Clipping Dog Nails
Tuesday, March 27th, 2007Clipping Dog Nails
By Kenna Rogers 
Cutting your dog’s nails without prior knowledge can lead to a skittish dog, crying, and blood all over the floor.¬¨‚Ć The proper way to trim nails is to first research how to complete the tasks the right way and then execute with patience and a soothing voice.
Dog’s nails grow constantly, like our own, but the rate of growth is essentially based on lifestyle.¬¨‚Ć If your dog walks on hard surfaces, friction plays a role in wearing the nails away.¬¨‚Ć Alternately, if a soft substrate is what they mainly walk on, clipping nails should be done often.
Nail trimming should always start at a very young age, since starting when they’re older and unaccustomed to it may frighten them.¬¨‚Ć The first step is to have your dog get used to you touching, holding, and having the trimmers near his paws.¬¨‚Ć Next you can start applying force to their paws by lightly pinching ‚Äö√Ñ√¨ a reward should be given afterward.
When your dog is used to his paws being handled, start trimming off the tips of his nails, starting with a couple of nails a day.  Treats and a soothing voice will help your dog become accustomed to this uncomfortable necessity.
It may be necessary for a second person to hold your dog steady while you trim.¬¨‚Ć If your dog is small, simply placing them on the counter covered with a no-slip mat will suffice.¬¨‚Ć Put the clipper tool of your choice over the nail, and wait for the dog to quit squirming (if at all), check that the clippers are still in the right place and then clip quickly and efficiently.¬¨‚Ć Be sure to clip the dewclaws as well, the nails that grow on the inside of the legs.¬¨‚Ć These nails don’t come into contact with any surface and can actually grow quite long, getting snagged in bedding, foliage, etc.¬¨‚Ć My Husky’s dewclaws get caught on just about everything, and then they bleed, causing him to limp.¬¨‚Ć Another option for these pesky nails is surgical removal, which is the route I’ve chosen.
The correct way to cut the nails is to trim them at a 45-degree angle just below the quick of the nail.  If your dog has light colored nails, the quick is the dark center.  Cutting the quick can cause limping and even malformations.  If your dog has black nails, the procedure is extremely more difficult, and only the tips of the nails should be removed.  A file can be used to take away the sharp or rough edges afterward.
Oh no!¬¨‚Ć You’ve cut the quick!¬¨‚Ć First of all, don’t panic.¬¨‚Ć It was an accident, and I’m sure if your dog could speak, he would vouch that as well.¬¨‚Ć When you hear the yelp ‚Äö√Ñ√¨ and even the most experienced clippers will ‚Äö√Ñ√¨ blood will flow.¬¨‚Ć Staunch it quickly with a napkin, cuddle your dog, and give him a treat when the ordeal is over.¬¨‚Ć Do not allow your dog to lick the area; this will make it bleed longer.¬¨‚Ć Cornflower pressed firmly against the source will help stop the bleeding, or take a styptic pen and apply it to the nail ‚Äö√Ñ√¨ this will stop the flow immediately.
Clipping dog nails can be sort of a long, drawn-out, sometimes painful process, and if you absolutely don’t feel comfortable doing it, the procedure can be done at any pet grooming shop near you for a reasonable fee.¬¨‚Ć
Kenna Rogers is a full-time college student taking publication courses. She is a life-long lover and owner of various pets, including a black Labrador named Booe, a Siberian husky named Xaber, and a chow/golden retriever mix named Suey.