Clipping dog nails is one task many owners dread. However, dog nails can grow quickly, especially if you do not have a concrete patio or other hard surfaces that will help your dogs wear down their nails naturally. Unless you make regular trips to the dog groomer, you will have to spend some time trimming dog nails.
To trim dog nails, you will need several inexpensive items. The most important equipment you will need is a set of dog nail clippersicon. Do not use human nail trimmers, since they do not have the safety feature of dog nail trimmers.
Pet safe nail clippers are designed to nip off the tips of the dog's nails without cutting into the quick, which is what can cause nails to bleed.
The other piece of equipment you will need to have on hand if you are cutting your dog's nails is a styptic pencil or some styptic powder. This way, you can provide immediate first aid if you accidentally cause your dog's nails to bleed. If you do not have a styptic pencil, you can substitute flour for the styptic powder. In an emergency situation, flour can help control bleeding if the blood flow is not too heavy.
Once you have the proper equipment, you can easily trim your dog's nails. However, how do you know when they need to be clipped? Usually, if you hear a distinctive click from your dog's paws as they hit the flooring when he walks, it is time to trim his nails. Carefully clip off the tip of each nail. Praise him or give him a small training treat so that he is willing to allow you to cut his nails.
Do not trim any of your dog's nails extensively. If his nails have become severely overgrown, you should consider having your veterinarian clip your dog's nails. After the veterinarian gets your dog's nails back in shape, you can keep them maintained.
If your dog absolutely hates to have his nails trimmed and puts up a battle, you may need to have your veterinarian pull out his dog nail clippers and do the job for you. Some dogs dislike nail trimming so much that they actually need to be tranquilized before the veterinarian can manage to cut any nails.
Sometimes, dogs can develop problems with their nails. One common dog nail problem occurs when dewclaws were not removed when the dog was a puppy. If your dog's dewclaws have nails that grow unchecked, they can actually curl around and grow into his leg. If your dog did not have dewclaws removed, keep a close eye on his nails. Your veterinarian may have to remove the dewclaws if the nails become a problem. Unfortunately, this procedure is more painful and expensive for older dogs than it is for puppies.
Another common nail problem is breakage. If your dog breaks a lot of nails, make sure the nails are kept short and that you file the ends to reduce the likelihood of breakage.
Finally, many owners have problems with dog nail trimming. There is nothing wrong with having the groomer or veterinarian do the nail cutting for you, although you may have to make some extra trips to get your dog nail cutting done.
To trim dog nails, you will need several inexpensive items. The most important equipment you will need is a set of dog nail clippersicon. Do not use human nail trimmers, since they do not have the safety feature of dog nail trimmers.
Pet safe nail clippers are designed to nip off the tips of the dog's nails without cutting into the quick, which is what can cause nails to bleed.
The other piece of equipment you will need to have on hand if you are cutting your dog's nails is a styptic pencil or some styptic powder. This way, you can provide immediate first aid if you accidentally cause your dog's nails to bleed. If you do not have a styptic pencil, you can substitute flour for the styptic powder. In an emergency situation, flour can help control bleeding if the blood flow is not too heavy.
Once you have the proper equipment, you can easily trim your dog's nails. However, how do you know when they need to be clipped? Usually, if you hear a distinctive click from your dog's paws as they hit the flooring when he walks, it is time to trim his nails. Carefully clip off the tip of each nail. Praise him or give him a small training treat so that he is willing to allow you to cut his nails.
Do not trim any of your dog's nails extensively. If his nails have become severely overgrown, you should consider having your veterinarian clip your dog's nails. After the veterinarian gets your dog's nails back in shape, you can keep them maintained.
If your dog absolutely hates to have his nails trimmed and puts up a battle, you may need to have your veterinarian pull out his dog nail clippers and do the job for you. Some dogs dislike nail trimming so much that they actually need to be tranquilized before the veterinarian can manage to cut any nails.
Sometimes, dogs can develop problems with their nails. One common dog nail problem occurs when dewclaws were not removed when the dog was a puppy. If your dog's dewclaws have nails that grow unchecked, they can actually curl around and grow into his leg. If your dog did not have dewclaws removed, keep a close eye on his nails. Your veterinarian may have to remove the dewclaws if the nails become a problem. Unfortunately, this procedure is more painful and expensive for older dogs than it is for puppies.
Another common nail problem is breakage. If your dog breaks a lot of nails, make sure the nails are kept short and that you file the ends to reduce the likelihood of breakage.
Finally, many owners have problems with dog nail trimming. There is nothing wrong with having the groomer or veterinarian do the nail cutting for you, although you may have to make some extra trips to get your dog nail cutting done.