dog's nails are overly long, they cause the foot to be at an awkward angle.
This places unequal pressure on the toes, causing soreness and tenderness in the nail beds.
Dogs with long nails are more likely to split and splinter.
This is comparable to a human hangnail.
How can I cut my dog's nails without hurting them?
Only the tip of the nail should be clipped straight across. Include the dewclaws, which are placed on the paw's inner side.
If you clip past the bend of the nail, you run the danger of hitting the quick (the pink area of the nail that contains the blood vessels).
There's a nick there, and it hurts and bleeds.