Just like humans, dogs’ claws need trimming too!It is very important to clip the nails on your pooch’s four paws. It is essential for a dog as it eliminates the risk of bone and joint issues.Grooming your dog is necessary for the health of your dog. Similar to us, dogs need their nails trimmed regularly so that when they stand, the nails do not touch the ground. As a responsible dog owner, you must trim your dog’s nails every week so that your dog is less stressed during the process of trimming and its nails do not get very long over the following weeks. Most owners trim their dog’s nails once a month but it depends upon a variety of factors. Don’t let your dog’s nails become too long as it leads to a painful experience later on. Keep reading to learn many more useful tips about trimming your pup’s claws!If you enjoy this article, why not also read about how often do you walk your dog and how often should I take my dog to the vet here on Kidadl?When is it best to trim dog nails?Many dogs need their nails trimmed once every one or two months; however, this period varies from dog to dog. Some dogs’ nails become long quite quickly, while some dogs’ nails get worn down by walking on rough surfaces. One can tell that that nail trimming is required if they hear clicking when the dog walks on the floor. Trimming of nails is an essential part of the grooming of a dog.The number of times your pet needs nail trimming relies on many factors. If your dog walks on cement or pavement frequently, its nails are probably worn down already and wouldn’t require regular trimming. Dogs that are of older age tend to go out less and thus would need to get their nails trimmed more often as compared to dogs who go on regular walks. However, even if the dog goes on many walks and is very energetic, the dog’s nails won’t get worn down until the dog is walking on rough surfaces like sidewalks and asphalt. There are also some dog breeds whose nails grow faster than those of other breeds and need frequent nail trimming. Small-sized dogs such as Chihuahuas need their nails cut short as they are indoors most of the time. If your dog’s nail length has managed to become long, you will have to cut its nails every two to three weeks so as to wear down the quicks. Cutting near the quick helps as the quick typically shrinks back. Nails that have become very long need to be cut a little bit from time to time and should not be cut completely in one go. Nails must not get extremely long as claws of long length hurt your dog very much, especially when the dog is walking on the floor or slams its foot on the pavement. These claws also make it tough for the dog to walk on slick floors with a good grip. They can also cause a lot of pain when they get stuck to something and get torn off. Untrimmed nails also can curl in the feet, into the dog’s paw, and also cause pain. These claws can also pierce the paw pad of the dog. Long nails are very painful for your pet and can even require a vet visit. Long claws also do damage to the floor and furniture, while making the dog very uncomfortable. Thus, clip your dog’s nails regularly as it is imperative for your dog’s health. You can use a nail grinder or nail clippers to do so.How short should you trim dog nails?While trimming the nail length, try to keep it short but not very short as you might cut off the quick or the nerve endings near the quick. The quick is the blood vessel under the nails. Trimming a dog’s nails is easier when it has clear nails instead of dark nails. However, whatever the color may be, it is essential to clip them slowly so that they don’t bleed. It is also suggested that you reward and praise while clipping dogs’ nails.It is very easy to avoid cutting the quick on light-colored nails. However, on dark-colored nails, it can become quite challenging to avoid it as it isn’t visible. It is better to be safe and only cut the narrow tip when starting to cut off the nail. You must become extremely attentive when you reach the wider section of the dark nail and only cut a little bit, say 0.07 in (2 mm), in every trim. Keep cutting until you see a gray, flesh-like color or a white color. This is your cue to stop cutting. Sometimes many owners and even professionals clip the dog’s nails very short, causing them to bleed. Bleeding happens when you cut your dog’s nails at the quick. It happens commonly when the dog has dark nails or squirms a lot when its nails are being trimmed. The cut on the quick can cause a lot of blood to flow out, thus to stop the bleeding you must keep something close by to stop it. Styptic powder or cornstarch can be used on the nail to stop the bleeding within a few minutes. However, a well-trained dog wouldn’t squirm so much and with time, any dog can learn to be patient while its nails are being clipped. However, an alternative to nail clippers is a nail grinder. A nail grinder also trims a dog’s nails and is an easier way to do so. Many dogs prefer their nails to be ground instead of being clipped. It has also been suggested to clip the nails