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This article was co-written by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott is a veterinarian with over thirty years of experience. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 and worked as a veterinary surgeon for 7 years. Then, Dr. Elliott worked as a veterinarian in a clinic for over a decade.
This article has been viewed 61,435 times.
Nail trimming is an important task to keep your dog’s toenails neat and clean. It also helps to keep floors and furniture in the house free from scratches. Long toenails are easy to break, cause bleeding, or can grow back into the paws and cause pain. Too long toenails can also make it difficult for your dog to move. Nail trimming will help prevent these problems, and by the way, you can check for abnormalities (if any) in your dog’s toenails.
Steps
Help your dog get used to being held
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Choose the right time. Most dogs don’t like having their toenails trimmed, so you have to choose a time when they’re relaxing. If the dog is playing, wait until it lies down then approach to train it to get used to being held.
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Hold the dog’s paw gently. Start by slowly touching its feet. If the dog does not respond, you can gently massage and press on its paws. Depending on your dog’s age and personality, it may take a few practice sessions before they get used to it. Repeat the exercise several times a day until the dog no longer responds to holding the paw.
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Teach your dog to lie on his side when trimming his nails if necessary. If your dog has had a bad impression of nail trimming, they probably won’t let you. For example, if a dog has ever been cut by someone in the “pink” area (where many nerves and blood vessels of the toenail are located), it will experience severe pain and bleeding. Older dogs can develop arthritis in their toes, and trimming their toenails makes them uncomfortable. In these cases, it will be easier to have your dog lie down while trimming the nails.
- Have your dog lie on his side as you train him to do handshakes to trim his nails.
- You can also trim the nails while the dog is standing without lifting his paw. Only use this method when you have experience in cutting nails. [1] X Research Source The Everything Dog Grooming Book. Sandy Blackburn. F+W Publications, Inc.
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Check for abnormalities of the foot. [2] X Research Sources Nail diseases. CVC in Washington, DC Proceedings. April 1, 2010. Patrick Hensel, DVM, DACVD. When massaging the paws and toenails, you should take the opportunity to check on the health of the dog. Take it to the vet if it shows any pain, sores, broken nails, swelling or redness, lame feet or strangely colored nails before trying to trim their nails. [3] X Handbook of Veterinary Procedures and Emergency Treatment. Ford and Mazzaferro. Elsevier, Inc. Injuries, infections, tumors, and autoimmune diseases are common symptoms in dogs.
- The injury usually only occurs on one toe and is caused by running or jumping on rough surfaces or nails that are not properly trimmed.
- Injuries or conditions such as diabetes or hypothyroidism can lead to nail infections. Bacterial infections often cause pain, swelling, and a lowered immune system around the toenail.
- Fungal and parasitic infections are less common than bacterial infections but have similar symptoms.
- Tumors can take on many different shapes: lumps, bumps, swelling, redness, or pus.
- Immune diseases can also affect toenails, making them brittle and prone to flaking.
- Report these symptoms to your veterinarian as soon as possible so that your dog can be treated.
Nail trimming
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Use dog nail clippers. Human nail clippers are designed for flat surfaces, but dog paws are different. Using human nail clippers can break nails, cause pain, or injure your dog. There are different types of dog nail trimmers, but the most common is a straight cut (U-shaped) or a “scissors” cut. Which cutting method to choose depends on the cutter.
- The “scissors” cut is usually easier to apply, since you don’t have to press the pliers surface against the nail.
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Locate the pink area. The pink zone is the part of the toenail that contains many blood vessels and nerves. Cutting into this area will cause pain and bleeding for the dog. The best way, you should only trim your nails 2-4 mm from the pink area.
- If the dog has white nails, you will easily see the pink area inside the toenail.
- If your dog has dark nails, you won’t be able to see the area. Carefully prune it little by little to avoid cutting it. You can ask your dog groomer or veterinarian to show you how long your nails should be trimmed.
- If your dog’s nails grow too long, the pink zone will grow. Regular nail trimming will return the pink area to its original length.
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Keep the dog still. If your dog is used to being held, just lay him down and trim his nails. If the dog is constantly moving, gently use your elbow and arm to hold the dog’s paws to keep him in a lying position.
- If you have an extremely active dog, ask someone else for help. Ask a friend to hold the dog so you can focus on trimming the nails.
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Start with the back leg. The hind toenails are usually shorter and easier to trim. Dogs tend to be more accepting of being controlled on their hind legs than on their front legs, so start with the back leg and continue with the front leg.
- Locate and approximate the pink area before cutting deep into the nail.
- Be careful when pruning near the pink area and stop when 2-3 mm from the pink area.
- Don’t forget to trim your nails if you have them. Some dogs will have claws located on the inside of their legs, on the “ankle” area. [4] X Research Sources
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Stop bleeding immediately if you accidentally cut the pink area. Cutting the pink area often causes a lot of bleeding, the dog may cry out in pain or bite you back in self-defense. If you accidentally bleed, cover your toenail with a tissue and hold it for a few minutes. If the bleeding still does not stop, use cornstarch or hemostatic powder. You can dip the dog’s paw in the powder or use your hand to apply a large amount of powder to the wound.
- If the bleeding doesn’t stop after 10 minutes, call your vet.
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Regularly praise your dog. Give your dog a lot of encouragement, and if possible, a little food will be a great motivator to keep them still. Praise your dog during the nail trimming process and reward him with a treat every time a paw is trimmed.
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File your nails if desired. Like human nails, dog toenails are also very rough when first cut. Although it will wear away on its own, if you are not sure about the floor and furniture in the house, file your dog’s nails as soon as you finish trimming them to make the nails less sharp.
Advice
- Praise your dog a lot to let them know they are doing a good job.
- Bathe your dog first to soften the nails so you can trim them more easily.
Warning
- DO NOT cut the blood vessels inside the toenail!
- Cutting the pink area without cleaning the cut can lead to infection.
- Always wash and disinfect nail clippers after use to avoid the risk of infection.
- Ingrown toenails should be checked by a veterinarian; you should not cut yourself.
- If you notice your dog limping after trimming its nails, consult your veterinarian.
Things you need
- Nail trimmer for dogs
- Nail file for dogs
- Cornstarch or hemostatic powder (in case the pink area is cut)
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This article was co-written by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott is a veterinarian with over thirty years of experience. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 and worked as a veterinary surgeon for 7 years. Then, Dr. Elliott worked as a veterinarian in a clinic for over a decade.
This article has been viewed 61,435 times.
Nail trimming is an important task to keep your dog’s toenails neat and clean. It also helps to keep floors and furniture in the house free from scratches. Long toenails are easy to break, cause bleeding, or can grow back into the paws and cause pain. Too long toenails can also make it difficult for your dog to move. Nail trimming will help prevent these problems, and by the way, you can check for abnormalities (if any) in your dog’s toenails.
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