Trimming Your Dog's Nails

TRIMMING YOUR DOGS TOENAILS

Unless a dog is getting Vast Amounts of free exercise on hard ground, they need their nails trimmed every five weeks. Don't forget the DEW CLAWS high up on the inside of the front legs and even sometimes on the back legs.

The main thing is to not cut into the "Quick" of the nail which is blood and nerve endings.

If by accident, already have on hand from your Vet's or even some Pet Stores, have  "Quick Stop" which can be applied to stop the bleeding. Hold leg up for at least 3 minutes so it has time to work.  Or if no "Quick Stop" on hand you can dip it in Cornstarch or even white Flour repeatably until a clump forms.  Hold the leg up for at least 5 minutes, sometimes longer so it does not start bleeding again when the clump of cornstarch or flour falls off when the dog starts walking on it.

With clear nails a person can see the quick (it is Pink) and know to cut below it. With dark nails this is not possible so you have to look at the underside of the nail. You will notice that the END of the nail looks Hollow or Grooved inwards, slowly becoming solid and not grooved. Cut well below where the nail is becoming solid looking and where it is starting to bend downwards. Then you should be fine.

Do not worry to much if one bleeds, just have products ready and waiting to clot the blood. With a little bit of practice, all owners can become adept at nail trimming. Do the snipping of the nails quickly once the correct place has been determined. As in DO NOT apply slow steady pressure to the handles of the nippers as this hurts. Buy good quality nail clippers for your dog.

NOTE"  For SMALL breed, very young puppies until a bit older, just use some good, still sharp, toe nail clippers.  Swiching to dog nail clippers once 3 to 4 months old.

You know you have cut your dogs nails short enough when in a standing position, no nails still touch the floor.  The secret at being good at clipping your puppy or dogs toenails is to clip the nail until you see a darkish colored or black dot appear in the center of the cut end of the nail.

NOTE:  Nails that are left to long cause the toe's joints to be bent out of their natural position.  This is uncomfortable for the dog and in older dogs, makes their age related arthritis far worse.