Dog Nail Clipping

Why Trim?

It is important to trim your dog’s nails because untrimmed nails can lead to a variety of health problems. Broken nails are painful and will bleed profusely. In extreme circumstances, dog nails may actually curl and grow into the dog’s paws.

How Do I Know When To Trim?

A good indication that it is time to trim your dog’s nails is when you hear them tapping on uncarpeted areas, such as wood floors or concrete.

What is the “Quick”?

You may have heard the expression, “Avoid the quick!” But what the heck is the ‘quick,’ anyway? The ‘quick’ is a blood vessel that runs down the middle of your dog’s nail. This blood vessel grows as your dog’s nails grow, so if you wait a very long time between clippings, the quick will be closer to the end of the nail.

The quick is what you need to avoid while trimming your dog’s nails. It is easy to see the quick with white or clear nails, but more difficult to notice with black nails.

How to Trim Your Dogs Nails

Here are four easy-to-follow steps in order to safely clip your dog’s nails.

1. Arrange all of your tools.

• You will need a nail clipper especially created for dogs. Nail clippers (available in any local pet store, costing anywhere from $10 to $20) usually come in two sizes—small clippers for smaller dogs and large clippers for larger dogs.
• Styptic powder is important to have on hand while clipping your dog’s nails. If you accidentally cut the quick, styptic powder will stop the bleeding and alleviate the pain. Some examples of styptic powder are Kwik-Stop and CutStop.

1. Sit on the floor with your dog. Before you begin to trim the nails, spend some time soothing your dog. Pet him, hold his paws, and simply calm him down. Note: If possible have someone hold your dog; nail clipping can be traumatic for some pets.

1. Start with the back paws. Take one paw in your hand and try to locate the quick. To do this, hold the paw firmly and push on the pad to extend the nail. With light nails, the pink line is the quick. Locate where the quick ends.

1. Using the dog nail clipper, cut the nail above the quick on a 45-degree angle. Basically, you want to cut off the curved end of the nail.

If your dog has black nails, it may be difficult to locate the quick. So, instead of making a large cut, make several small cuts with your clipper. This way, you can avoid the quick (Your dog will thank you for that!) Continue making small cuts until you see a black dot appear toward the center of the nail. That is the start of the quick. Stop trimming when you see the quick.

What Do I Do If I Cut the Quick?

If you cut the quick accidentally, it will bleed profusely, and your dog will most likely yelp. Immediately place styptic power on the nail. Don’t worry. Cutting the quick is not a serious problem. It will heal in a very short amount of time.

How Often Do I Trim?

As mentioned previously, a good indication that it is time to trim your dog’s nails is when you hear them tapping on hard surfaces. However, the more often you trim your dog’s nails, the easier the process will become. Try to trim your dog’s nails weekly, even if walks keep them naturally short. This way, the quick will actually start to regress into the nail, allowing you to cut shorter each time.

Dos & Don’ts Dog Nail Clipping

• Do praise your dog and offer small treats along the way through the dog nail clipping process.
• Do NOT allow your dog to mouth or bite.

It is important that this time you spend with your dog is not a struggle. Be patient. A dog's nail clipping can be a stressful event for him, especially if someone has cut the quick before. Dogs tend to remember that painful incident. So, if your dog is not used to having his nails trimmed, or is frightened, simply begin slowly and hold his toes firmly for 15-30 seconds during practice sessions, then progress from holding his toes to actually trimming them.

With time and patience, you and your dog will become accustomed to the practice of doing a dog's nail clipping, and soon you will have the trimming process down pat.

Where to Purchase Dog Nail Trimmers

• PetSmart
• Petco
• Doctors Foster & Smith