Just like in human beings, clipping dog’s nails is part of his personal hygiene. While some dogs have short nails because of frequent wear (by rubbing against concrete floors when they are walking or by digging in your backyard), some dogs do not get the chance to maintain these nails because of infrequent contact with hard and rough surfaces. This is especially true with little dogs, such as Chihuahuas, mini pinschers, or dachshunds. Toy dogs that are usually kept inside the house and made to play on carpeted floors or soft beds need their nails to be cleaned and maintained by their humans.
Before you get your doggie nail clippers and set your dog up for a pedicure session, here are a few things that you should know about grooming your dog’s nails.
The importance of clipping dog’s nails
Both you and your dog could feel uncomfortable in grooming their nails, but it needs to be done. Allowing your dog’s nails to grow too long will make it curl back into your pet’s foot pads. This can be a source of discomfort for him when he walks or runs. It could also lead to sores that could get infected. The right length of dog nails also provides proper traction when walking. When your dog’s nails are too long, it could cause him to slip and slide when traversing shiny tiled or wooden floors.
How to start clipping dog’s nails
While he is still a puppy, you should let your dog get used to having his paws held. Build the experience with positive reinforcement such as giving him doggie biscuits whenever he agrees to have his paws in your hand for quite some time. This trick could still work with older dogs, but be warned that it is going to be more difficult. Thus, as soon as your puppy’s nails start growing long enough to be trimmed off, you should start cutting them short so that he will get used to it as he grows older.
Which part of your dog’s nails should you cut?
Clipping dog’s nails is somehow tricky, especially if you are not familiar with the parts of his nail. Your dog’s nails consist of two zones: the lighter colored edge and the pink area called the quick. The quick contains blood vessels and nerves. Therefore, you must take care not to cut your pet’s nails too short or else he will bleed and yelp in pain. Cutting his nails next time will be a struggle for both of you if this happens. If your dog has dark-colored nails, it would be more difficult to spot the quick. Thus, snip nails minimally. Two millimeters should be enough.
Tools to use in clipping dog’s nails
There are several styles of nail trimmers available to make clipping doggie nails easier, quicker, and more comfortable for you and your dog. You should choose according to the size of your dog’s nails and how well you can grip or handle the clipper. You can choose from the guillotine style (perfect for inexperienced doggie owners with dogs having small or medium-sized nails), scissors type (also good for small or medium nails), and the pliers type (which have sizes for large nails).
When all else fails and you find it difficult to trim your dog’s nails, the easiest thing to do is to bring your pet to a dog groomer. 🙂