When you've never done it before, cutting your dog's nails can be intimidating, but with the right tools and a few of your dog's favorite goodies, you can master the art and give your pup a pup pedicure safely.
We recommend trimming your dog's nails at home only if they are comfortable with having their paws handled.
Please read all of the safety precautions for preventing nail bleeding.
Let's get started on becoming a pro at nail clipping!
A schematic of a dog nail is shown below.
We can view the outside shell and the inside quick from there.
The quick in your dog's nails is a blood vessel.
It might be painful if your nails are clipped too short.
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Is it necessary to cut the nails of little dogs?
Trimming monthly, on the other hand, is a good idea as a general rule.
“Most dogs' nails should be clipped once a month,” Easton explains.
“Unless they put them through a lot of concrete wear and tear.”
They will be worn down by dogs with very round feet.”
White Nails
When trimming your dog's nails, the first thing you should do is to look inside the nail and determine where the quick reside on the nail.
If your dog's nails are light in color, you can see the quick, which is a soft, pink tissue in the center.
The quick, which includes a blood vessel and nerve, is easier to notice on light dog nails, as illustrated in the image.
Holding your dog's paw up to the light will reveal this.
You must avoid cut into the quick since it will bleed and will cause discomfort to your dog.
Black Nails
Dark-nail dogs are distinct, and the first thing you'll notice is that the blood and nerve that make up the quick are not visible through the nail.
When applying dark-colored nails, it's vital to take your time because it's harder to see the quick.
The beginning of the quick of the nail is shown by a little black circle in the center of your dogs nail.
Any nail with a circle in the center should not be clipped using nail clipper since you will be clipping into the quick.
If the center-circle is not visible, snip off the tiniest edge of the nail at a 45-degree angle.
Check again to see if the center-circle is visible.
You've trimmed far enough when you notice the dark circle in the middle of the nail.
You must not cut into the quick because this may cause discomfort and bleeding in your dog.
Best Practices
It is better to place little dogs on a table or ironing board and have someone assist you in holding them.
It's best to do this on the floor with large dogs.
- We find it easier to wrap your non-dominant hand around the dog and lift the paw at Underdog. In your dominant hand, hold the nail clippers.
- To see the quick, pick up your dog's paw and look behind the nail.
- If you don't notice the quick, place the clipper at the extreme edge of your dogs nail.
- At 45-degree angle, hold the nail trimmer.
- Only clip your dog's nail's tip at a time. But, stop. Before going, double-check that you can see the quick.
- Expose his paw and nail to the light and peer inside the nail's center.
- Expose his paw and nail to the light and peer inside the nail's center. Look for the quick, which appears as a black inner circle in the nail's center.
How to Trim Your Puppy's Nails
Before attempting a nail trim, The Dog Training Secret recommends tucking your dog out with playing or a lengthy walk.
You can more easily pick up their paws and begin trimming after they're ready to sleep.
Dogs that don't like to sit still may require regular snacks throughout the process.
You can also use a peanut butter-filled licking pad as long as you can comfortably hold your dog's paw in your palm.
Don't put too much pressure on your puppy! It's worth it, even if you have to do one nail at a time throughout the day.
Rushing the process could cause your dog to become injured or traumatized, making future attempts more difficult.
Keeping away from the quick fix
What you need to know about avoiding the quick inside a dog's nail is outlined below.
Cutting the quick isn't the end of the world, but it's unpleasant and may cause your dog to resist you every time you try to trim their nails.
Black nails on dogs have chalky white interiors on their nails
If a small black dot appears within the white area, that's the dog's quick!
Don’t trim further.
White dog nail make life a little easier when nail cutting, as the quick is visible almost through the hard nail shell.
It’s usually pink.
Cutting past the bend of your dog's nail will almost always bring you dangerously close to the quick, so keep that in mind.
Once you arrive, come to a complete stop (or before, if you reach the quick).
If you accidentally cut the quick, use styptic powder to stop the bleeding and reduce the pain.
Miracle Care Kwik-Stop, a doggy-safe powder, is a good choice.
What should you do if your nail bleeds?
If a nail begins to bleed after dog nail trimming using nail trimmer, apply styptic powder with pressure to the tip of the nail to stop the bleeding, or use a damp cotton pad.
If the nail has bled, keep your dog calm and quiet when walking or running to avoid further damage to the nail.
Why is it necessary to cut a dog's nails?
Would you like your nails to be so long that they curled into your hands and made it impossible to pick things up? No, we didn't believe so.
Your dog is in the same boat. Long nails make it difficult to run and walk because they obstruct traction (and snags carpeting).
They can even develop splayed paws, which can bring pain all the way up your dog's leg over time.
These are worst-case scenarios, but they demonstrate the need of nail cutting on a regular basis.
Furthermore, the more nails you cut, the less likely you are to trim them incorrectly.
Everyone who has ever cut a dog's nails has feared producing a yelp or a bleeding toe by clipping them too tightly.
This happens when you cut something called the quick by accident.
The quick is a vein filled of blood and nerves that grows alongside your dog's nail.
The longer you leave the nail to grow, the longer the quick becomes – and the more difficult it becomes to avoid cutting it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How can I calm my dog to trim his nails?
While softly rubbing her paws, use a soothing voice to keep her quiet.
Then concentrate on your toes, gently squeezing each one.
After that, gently press down on the nail. If your dog becomes frightened or pulls her paw back, take a break and resume only when she has calmed down.
How can I cut my dog's nails without clippers?
The finest options for clipping your dog's nails without clippers are hand filing with a standard emery board or utilizing a scratch board.
Grinders can also be used, but you must first acclimatize your dog to them.
Only use human clippers on young puppies with delicate nails and never use scissors.
What angle do you cut dog's nails?
The best way to clip dog nails that are curling in a circle is with a scissors-type nail trimmer. Trim the nail at a 45-degree angle below the quick, with the nail clipper's cutting end toward the end of the nail. Instead of one massive nip, make several little ones with the clippers.