How to Trim Your Dog's Nails at Home - Step by Step with Illustrations

trimming your dog's nails is important for maintaining joint health and preventing leg injury with the right tools it's possible to trim the nails ourselves in this video we have brought you the step-by-step guide to cutting your dog's nails at home along with some helpful tips to ensure it goes smoothly why it is important to cut your dog's nails clipping your dog's nails is more than a cosmetic chore in the wild dogs and wolves run and walk on hard rough surfaces on a daily basis and this will slowly and continuously wear down their nails and keep

them short however many pet dogs spend most of their time indoors or on soft surfaces like grass or carpets which don't naturally file down their nails this is why we should check them ourselves to see if they're overgrown longer Nails make it harder for dogs to walk around comfortably and properly the dog may begin to adopt awkward postures leading to sprains or injuries to their joints long nails are also a hazard to your dog because they can curl into the skin and cause pain or infection how often should you trim your dog's nails A good

rule of thumb is that you should trim your dog's nails as often as it takes to prevent their nails from touching the ground when they're standing as soon as we see them start to approach the end of the paw pad it's time for a trim the amount of time between nail trims depends on how quickly your dog's nails grow and how quickly they are are worn down the average dog should have his nails clipped every 4 weeks what does it take to trim a dog's nails to safely cut a dog's nails at home without hurting

them it's crucial to have the right tools for small and medium-sized dogs the most recommended tool to use is Clippers preferably one with a guard like this keep in mind that just as there are various paw sizes Clippers come in different sizes too so choose the one that fits your dog best for larger dog breeds it is best to choose a guillotine style Clipper Guillotine style Clippers have a hole that you poke the nail through they require less pressure to make a clean cut and provide a more precise cut if you have a calm and

laidback dog that isn't bothered by external noise and vibration you can even use a nail grinder to shorten their nails it's easy to use and allows you to file the dog's nails to the ideal length now that we have the right tools let's talk about the process of nail trimming and how far we should cut a dog's nails how and how far to cut the only real concern with trimming your dog's nails is the potential to cut the nail too short and hitting the quick the quick is a soft cuticle that runs through the core

of the nail it is very sensitive and contains all of the nerves and blood supply to the nail as a result it is very important that you avoid hitting this quick to prevent your dog from experiencing pain discomfort and bleeding the quick can be observed by looking at the nail in the light showing a pink line that doesn't go all the way to the tip a useful trick is to shine a flashlight behind the nail this will make the quick visible and help you find the right spot to trim this is the cutting limit the

best way to avoid cutting the quick is to cut little bits of the nail at a time rather than going for a big chunk this is especially important with dark colored claws since it's more challenging to see the quick compared to light colored claws grab one of the nails and check to see where the quick is so that you know how much to trim cut the nail in a quick and safe motion if you take too long it can make the dog nervous and they'll try to escape when cutting a dog's nail it's recommended to

trim at a 45° angle rather than straight across the cut edge of your dog's nail should run parallel with the floor what do I do if I cut the quick when the Qui is cut it tends to bleed a lot it will also be a little painful for your dog so they might cry or Yelp however don't panic since not all pups hold still for nail trims even professional groomers cut the quick sometimes so don't beat yourself up if it happens no dog has ever died from a cut quick the easiest and most effective way

to stop dog nail bleeding is with stipic powder or a stipic pencil which can be purchased at most major pet stores Andes simply dip your dog's bleeding nail into the powder or apply it with a cotton swab and the bleeding will stop if you don't have an etitic you can also use corn starch baking soda or flour don't forget the de claws most dogs have de claws on the inside of their front legs these claws are up the leg a little further than the rest of your dog's toes and are Loosely attached do claws do

not touch the ground and are not worn down by walking so it is important they are cut regularly the D claw can usually be bent away from the legs so that you can trim easily with the Clippers additional tips in addition to this guide here are some extra tricks and tips to help your dog have successful non-stressful nail trims if this is your first time trimming your dog's nails take some time to familiarize them with the Clippers and Associate them with positive experiences allow your dog to smell the Clippers and offer rewards this must be

done for a few days before the clipping touch your dog's Paws and Nails regularly so they get used to being handled avoid cutting your dog's nails when they are stressed nervous or in a hurry it's important to carry out this task in a calm environment use words of encouragement and gentle petting during the nail cutting session so they associate The Experience positively if you notice you are too tired or nervous stop and resume at a more suitable time synthetic pheromones can also be used to create a relaxed atmosphere during the nail nail trimming session avoid

scolding your pet if they pull their paw back or exhibit fear punishment may serve to increase the dog's fear which will not solve the problem in the long run it'll also make your pup associate nail trimming with fear or distress further complicating the process the goal is to desensitize the dog to nail trimming and avoid exceeding that threshold if you have a puppy start the routine as soon as possible so they get used to the trimming experience from an early age if if your dog has a lot of fur in their paw pads it's best

to trim them before clipping their nails remember having another person assist by holding the dog can make the process smoother and safer when cutting your dog's nails push your thumbs slightly up and backward on the pad while pushing your forefinger forward this extends the nail making it easier to trim here is another tip it is best to trim your dog's nails after bathtime and before you take them out of the tub the water softens the nail which greatly limits splintering but more importantly letting the nail soak whitens the part of the nail that is just

nail while the part that contains the quick remains dark yes this works for black nails too the black nail does not turn as white as the light nail but you will still see enough color difference to determine what is just nail and where the quick starts if a bath isn't an option or if you are in a rush simply soak your dog's paw in warm water now that you've learned more about trimming a dog dog's nails share your thoughts in the comment section below do you trim your dog's nails at home do you know any

additional tips to make the process easier share your own experience and let us know your comments in the comment section below