Trimming Nails

Unclipped nails can cause your pet discomfort. Untrimmed nails can break and bleed or grow into your dog's feet so learn how to keep them well manicured.

Clip your dog's nails when you can hear your pet start to 'click-click-click' on uncarpeted areas. Once you learn how to do it, clipping your dog's nails is as easy as clipping your own. How can we make it less unpleasant for our canine friends (and ourselves)?

Follow these steps: Sit on the floor with your pet, or get comfortable. Make sure you use nail trimmers specifically designed for pets as using the right tool helps avoid pressure and splintering of the nails. Your vet or groomer may recommend one. Your trimmers should be sharp.

Hold your pet's paws firmly in your lap and push on the pads lightly to make the nail stick out. Locate where the quick ends. Starting at the end of the nail, clip the nail at a 45-degree angle with the cutting end of the nail clipper towards the nail. With dark nails, trim very thin cuttings off the end of the nail until the nail is shorter. If you see a black dot in the centre of the nail you have got to the quick so you should stop cutting immediately.

Be very careful to avoid the nail quick, which on white nails is the pink section. The quick contains nerves and blood vessels and when nicked will bleed easily. If you do cut the quick, apply silver nitrate, or another product designed to stop bleeding or apply pressure with a cotton ball. Don't brush off the blood clot once the bleeding has stopped.

Remember to trim the dewclaw nail, which is located on the inside of the leg. If not trimmed they curl up and grow into the soft tissue, like an ingrown toenail.

Repeat trimming once a week or twice a month. If you don't trim regularly, the long nails can cause traction problems or become ingrown. The more your trim them the easier it is. It's better to trim a small amount on a regular basis than it is to remove large portions. And some additional general pointers: Teach nail trimming from an early age. Play 'pretend trimming' by touching the feet then rewarding your dog with his favourite treat.

File the soft toenails of puppies or older dogs with brittle nails, which is unlikely to cause pain or bleeding.

Animals that have no reason to fear the procedure will also require the least restraint and have the least stress. However, it is a good idea to get dogs used to at least some restraint (hugging, holding a leg, applying slight pressure to the toes), again with ample rewards.

If this becomes too much of an ordeal, and the stress or fear of injury is preventing you from necessary tasks like trimming, ask a groomer or a vet for assistance.