Introduction
Most dogs require regular clipping of their nails. Only those dogs that are exercised regularly on rough ground tend to wear their nails down naturally. Overgrown nails can be painful and prone to infection. Long nails can also accidentally injure pet owners, guests and children. To clip your dog’s nails, you can either take your dog to a veterinarian or trim the nails yourself.
Risks Associated with Untrimmed Nails
When a dog’s toenails become too long, they cause the paw to splay, which creates a great deal of discomfort and difficulty walking, particularly on wet or slippery floors. Long nails are dangerous to people and other pets. They can also lead to serious and painful infections, particularly if they break far up the cuticle, providing a direct route for bacterial entry. Long nails – especially dew claws - can actually curl and pierce the skin, which is obviously painful for the dog and also creates a rich site for abscesses. In such cases, sedation and surgery is needed to repair the damage.
Clipping a Dog's Nails
As with so many other training efforts, it is always best to begin toenail trimming when your pet is a puppy. This way, she will get used to getting her nails clipped early in life. Older dogs that are not accustomed to having their nails trimmed regularly can be very difficult to handle. If you cannot control your dog for a nail clipping, it is best to take her to a veterinarian or professional groomer.
If you can clip your own dog’s nails, be sure that you purchase a quality nail trimmer specifically designed for its intended purpose. When the nail trimmer becomes dull, either have it professionally sharpened or replace it. Never use your own toenail clippers or household scissors. Many owners of show dogs use a dremel (a grinding product available at your local hardware store) to sand down their dogs’ nails to a smooth, polished nub. A similar product is on the market designed specifically to grind pet nails.
You should trim your dog’s nails just below the quick, which is the blood supply to the nail. The quick can be seen on dogs with light nails; dark-nailed dogs are more difficult to trim. If you clip the quick, the nail will bleed – sometimes profusely. It is quite painful. If you look closely at your dog’s nail, you may be able to see the white area under the nail where the cuticle begins. If your dog has black cuticles, just trim the thin points on the nail tips and try to stay away from the area where the nail begin to thicken. You may also want to purchase a powder that helps to stop bleeding, in case you accidentally nick the quick. This product is available from your veterinarian or pet supply store. A styptic pencil or even cornstarch work almost as well.