When it comes to owning a dog there are a few ‘maintenance’ bits and bobs that should be done on a regular basis. This includes regular checkups at the vets, grooming either with a professional or at home to make sure your dog’s coat is neat and keeping an eye on their nails so they don’t get too long and ultimately damage their delicate paws (and your home!).
Trimming nails of any animal can be a bit of a trial, most don’t really seem too keen on the idea and can get a bit upset, or it can be worrisome as an owner trying to work out how best to cut a nail without hitting the quick; so it’s worth knowing a few tips and tricks which make the whole process quicker and easier for both you and your pet.
As you might remember my husband and I have 2 labradors; Lexi who is 2 years old and Roxi who is just over 7 months and we’re lucky that due to being walked regularly on the countryside on all manner of surfaces their nails don’t get out of control very often but we have in the past played the chase the dog around the house for nail clipping game!
Here are some top tips for helping to keep your dog’s mani/pedi under control.
Paw Practice
Honestly, this is the biggest step! If your dog doesn’t like you touching their feet how will you ever be able to clip their nails? Making sure your dog is happy with you touching and fiddling with their feet through repeated sessions is key. Practice by holding your dog’s paw and watching their reaction, if they don’t try to take it away or get upset then give them a treat – they will soon learn that giving a paw equals food and will be happy to give it up when it’s time for a manicure.
If your dog really doesn’t like you touching their feet it might be best to check with a vet to make sure there’s no medical problem, if not treat your dog when you touch their feet to build up a positive association before moving onto holding the paw. If you dread clipping your dog’s nails then your dog will too, so learn how to be a good actor until you succeed in believing it can be a loving experience for you both!
Get the right dog nail clippers
There are many different types of nail clippers for dogs available and it’s important to consider which is the best one for your canine pal. When choosing nail clippers think about the size of your dog and therefore the size of their nails; big dogs will have longer and harder nails and will require a more heavy duty clipper than smaller dogs.
Common types of nail clippers include Scissor/Plier style (best suited to small to medium breeds), Guillotine (sprung cutting action for precise clipping and ease of use) and Grinder (a device with a rotating emery board wheel). If you’re not sure which one to choose then pick a couple of different options to try and see what works best for your dog. Be sure to keep your tool sharp!
Where to cut
The quick is the pink area within the nail where the nerves and blood vessels are, similar to the area underneath our nails, is called the Quick and needs to be avoided when trimming as cutting this will cause bleeding which can be a shock and painful for your dog. Make sure you examine each nail to locate the Quick before trimming. Use your fingers to separate the toes for clipping and hold the paw gently.
Hold the handle of the nail trimmers flat against the toe pad and cut straight across the nail, so that the nail will sit just above the ground. Always aim to keep clipper blades almost parallel to the nail – never cut across the finger. If you do hit the Quick then don’t panic, be sure to praise and treat your dog to avoid negative association and use cornstarch or soap that will plug the vessel and stop the bleeding. Make nail trimming fun: always associate nail cutting with treats and praise.
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