Dog’s nail clipping step by step

Clipping nails can be stressful for dogs so, you should start clipping very early when they are still puppies, as early as on the seventh day of puppy’s life. It is not just a cosmetic procedure or a way to protect your furniture. Nails that are too long can cause health problems, especially when they walk on hard floors. It may cause unnatural curvature of paws, damage to nerves and blood vessels. If you neglect nail care, it can be difficult to remove them properly.

Right pliers

Buy quality tools for trimming claws and pliers specially designed for nail clipping. They need to be sharp and strong and durable. Clipping will make tools dull quickly and you need to resharpen them. Check the condition before each use. Dull tools are harder to work with and they do not make a smooth cut.. Rugged edges can get easily stuck in holes and damage your furniture. In the worst case, your dog may injure itself.

Photo: Pixabay

Trimming

You need to have things under your control. Hold the paw firmly, but do not hurt your dog. If you are not sure where you should clip (you inserted the claw in the pliers, but you do not know the exact position of the cut, or your dog is not calm enough), you should not trim. A good idea is to press lightly on the root of the claw and it should slide out a bit. You can practice this while playing with your dog, even if you do not want to trim. This will help the dog get used to it.

How much should you trim?

If you have a dog with white nails, your task is easier. Just like human nails, dog nails have a white and a pink part. When clipping you must only remove the white part and not interfere with the pink part. This could cause bleeding and pain. If your dog has black nails you need to be extra careful. Always cut small sections and continuously observe whether you notice a darker spot inside. If you do, stop cutting. Cut at 45 ° angle relative to the paw. When done, you should use a file to make the cut smooth.

Tips to make nail clipping easier for your dog

• Apply a little bit of peanut butter on the mat where you do the trimming. Dogs love it and will lick it while you are trimming. This will keep your dog entertained and it will pay less attention to what you are doing.
• Put small dogs on your lap and cut. If you have a large dog put it on the mat and place the paw you are clipping in front of the dog. If the dog is scared use another person to hold it.
• If you do not feel comfortable, do not do it. Go to your veterinarian or to a dog grooming salon. These people are very experienced and the procedure will be quick and painless.

Source:

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Preview photo: Pixabay