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Dog nailsTips for clipping dog nails at home
Dog nails can grow long and damage your dog's feet if they are not kept trimmed. Fortunately, it's easy to clip your dog's claws yourself. Or, if you're really not confident about doing it yourself, take your puppy to a dog groomer or the vet and get them to do it for you. Whichever way you do it, your puppy needs to get used to having his claws clipped regularly so get him used to having his paws touched and handled. It will make the job easier in the long run!
On this page: Why do I need to clip dog nails? How to I know when my dog's nails need to be trimmed? Why do I need to clip dog nails?If your dog's nails grow too long, they will make his toes bend upward, and it will be uncomfortable - even painful - for him to walk. Dog nails can also curl under and grow into the dog's paws. Long nails can also split and bleed, allowing infections to enter the paw - this can mean an expensive trip to the vet! Get your puppy used to having his nails clipped at a young age. The longer you leave it, the less he will like it and the more difficult it will be. Get him used to having his paws handled first – this will make nail trimming easier. How do I know when my dog's nails need to be trimmed?If you hear a 'click-click' noise or tapping as your dog walks on a hard floor, that's a good indication that his nails are in need of trimming. It's a good idea to trim dog nails every few weeks - once a month, for example. If your dog regularly walks on rough surfaces like concrete or hard ground, you may not need to trim the nails often, if at all. You should still check the nails regularly to make sure they are not growing too long. TopHow do I clip my dog's nails?To clip your dog's nails, you will need special dog nail clippers. They come in various sizes for different sized dogs. The most common ones are either scissor-shaped, with two curved blades, or guillotine-style, in which the nail is placed between a stationary section and a blade.The scissor-style clippers will need sharpening every so often, while the guillotine-style ones will need a new blade from time to time. 
Guillotine-style dog nail clippers On young puppies with small, soft dog nails you can use human nail scissors but make sure you get a set of dog nail clippers as soon as possible. Human scissors will not be sharp enough and can bend or crush the nail of an adult dog. Have plenty of treats, such as liver treats, chicken or dog biscuits, on hand to reward or distract your dog. And take breaks every few minutes if your dog needs them. Avoid the quick!Many pet owners worry about trimming their dog's nails because they are scared they will cut through to the quick. The quick is the living part of dog nails near the top of the nail (closest to the paw). It has blood vessels through it and will bleed profusely if cut. If your dog has light-coloured nails, you will be able to see the quick as a pinkish part at the top of the nail. To avoid cutting the quick, take only tiny amounts of nail off first - 1 or 2 millimetres will do. Stop cutting when you see a grey or white oval in the cut surface of the nail - this means you are getting close to the quick. If you are at all worried about
clipping dog nails yourself, take your dog
to a professional dog groomer or to the vet.
Vets will usually charge only a small amount to clip dog claws and will also be happy to show you how to do it yourself. If your dog has one or two light nails and the rest black, trim the light nails first and use those as a guide for the length to cut the dark nails. Regular trimming will make the quick recede further up the nail so the nails can be trimmed shorter. Help! I've cut the quick and it's bleeding!If you do cut the quick, your dog will probably yelp and the claw will bleed. Don't panic! Your dog will recover from this indignity and is not badly injured! You can either simply hold a few tissues or some cotton wool to the nail until it stops bleeding (it will take a few minutes) or use a styptic pencil. Styptic pencils contain a substance called silver nitrate, which will stop the bleeding quickly. Hold the end of the stick to the bleeding nail. Some pets hate the styptic pencil more than they hate the bleeding! You can buy styptic pencils at most pet stores or ask your vet. What about dew claws?Dew claws are the small claws you can often see a short way up the inside of your dog's leg, above the paw. The nail on the dew claw can easily grow very long, as the dew claw does not touch the ground when the dog walks. So even if your dog walks on hard or rough ground and doesn't need to have his dog nails trimmed often, you will need to keep an eye on the dew claws and clip them more frequently. Dew claws appear on the dog's front legs but some breeds even have them on their back legs. Some breeds, such as St Bernards, can have two sets of dew claws on the back legs. Should the dew claws be removed altogether?Some people believe that, since the dew claw doesn't touch the ground, the dog has no use for it and it can be removed. They argue that the nail on the dew claw often grows too long and can catch on something and be painfully ripped. Some breeders routinely remove the dew claws from their puppies. But dogs do use their dew claws when running and cornering quickly. The dew claws act as an important stabiliser during these activities as the dew claw actually extends and contacts the ground. This is particularly important for dogs that do any sort of fast, sporting activity, such as agility, or for working dogs, such as those that herd sheep or cattle. More puppy care at PuppyPrimer.comThe dew claws on the back legs are not used when the dog runs and can be removed if necessary. So don't get your puppy's dew claws removed! It's just another unnecessary surgical procedure (see Dog Tails). But do make sure you keep the dew claws' nails trimmed regularly so that they won't catch on anything and break or tear. Remember to trim your dog's nails often - once you've practised it, it only takes a few minutes. Gradually, both you and your dog will gain confidence and
you'll wonder why you ever avoided this simple task!
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