How to Clip Dog Nails?

 

Nail trimming or clipping, also known as a puppy pedicure can be done with ease – if you know how to do it the right way.

The best way to go about the grooming job is to collect all the necessary tools that you will need in order to trim the nails of your dog. A list of all necessary tools is given below:

Nail Clippers

The first and foremost item you’ll require (in order to trim or cut the nails of your pup) is a nail clipper or a nail grinder (click for full guide). There are a number of clippers available on the market, so you have to select the best one that suits your canine companion.

The nail clippers come in different types and styles, e.g. a Guillotine- style clipper, which is ideal for smaller breeds. If you have a larger breed dog, you might want to go for pliers-style clippers. Therefore, selecting the right nail clipper is highly important.

Treats

Here some of you would be wondering why you would require treats when you are looking to trim or clip the nails of your pup. Well, clipping the dog’s nail can be a very irritating thing for him at times, just to make sure that he has a pleasant experience while you clip his nails. You can offer him a treat or two in between.

Clotting Powder

You should have a styptic or a clotting powder when you are clipping the dog’s nails as a safety precaution. You might accidentally cut the nails a bit more than what actually is required, and bleeding may start. Y

ou must always be ready for such a situation. Better yet – prevent it from even occurring! Having a clotting powder alongside you when you start clipping is a worthwhile idea.

How to Use the Clippers

Now when you have collected all the right nail tools, it is highly important that you know how to use these tools in an intended manner. Using the nail clippers can be intimidating if you are using them for the first time.

As a rule of thumb, check the clippers first before using them to make sure the blades are working properly. Whatever the style of the clipper, make sure that you have a firm grip on it. Always use your fingers to separate the toes of the pup – making things easier for him.

How To Clip Dog Nails When Dog Is Scared?

Your dog may be scared of getting his nails clipped, but allowing him to live with that fear can make matters worse for both of you. When the dog has fear for the clippers, he is not only going to make the process difficult for you – but also for any professional out there, if you decide to go down that road.

The ultimate end to all this can be achieved by giving him sedation in order to clip his nails. Therefore, it is best that you ride your pup of this fear at a very early stage. This helps to make him used to this whole clipping process.

The real challenge is when you have an adult dog and he is scared of getting his nails clipped. In such a scenario you can take some measures like changing the clippers because your furry friend might have a bad experience with the current clippers.

You can also arrange for a dog party, and give your four-legged friend a number of treats before you go on and clip his nails. This is so that your canine remembers the whole experience, as a pretty nice one – and knows that whenever the clipping is going to happen, he MIGHT get numerous treats. All these measures can minimize the fear of your dog, if not erase it completely.

How to Cut Dog Nails that are too long?

The most important factor here is that you mustn’t let the nails grow too long in the first place. Once they grow long it is really hard to cut or trim the nails to usual size. Therefore, it is recommended that you should not allow the nails of your canine to grow very long in the first place.

If you have inevitably made the mistake i.e. you have left the dog nails to grow very long and the quick has also grown with it, there is only one way you can recede the quick. This is to trim the dog nails on a very regular basis.

Here the regular basis means trimming the dog nails regularly for seven to ten days. Since you have committed one mistake already by letting the nails grow too long, now do not commit another mistake by doing all this on your own.

If your dog nails have grown too long it is always best to take the help of a professional Vet.

How to Cut Dog’s Nails without Clippers?

If you are not using the clippers to cut or trim the hair of your pup, you can go for the Dremel tools that are easily available in the market. One aspect you have to take into consideration while cutting off the dog nails with a Dremel tool, are the same as when you are cutting the nails with clippers. The only added advantage that you get with these tools is that you cannot accidentally cut into the dog’s quick while using these tools.

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