How To Trim Dog Nails
How to use dog nail clippers? What you want is to trim your dogs toenails on the part before the quick, cutting just the tips of their nails. One piece of advice is this – when you look at your untrimmed dogs nail on the side view, it will curve after the quick.
Here are the steps in trimming your dogs nails including how to use dog nail clippers:
The next day, you can do the steps above on another paw. And when youve become more experienced, you can trim the nails on all four paws in one sitting. If you are worried, however, you can have your dogs nails trimmed at the vet to be safe.
Tips For Calming Your Dog Before Clipping
Resorting to drugs should be the last resort. You’re going to have to clip your pup’s nails throughout their entire lives. So, you must do your part to teach your dog that the grooming task is no big deal!
This can take some time, but it’s well worth the work. The goal here is to get your dog so comfortable with the process that they will just sit still and provide their paw.
Here are some tips to help you get to that point.
Grinder File Cap Clippers Trimmer Scratching Board
Choose dog nail-trimming tools that you are most comfortable with. Guillotine-style nail clippers and other trimmers for example are easy to use, but they may cause accidental bleeding if youre not that careful.
Meanwhile, if you just want to do a little touch-up or if youre worried about using clippers, you may use a grinder. Because these tools are usually battery operated, grinding the nails in a gradual way instead of clipping makes them less prone to accidental bleeding.
Other tools that you can use to trim your dogs nails are caps, files, and scratching boards. Remember to have some styptic powder ready so that you can use it if ever an accident occurs.
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How To Trim Nails Of Anxious Dogs
Cutting a dogs nails is not something the animal expects to happen in their life. It is something we humans have introduced and can be something the dog dislikes, especially at first. Even handling their paws will feel strange to them, and so that is a good place to start if you want to start trimming their nails yourself. .
The key it seems is to begin the process in young animals, so that they get used to the new sensation.
Go slowly and let the dog familiarise itself with you touching its paws. It might take a couple of attempts, but then introduce the clippers and gradually progress to cutting the nails. Make sure he/she has good associations with the activity, so reward with treats and lots of cuddles. Eventually he/she will let you trim the nails without feeling anxious
What To Choose As Alternative Of Sedating Dogs
If at all possible, avoid using sedative medications. Even though your dog is picky about getting their nails trimmed, natural alternatives may be a better option if he doesnt exhibit severe behaviour to avoid the grooming process.
You can use these goods without worrying about anything bad happening to you. Theyre less likely to cause adverse effects.
They wont put your dog to sleep completely. Instead, they have a relaxing effect, making the process easier to handle.
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What Happens During A Dog Nail Clipping Appointment
Nail clipping can be nerve wracking for dogs and owners alike, so weve made things easy to ensure your dog leaves with a wagging tail and plenty of pep. At Best Friends Pets, your dog is a member of our extended family, spoiled with pats, encouragement and a lot of love and patience as excess nail disappears in short, decisive snips. Most dog nail clipping appointments follow a tried and tested plan:
Reasons To Trim Dog Nails
Nails that are too long are at risk of being torn off. They can easily catch on furniture or the carpet and can cause serious injury. In some cases it might require a trip to the vet, which is costly, as well as unsettling for the dog.
Long nails make walking difficult, and the pressure pushing up into the nailbed can become uncomfortable for the animal or they can get ingrown nails. They may start walking differently to compensate, which in turn will cause problems and pain in other joints.
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Restraint Of Aggressive Dog/follow
I posted a month ago on how to restrain an aggressive dog for nail clipping.
Some said to train him to accept it. Don’t think this blind dog would be amenable to training for this.
Well,it took some brain-storming but this is how it can be done.
Tie your dog with a leash to a solid object. Collar should be a martingale type so he can’t slip out of it but choking is minimal to moderate. This is a quick procedure.
Then get a beach towel and wrap it around the dogs head. Must be a large, loose towel so it’s easy to rewrap if the dog comes out of it and loose enough so there will be air in the towel but still covers the head.. Also, if he bites, he’ll bite towel. One person holds his head and keeps the towel on.
Then the other person clips the nails while this restraint is going on.
After this stressful event, let the dog relax for a few minutes and then give him his favorite treat.
Great idea, if i do say so meself!
Oral Medications And Supplements
Some dogs may benefit from oral medications like Trazadone or Sileo®, or supplements like Zylkene® or Composure Pro®. Supplements should not sedate your dog, but medications typically will. Discuss these and other options with your veterinarian to see whether your dog may benefit from one or a combination of products. Supplements on their own may not be enough help for an aggressive dog but may be used alongside medication to potentially decrease the necessary dosage.
