When people think of grooming their dogs, very rarely do they think about clipping the nails of the dog as a part of that. While brushing the coat of the dog can be fun and a wonderful bonding experience, it is extremely important that the nails of the dog are not forgotten about. Many people tend to forget about the nails of the dog simply because they have no desire to try to clip them on their own. Instead, they prefer a professional dog groomer to do it for them. This is generally because of a fear of clipping dog's nails.
But why would anyone be fearful of clipping a dog's nails? The main reason is because there is a vein that runs into the nail of the dog. If the nails are clipped too short, then excessive bleeding could take place. Also, your dog would be in a lot of pain and many people would just rather let the nails grow long then to try and clip them on their own. But when the nails are allowed to grow out of control, many bad things can happen, even if you do not realize it.
To start with, dogs that live inside nice carpeted homes due not have the chance to run around on hard ground, gravel, or rocks that would naturally file the nails down. In nature, this is how the nails of the dog would be taken care of. Inside a comfortable home, this is not something that is going to take place. When the nails grow out of control, many dogs may find that they have a little trouble walking as their nails are pushing their feet into a position that they would not normally be in when walking.
Also, overly long nails on a dog allow the dog to be subject to snagging their nails on fabric and other things around the house that could cause it pain. In order to make sure that none of these things happen to the dog, it is vital to make sure that the dog's nails are properly clipped at all times. In order to ease any fears that you may have in regards to doing the clipping yourself, just purchase a clipper with a guide. There are many nail clippers for dogs that have a stop, or barrier, on them that will prevent you from over clipping the nails of the dog.
If you are still a little worried about the whole situation, there are powders on the market sold for the purpose of stopping bleeding that comes as a result of over clipping the nails of a dog. This powder would simply be placed on the cut area and it would stop the bleeding right away. By having this type of product on hand you will know that you are not only properly clipping your dogs nails but that you are also prepared for the worst. After a few times clipping the nails on your own you will be so used to it that you will not even remember why you were so worried in the first place.
Nail trimming in dogs can be done very easily if you know how. It is a good idea to watch someone else (vet, groomer or friend) who is experienced in nail trimming show you first. Some dogs don't need to have their nails trimmed. Many will naturally wear the nails down or the dried ends of the nails will simply flake away without you even knowing. But some breeds, especially Basset Hounds and Dachshunds will likely need your help in keeping the toe nails reasonably short. As much as you'll never want to, you might as well just count on cutting a nail too short on occasion. It just happens sometimes, even with experienced groomers. The nail will bleed if you cut it too short, so just be prepared for that.
Get a good nail trimmer. Ask your vet or the clerk in the pet store which kind they recommend. Place the main part of the trimmer in the palm of your hand and the moveable part is controlled by your fingers. You want to be able to see the small cutting blade that slides when you squeeze the handle.
Make sure you're not cutting from the top downward; but rather from underneath. Slide the opening over the end of the nail while staying in the whitish part of the nail. The pink area of the nail is the live part and has blood vessels throughout. Hopefully you'll be able to see where the pink part starts.
If your pooch has dark nails you won't be able to see any pink to know where the live part of the nail starts. Just do a little bit at a time with the dark nails. Check the end of the nail. The dead area usually is whitish and as you cut deeper into the end of the nail you will begin to see a dark area. That dark area is where the live part starts.
When you are ready to cut, and you are sure you aren't at the live, pink part of the nail make a smooth, quick squeeze on the handle while holding the trimmer steady. Don't try to "pop" the end of the nail off; it will fall away on its own. You can file the edges or just let the dog wear the nail smooth. Taking your dog for a walk on the sidewalk or street can help them file down.
Remember that at some point you will cut too short. When this happens, place a tiny piece of tissue paper tightly against the end of the nail and hold it for a few minutes. Better yet, have some cornstarch or flour available and put a small amount against the bleeding end of the nail, hold it there with your finger. This works right away. Or you can do nothing and the bleeding should stop in about five minutes. If it continues to bleed much more than that, give your vet a call.
You can do this. Play with your canine's feet first to get them used to the idea. If you do it once a week, it won't seem like such a tragic event. If you can only do one paw a day, that's ok too. Man's best friend needs you to do it for him. Relax and enjoy your dog!
Both Kelly Marshall & Brigitte Smith are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Kelly Marshall has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pets, Lose Weight and Bodybuilding Supplements. This article was written by Kelly Marshall of - your source for quality. Kelly Marshall's top article generates over 301000 views. to your Favourites.
Brigitte Smith has sinced written about articles on various topics from Dogs, Wedding Bells and Dog Pet Food. Brigitte Smith is a dog lover with a special interest in natural dog health and training for dogs. - - to request yours, go to:. Brigitte Smith's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.