first and then use a grinder to smooth the edges. Grinding the dog’s nails is much easier for the person trimming the nails as well as for the dog as it can be done slowly and it also causes less chance of accidentally cutting a blood vessel or a nerve ending. Grinding the nails is better for dogs who do not like nail clippers. It is particularly useful for dogs with long nails as it is not as uncomfortable as clipping with nail clippers. However, there are also some precautions to take while grinding the nails. The fur on the dog’s paws must be trimmed so that it does not get stuck while the grinder is grinding the nails. This could cause too much pain. It is also important for the one grinding the nails to keep his or her hair away while grinding the nails as a person’s hair can get stuck as well.Does it hurt them?Yes, trimming the nails does cause pain to most dogs, especially the ones with long nails. Many dogs have anxiety and cannot stay calm throughout the cutting process. It is very common for dogs to be scared of getting their nails trimmed. Sometimes, the dog moves too much which causes an accidental trimming of the quick (blood supply) which leads to blood coming out of the nail. This isn’t exactly fun for any dog and can be extremely unpleasant for the dog and be frightening for the dog owner. The blood must be wiped off and the cut must be patted with styptic powder. The styptic powder will hopefully stop the bleeding, as otherwise, the dog must be taken to the vet immediately. However, you must not worry if you do cut the quick as most of the time the pain goes away after some time and the dog will have no problem walking.It is imperative to give your dog a break between cutting nails of each paw and rewarding your dog so that it doesn’t feel like a strenuous process for it. If your dog’s nails are extremely long, trimming them would require a lot of precision and patience as the quicks will be quite long too. It is better to keep trimming small tips off each nail bit by bit every week so that the quicks shrink back to their normal location. Some dogs really hate getting their nails cut due to bad experiences in the past of their quick being cut and will be fidgety all the time while their nails are being cut. This situation would need two people, with one cutting the nails and the order handling the dog. You can even keep a plate glazed with peanut butter so that you can trim the dog’s nails while it stays occupied. Sometimes, this doesn’t work either and it is a signal to seek professional help. An experienced person can cut the nails of a fidgety dog much better than an inexperienced dog owner who will most probably trim the quick and cause their loving dog to bleed and squirm. It is best to train your dog about nail trimming. To keep your dog relaxed, give him breaks, let him play, and even reward him. You can even try trimming one paw’s nails or just one nail in each session. Cutting the nail bit by bit is the main goal. If you trim every nail just a little bit every seven days, it will be a less anxious experience for your dog and will become easier with every passing session.How do you trim dog nails that are overgrown?Overgrown nails can cause changes in a dog’s way of moving and carrying itself. Nails even can curl into paws of the dog. With time, their feet bones adjust to this uncomfortable way of walking, causing pressure on the dog’s joints. This pressure causes discomfort in the joint and can lead to arthritis. Regular trimming of your dog’s nails can prevent such problems. However, if your dog has overgrown nails, you should cut your dog’s nails bit by bit, starting off at the tip of the nail and stopping right before the quick. It is essential to trim in a relaxed and calm way and not let your dog sense any anxiety. You can keep your dog calm by handling its paws. Try to gently rub its feet and reward him if he stays relaxed.Getting your dog’s overgrown nails cut can be easier if you take your dog to groomers as they are professionals and know how to handle the situation better. They also know certain tricks to maintain the calm state of your dog. You can even take your dog to the vet to get its nails cut. Have your vet teach you how to efficiently cut the nails as well. Your dog’s nail growth and your dog’s nail trimming frequency are dependent upon the type of surface it walks upon, the amount of time its feet are on the ground, what it eats throughout the day, and if it has any health conditions. If your dog spends its time running or walking on hard ground, its nails will naturally get worn down and won’t require regular trimming. Your dog will less likely have overgrown nails even if you don’t trim its nails weekly or every month. If your dog has a balanced diet consisting of minerals and vitamins, the growth of nails will be faster.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for how often to trim dog nails then why not take a look at how often to deworm puppy, or Belgian Sheepdog facts!
Just like humans, dogs’ claws need trimming too!
