Cutting dog’s nails is usually a feared activity, both by dogs and by the owners themselves, and unless your pet is a very active dog and does a lot of exercise in asphalt outdoor areas, his nails will have to be trimmed or filed regularly, according to their growth rate, to avoid unnecessary health problems. Nails that are too long are more prone to breakage causing pain or infection, and what is worse, they can alter the animal’s gait and cause serious bone and joint problems.
We leave you some simple tips to be able to cut your nails calmly and in the safest way possible, although if you do not feel comfortable, it is preferable not to take risks and go to the vet or the dog groomer .
Get advice about it
If it is the first time you try it, let yourself be advised by professionals, ask your veterinarian or the canine groomer to indicate the best technique to do it.
Choose the nail clipper
You should choose a nail clipper for dogs and assess the most appropriate according to the size of your dog.
Scissors: It is a scissors with a rounded tip, adaptable to the animal’s nail. The best option for small breed dogs.
Guillotine: Usually in the form of pliers. They have a hole at the end where you can insert the nail for cutting with a blade. With this system more pressure is exerted which will facilitate the cutting of the nails of larger dogs.
Electric files: They are very effective but require a bit more precision to use them, they are very appropriate for cutting and maintenance, especially in large breed dogs. A small drawback of this system is noise, the animal can put up resistance, check beforehand that the dog is able to accept it.
Beware of accidents
Have gauze pads and an anti-hemorrhagic product on hand so you can use it immediately in the event of an accident. If you accidentally cut the nail matrix, it will cause bleeding and cause pain in the animal. In these cases, act quickly, keeping the dog calm while pressing the wound with the gauze soaked in the coagulant medication for a few minutes.
These situations can occur when the nails are so dark that they prevent the beginning of the matrix from being appreciated.
When to cut nails
There is no uniformity in the growth of the nails of dogs, each animal has its own growth rate depending on its habits and way of life. In general terms, the nails should be cut when they excessively exceed the pads to avoid causing discomfort to the animal.
How to cut nails
First of all, prepare the moment with your dog, keep him relaxed to start the cut calmly. Have some treats on hand to reward their behavior, for the animal it is a stressful situation.
Start by holding the paw gently, hold one finger firmly, and observe where the matrix ends so that you can make the cut with the least possible risk. The cut must be made from top to bottom and as perpendicular as possible to the nail. When in doubt, it is preferable to cut little by little until you get the desired size or finish the cut with a good filing.
Do not forget to also cut the spur, this nail, as it does not have any wear, grows faster and can dig into the skin.
