Dogs claws how long should they be

So with just a little bit of effort and know how, you can keep your dogs feet in tip top condition. I found your advise on dogs nails very good but in my case the dogs nails are so thick it hurts him to cut them. Hi, There is another way to trim their nails if its too thick or the dog doesn't like the sharp cutting action of the clippers. I use a battery operated Dremmel with the sanding attachment which is a circular cylindrical shape. You must use it no more than three strokes on each nail then progress to the next nail.

This is to ensure that the friction caused does not create heat and give the dog discomfort. They generally prefer to be done by this method in my many years of experience. Get a plug in style nail grinder, solved a 4 year battle for me, now she sometimes falls asleep while doing them, thinks it's cuddle time.

Very good advice my dogs are very dificsut to do vets in my vets won't sudate them I am getting them used to having me holding there feet so that is a start next thing will be cutting nails with the electric disc sander. Will need to try when dogs are asleep. While I was away my friends to my dog to have his nails clipped I found out after that my dogs feetwere bleeding on and off for nearly 1 hour is this normal for them to bleed that much his nails have not been the same since he has black nails.

I have not heard of this happening before. Much too much may have been cut off in one go, is all I can think of. They shouldn't bleed for that long if just nicked on the end. My only other though might be if the dog has a blood clotting issue. You may want to ask the vet about that, just in case.

My gut feeling though is way too much nail was cut off in one go. As long as you don't cut the quick, cutting a dog's nails won't hurt them any more than cutting our own nails.

Some dogs don't like the feel of the clipper as it squeezes down on the nail so always make sure your nail clippers are sharp for a quick, clean cut. We have a special needs dog that doesn't do well with having his nails clipped. We discovered if you distract the dog with peanut butter on a small cutting board for him to lick, you can clip the nails with no problem.

Brilliant idea! My 18mth rescue saluki hates having his feet done as sometimes I have to trim the fur too and I've been trying to think of a way to distract him with peanut butter, can't believe I didn't think of a chopping board!

Please make sure the peanut butter used does not contain any Xylitol a sweetener as it is highly toxic and frequently fatal for dogs as it causes the liver to fail and there is no antedote. Found this very helpful.

I was a bit nervous to cutting my dogs nail. After reading this I did it and looked for the quick which to be honest didn't know about. Thankyou for your information and help. Many dogs including my own love peanut butter, but you could use any smear-able treat. Something that will keep them in one spot with their head raised so you can get to their paws easily. If they grow past that point, then that's when they need clipping; otherwise you will be subjecting the dog to repeated clipping.

And guess who is the main beneficiary. Well my daughters dog has black nails which are long as a result the nails have been wearing down to the quick along the bottom and not the tip And I think this affects him after long walks so I intend to try a weekly file and hope they are correct in saying the quick will reduce allowing me to shorten nails because I think this would correct wear to pads - think of a woman trying to avoid touching floor with freshly painted toenails - i will update results.

It may take a little while to shorten the quick, but it prevents the risk of you snipping it by accident. If you snip the quick and your pet starts to bleed, grab a tissue and apply pressure to the cut to try and stem the bleeding. The difficulty might be in getting your dog to stay still, but by soothing her and speaking to her gently, you should be able to keep her calm.

If your pet is small, a pair of guillotine nail clippers are really easy to use and guarantee a clean cut. Whichever tool you choose, read the instructions so you understand how they work, and apply a quick, steady squeeze when you cut the nail.

Once sorted, either file the nail down or leave them to smooth out naturally over time. You could also try shining a light through the claw so you can see the quick easier. And while this frequency will be different for each dog, the more often you do it the more accustomed to and amenable to it they will be.

Especially if you start young, go slowly, and take care to avoid the nerves and blood supply to the nails. So if it's possible and practical to trim your dog's nails weekly or at least every other week, you'll likely see better results, have a much less stressed dog, and experience less stress yourself in the process.

Aim to take enough off of each nail to keep it short, yet not so much that you cut the quick blood supply or the nerve endings that extend just beyond the leading edge of the quick.

Of course, this is easier to do in dogs with clear nails than it is in those whose nails are dark. With either colored-nails though, it's important to go slowly and give your dog lots of praise and positive rewards treats throughout the process.

Here are two great nail clipper options for when you trim your dog's nails. Scissor-style trimmers, like these ones from Shiny Pet , work well for small dogs and cats. The Epica nail trimmers show on the right below come in two sizes and work well for all sizes of dogs.

For some dogs, you might find that it's easier to grind their nails rather than clip them, or to clip them and then finish with a grinder to smooth off the edges so they don't snag and rip. Grinding can sometimes be easier on dogs and their people since you can take it more slowly, which reduces the chance of cutting the nerve or blood vessel. It's a great alternative to clipping a dog's nails who hates it.

Have you ever been scratched by your dog after he jumps up on you? Or have you seen the couch or other furniture snag when your dog jumps off? Overgrown nails can also get caught on things causing your dog unnecessary pain. If your dog has long hair, you may not be able to easily see the nails. The nail quick houses nerves and blood supply.

This is one reason why regular nail trims are important. Extremely overgrown dog nails will curl over the paw.