Unlike cats, dogs do not know how to trim their nails manually. Your dog’s nails can go very long, and will require some trimming every now and then to prevent them from getting snagged on the carpet or scratching your hardwood floor.
Get to know your dog’s nail anatomy first before you proceed on grooming. Unlike human nails, it has an extension of blood vessels in a part called the quick. This nail part also has nerve endings. Cutting through this part will cause bleeding and pain, so be very careful.
For dogs that have light colored nails, the quick is seen as a pale pink part. Dogs with dark-colored nails need to be trimmed carefully for this part cannot be seen.
Buy a really sharp nail clipper that is specially made for dogs. Ordinary nail cutters cannot cut through your dog’s nails effectively and comfortably. Invest in a good one for you will be doing a lot of trimming. It is best to start clipping away while your dog is still a puppy so he can get used to the ritual.
Do not cut the nails right away. You must prepare your dog before you go through the procedure. Not doing so will cause some anxiety and your dog will resist your attempts every way possible.
Try to touch your dog’s paws first and talk to him in a soothing manner. Introduce the nail clipper to him and tell him what it is designed to do. Don’t cut away the entire paw of your dog. Just start with a nail or two then proceed again the next day.
When you cut your dog’s nail, it is important that both you and your dog are comfortably positioned. You may place your dog on top of the table either with him on his stomach or lying on his side. Talk to him in a soothing, calming voice throughout the entire procedure to calm him down and to reassure him.
Grasp the clipper with your dominant hand and unsheathe the nail carefully. If your dog has clear nails, cut up to 2mm of the nails, almost but not quite touching the quick. For dogs with nails of darker color, chip away carefully. Look in your dog’s nail after each small nip. Stop when you see a large, pearly gray area at the top cross section of your dog’s nail.
There may be times when even though you are careful, you will still cut through the quick. Your dog will yelp in pain and bleed. You can apply pressure on the nail with the use of a light tissue. If you want to stop the bleeding immediately, a styptic pencil with silver nitrate seal the edge. To stop the bleeding, you have to rotate the styptic pencil on the cut end of the nail.
Since the area is quite raw, your dog will not like it. You may also wait for the bleeding to stop; generally 5 minutes is all it takes or less for the blood to clot. If it continues to go beyond that time frame, go to the vet. Remember to do the same procedure to your dog’s dew claw. It is attached at the side of your dog’s leg above the rest of the other toes.
You and your dog will do a lot of struggling during the first few cuts. Keep up with the grooming, though, for it will keep your dog’s skin and fur safe from getting destroyed by sharp, overly long nails.
