When do i trim my dog nails

A good pet grooming schedule includes more than just bathing or brushing your pet. It is best to start holding and touching your pets paws when they are very young so they adjust to having their paws handled. This will help them become accustomed to having their nails clipped, as they will not be frightened or feel confined when you need to hold them to groom their paws.

Some pets, however, just won't adjust to someone holding their paws, no matter how early you begin conditioning for this important grooming step. Remember to be patient and don't get discouraged. In such cases, try clipping only one nail at a time until you have clipped all of them.

In difficult situations consider having a groomer or veterinarian do the trimming. Indoor pets may need more frequent attention. Animals claws wear down naturally through normal activity, but cats and dogs; especially when kept indoors, often need them trimmed more often as they are not as active and generally walk on softer surfaces than their outdoor counterparts. Cats in particular may try to remedy this problem by sharpening their claws on the curtains, couch or carpet.

When a dog's claws are too long you may hear them click as they walk across a hard surfaced floor; this is a sign the claws are too long and need to be clipped. Long claws are also more prone to infection. Overgrown claws can be the source of painful paw injuries for both cats and dogs.

A claw can snag something or even crack in some cases, resulting in a very painful wound. Dogs need their nails clipped and filed on a regular basis, usually every 3 to 4 weeks. It is not uncommon for dog owners to wait too long between nail clipping.

Overdue nails can raise health issues. Extended growth can result in painful ingrown nails. Elongated nails affect the comfort and health of dogs. Some dogs will find it difficult to place their full body weight on their feet with discomfort from elongated nails.

So we know what to use, when to use it, and kind of where to cut it, now — what is the best technique? Here is a video that shows how to desensitize your dog to the idea of nail trimming and create a positive experience for them. If you have a small dog or tiny puppy, the easiest way to cut will be in your arms with nail scissors. This video below shows how to use nail scissors on a calm and collected dog. For dogs with black nails, trimming little by little is the only way to go.

This video will show you how to spot the quick from the inside of the nail. Unfortunately, it is very easy for a dog to have a bad experience with nail trimming.

Try to approach it as confidently as you can because your dog will pick up on any and all of the energy you put out there. If your dog is very much opposed to having their nails trimmed, getting someone to help gently restrain your dog while talking to them, or feeding them something yummy like peanut butter, can make a big difference. If your dog is more than nervous with nail trims and behaves aggressively, you may need to incorporate muzzle training with them.

Day 6: Try trimming just the tip off of just two nails. Even pretending you are clipping and going through the motions help your pup get used to the whole process. Push your thumb slightly up and backward on the pad, while pushing your forefinger forward. This extends the nail. Clip only the tip of the nail, straight across.

Include the dewclaws, located on the inner side of the paw. Avoid clipping past the curve of the nail or you risk hitting what is called the quick the pink area of the nail that contains the blood vessels.

A nick there is painful and will bleed. For dogs with dark nails, watch for a chalky white ring. Grind across the bottom of the nail and then carefully in from the tip of the nail, smoothing rough edges. For better control, hold the grinder higher up, towards the top.

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