The Dreaded Task Of Clipping Dog Nails

If you are like most people you do not enjoy administering torture. Unfortunately, when clipping dog nails this can feel like exactly the process that is occurring. Many dogs have a keen ability to put on quite the show when having their nails cut. They squirm and howl and snap at your fingers. The most gentle-natured dogs can turn into demonic beasts right before your eyes; producing sounds you never thought possible. If you allow yourself to fall under their spell you will quickly find yourself with a dog with nails two inches too long. It is easier to avoid trimming your dog’s nails than it is to inflict pain on your loved one. However, do not let your dog fool you. Normally, you are not causing them pain at all. In fact, dog nails need to be clipped and by doing so you are ensuring that your dog will be in less pain in the future. If you leave the nails to grow they may eventually break off on their own, but this is usually the result of your dog getting the nails snagged or scraped against something. This can lead to bleeding and will be far more painful than a simple clean cut anyway. Having extremely long nails is unhealthy and uncomfortable for your dog. It can make walking much more difficult especially for older or obese dogs. Also, the dewclaws (the nails a bit higher up on the legs that never touch the ground) can become problematic if left unattended. They curl around as they grow and can even puncture the skin. However, do not fear. There are a few options available to you when it comes to keeping your dog’s nails in tip top condition.

                                                    Dog Nails Done Easy

Probably the simplest way to keep your dog’s nails at a decent length is to take your pet for daily walks on concrete or similar rough surfaces. Now, this can be the most time-consuming way to keep your dog’s nails in check, but it serves more than one purpose at the same time. Both you and your dog will get a healthy dose of exercise while your neighborhood’s sidewalks work their magic filing away at your dog’s claws. Then, the only thing you will need to worry about is the dewclaws. I have had my dog for two years now and I have only had to have his nails clipped once. I do the dewclaws myself, but the others never seem to grow. They all stay nice and short from his daily walks and I never have to feel the pain of sharp claws digging into me when he jumps up for a hug.

                                                       Dog Nail Service

This option is just as simple, but will cost you a little bit of money. You can simply take your pet to a local groomer or veterinarian and have them cut your dog’s nails. You should be able to get a basic clipping for somewhere between $8 and $15 dollars. It’s much cheaper or included if you pay for a bath as well. Both Petco and Petsmart offer these services. I prefer to use places where I can see the services being performed. Always remember to keep your pet’s best interest at heart. Make sure you trust the people handling your dog. Check for bleeding afterwards and make sure you get what you pay for. If it does not look like they clipped every nail, tell them. You’re the customer. You have that right. Also, if you return to the same place and your dog looks like he has just seen a ghost it does not necessarily mean that he was harmed at this location. He may truly just dislike having his nails cut. However, as I said, this should be a painless process. So, if your dog seems more than terrified and reluctant to go away with the employee maybe you should think about taking him somewhere else or trying your hand at it yourself. Again, you can always try to find a location where you can actually watch the whole process take place.

                         Dog Nails For the Brave-Hearted (Do-It-Yourself)

If you think you can handle cutting your dog’s nails yourself or you really do not trust anyone else to do the task then here are a few tips to follow:

•      Always tell yourself that you are not hurting your dog simply by cutting his nails.

•      Do not use force and restraint if you plan on cutting the nails yourself again in the future. Your dog will remember the stressful experience he had last time.

•      Build trust. Whether this is your first time attempting to clip your dog’s nails or you’re trying again after a failed attempt before, you need to make your dog comfortable with the clippers or tool of your choosing. Let him sniff the clippers and give him a treat when he does. Leave the cutters in the room somewhere and continue to give out treats whenever your dog initiates contact with the tool. Once he sees the nail clippers as something he can trust you are ready to begin.

•      Also, make sure your dog trusts you with his paws. Again, if this is a new dog or first attempt it is better to get your dog used to touching and squeezing his paws. You can even feign clipping motions and grab at the claws themselves. Always reward tolerance of these actions.

•     Mind the quick. All dog nails have a quick inside them which is the end of the vein and can be very painful if cut. Also, cutting into this quick will cause a lot of bleeding. So, be sure to have your styptic powder on hand just in case. As your dog’s nails get longer so does the quick. So, if you haven’t trimmed the nails back in a while then chances are the quick is fairly close to the tip. It’s always best to cut off small bits at a time. White nails are easiest. You can safely cut back and avoid cutting past the pink line. In black nails, you will need to look inside the nail as you cut. When you see a grey-colored ring you have reached the beginning of the quick. If you cut a bit more and then see a white spot, stop cutting. That is the quick. All dog's nails are different. In some it will be almost impossible to see the quick. Just take your time and care. Accidents happen to everyone; even professional groomers. Your dog will forgive you. Just remember lots of treat rewards and a soothing voice.

If you keep these tips in mind you should have a successful nail clipping experience that your dog will not absolutely fear repeating. Yet, if you find you’ve only succeeded in stressing both your dog and yourself out you can always return to one of the earlier two options in dog nail maintenance. 

Whichever method you choose, keep it up. Frequent nail maintenance is the key to success and your dog will thank you for it.