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How Do You Trim A Dog’s Nails That Are Black
5:3511:23And they’re not really hollow up at the bottom if sometimes they’re hollow on the tip you can justMoreAnd they’re not really hollow up at the bottom if sometimes they’re hollow on the tip you can just cut that out but they’re not.
Hi, Iâm Cara. Iâm a life-long learner and creator with a passion for dog training and the science of canine behavior. My love for dogs began at the age of 4 when my first family pet was a black lab named Dallas who was most definitely not trained to do tricks! Since then I have had several dogs ranging from pugs to Dobermans and I have an unreasonable enthusiasm for all things doable or teachable in dog training. After spending several years training dogs and people in a variety of environments, I formally earned my master dog training certificate.
Trimming Your Dogs Nails
There are several types of dog nail trimmers, including scissors, grinder tools specifically designed for dogs, and guillotine types. You can use whatever type you are most comfortable with, or whatever works best for your dog. Its a good idea to have some styptic powder or other clotting powder on hand to stop bleeding in case you cut a nail too short.
If youve never clipped a dogs nails before, you may want to have your veterinarian or vet tech give you a lesson on how to do it, suggests Dr. Jerry Klein, AKCs chief veterinary officer.
Here are the steps to follow to properly trim your dogs nails:
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How Do I Prevent My Dog From Developing A Fear Of Nail Trimming
It is best to begin dog training early in life. In addition to sit and stay, pups can learn to relax when their nails are trimmed. When petting your new pup, rub her feet and put pressure on her toes. Let her investigate the nail clippers as they lie on the floor, then open and close them so she can hear the noise they make. Next, clip the very tip off a nail while providing positive reinforcement with praise and treats. Your pup should not develop a fear of the clippers if exposed to them in a positive manner at a young age.
How To Sedate A Dog For Nail Clipping
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Trimming your pup’s nail’s is an important, yet often overlooked grooming task. While overgrown nails might seem like a benign issue, they can get out of hand pretty quickly! It’s not just a cosmetic concern. Unclipped nails can cause injury, irritation, and eventual infection. Plus, the longer you wait to trim those nails, the more difficult the task becomes!
For many dogs, nail-clipping is nothing more than a minor annoyance. They don’t necessarily like it, but they get used to it. For some dogs, however, it’s a terrifying experience they fight tooth and nail to avoid!
That’s where sedation comes in.
It’s not ideal, but some canine companions need sedation and calming products to sit through a nail trimming session. Sedatives are typically reserved for extreme cases of anxiety and aggression.
Many rescue dogs or those that have had bad experiences in the past have a hard time overcoming their fears, making sedation a necessity.
If you want to learn how to sedate a dog for nail clipping, here is some important information you need to know.
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Signs Your Dog Is Stressed During Nail Trims
If you notice your dog exhibiting the subtle body language signals listed below, it’s best to stop and take a break from nail trimming.
If we ignore these subtle signs of stress or nervousness, a dog may escalate to more aggressive behavior, like biting, in an effort to make the unpleasant experience stop. Go back in your conditioning steps to where your dog is more comfortable and work up from there.
Watch for these signs of stress:
- Turning their head away
- Licking their lips or flicking their tongue
- Paw lift or paw pulling away
- Trying to curl up in a ball or tucking their feet under their body
Is Sedation Really Necessary
In some cases, sedation is an absolute necessity. That said, it’s not as common as many people think.
Vets will often recommend sedation is extreme cases where the dog poses a threat to itself and the groomer.
Dogs that are poorly trained and poorly socialized will often have trouble with nail trimming. The same can be said about dogs who might have had rough experiences in the past. If the dog’s “quick” was cut previously, that will often have an effect on dogs, too.
That doesn’t mean that you’re a bad pet parent! Many rescue dogs do through tough situations that are hard to overcome. Teaching your dog to stay calm during the nail trimming process takes time. But in the meantime, your pup needs to have their nails cut somehow!
Dogs can become overly aggressive and violent if they do not like being touched. When you add loud trimmers or sharp tools into the mix, it’s a recipe for disaster. Whoever is cutting their nails is at risk for bites or full-on attacks. Meanwhile, your dog could injure themselves trying to get away.
This is when veterinarians will recommend sedation. Oftentimes, it’s the only solution.
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Why Nail Clipping Is Important
It’s not uncommon to see dogs walking around with their nails dragging on the ground. Many owners neglect this important grooming task. It’s just nails, right? What harm could it do?
Well, overgrown nails can cause a litany of problems in the future. You see, canine nails grow in a curved pattern. If left untouched, the nails will eventually circle back around and dig into the footpad.
Not only does this cause immense pain for your pooch, but it can also increase the likelihood of injury. All it takes is one knick to break the nail. This could lead to sharp pain, irritation, and eventual infection. Nail infections are particularly nasty. The infection could spread to the toe bone. In severe cases, dogs may require amputation of the toe entirely!
That’s not all.
When you neglect to cut your dog’s nails, the blood vessels and nerves will elongate, too. Have you ever heard of someone cutting their dog’s “quick?” Chances are, it was a traumatizing experience for both dog and owner!
The “quick” which is the pinkish bundle of blood vessels and nerves under the nail, is highly sensitive. When cut, it’s difficult to stop the bleeding. Furthermore, cut quicks are prone to serious infection.
The “quick” can overtake long nails and require careful intervention to shorten again. Once it gets long, it’s impossible to shorten your dog’s nails in one session.
I Made My Dogs Nails Bleed What Should I Do
If you accidentally cut too far and into the quick, you can apply silver nitrate in the form of a styptic pencil. However, dogs seem to dislike this as much, if not more, than the nail trimming itself. It does stop blood flow, although the blood will stop of its own accord after about 5 minutes anyway.
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Trim Their Nails Frequently
If you only trim your dog’s nails every couple of months, getting them comfortable is going to take years! You should trim your dog’s nails every couple of weeks.
Frequent trimmings provide more exposure and more opportunities for them to conquer their fears. Plus, it ensures that the nails stay in good shape. With frequent cuttings, the “quick” will stay short, which minimizes the risk of pain and irritation.
In between clippings, consider walking your dog on a hard and rough surface. A concrete driveway or sidewalk works well! The rough ground will naturally file the nails down, leaving less work for you to do during the trimming. As a result, you get the job done quickly and efficiently.
Natural Alternatives To Sedation
Ideally, you would avoid drug-based sedation altogether. If your dog is fussy about getting their nails cut but don’t resort to extreme behaviors to avoid it, natural products may work better.
These products are much safer for you to use. They come with fewer potential side-effects.
They will not fully sedate your dog. Rather, they provide a calming effect that will make the process more manageable.
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Use The Appropriate Tools
Last, but certainly not least, you need to use the right tools! Cheap tools are only going to pinch the nail and cause harm.
Invest in a high-quality pair of clippers that are sharp. You can also use a grinder for more precision. Grinders are great for rounding off the nails. They also avoid that sudden cut, which might be more comfortable for your dog.
Whatever you use, give your dog some time to get comfortable with it. Grinders can get loud, which could startle your dog even more. Let your dog investigate the item before you jump right in and start clipping.
Why Trim Dog Nails
Reasons to Trim Dog Nails Nails that are too long are at risk of being torn off, such as if your dog’s nail gets caught on a piece of carpeting or furniture. This can result in an injury that might require veterinary care if it’s serious enough. Longer dog nails also make it harder for dogs to walk around comfortably.
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Why You The Dog Owner Should Be Taking Over Nail Trims From Your Veterinarian
Posted November 22, 2017
News flash!
Dogs. Do. Not. Like. Nail. Trims.
Shocking, right?
Not really. Most people understand this intuitively from watching the shenanigans ensue as soon as a vet tech or groomer puts a dog on a table and grabs a nail trimmer.
As a veterinary behaviorist, Ive seen plenty of fearful and/or aggressive patients get worse after poorly handled nail trims and grooms. Lets stop scaring our friends. Scared dogs are more likely to bite people, and weve already got plenty of public health risks to go around
Thankfully, nail trims are generally not medical procedures. You can, and should, learn to do them at home. But they are extremely important. With untrimmed nails, animals can snag or even rip their claws. More insidiously, long nails can make animals walk and stand abnormally, turning otherwise tiny problems into big deals. Long nails can make animals slip on flooring, and that in turn can make them more anxious and less willing to move or play. In short, nail care is key for animal health and welfare.
The problem is that good nail trims may or may not be fast, but clients often expect that they should be. This is likely because, for eons, veterinary clinics have offered this frequently performed technical procedure either free or below-cost. As a result, clients often think of nail trims as a quick or add-on service that barely even needs an appointment.
Heres the skinny.
VETS WANT YOU TO KNOW
This is the best medicine. Listen to your vet.
