It is important to trim a dog’s paws regularly because it helps them to eat, play, walk, climb and much more. Dogs’ paws are just like human hands, important for their work. It is part of their grooming routine. Pet parents can experience an injury due to long nails of their pet that might look harmless at first, but afterwards it becomes a source of severe bacterial or fungal infection that leads to diseases like tetanus and rabies in severe cases.
Why Nail Trimming is Essential for Dogs
Nail trimming is important for your dog to keep it safe and healthy. Trimming your dog’s nail provides them with more stability in movement and grasping objects. The following are some reasons why nail trimming is important for dogs.
Injury Prevention
Trimming nails regularly reduces the risks of injury to the dog parent and the dog itself. Dogs grasp everything with their paws just like human hands. The paw care is important because long nails cause home carpets, beds and sofas to tear. It can cause an unintentional injury to the dog’s parent. Dogs land on their paws, having long nails causes their muscles to strain and lead to skeletal misalignment. It affects their gait pattern a lot, especially in the dogs recovering from pet surgery.
Reduce Infection Risk
Long nails of a dog can be a site for any bacterial or fungal infection of the paws. Irregular or broken nails can also be bad for dogs. These nails expose the sensitive skin to dirt and bacteria. While rubbing their face with their paws, your dog can damage their gums. These irritating paws can cause dental infections in your dogs and lead them to have a proper pet dental care.
Improve Posture And Mobility
It is very important for a dog to have proper posture and body alignment. Maintaining its natural stance and posture is important, especially in old age dogs with joint problems.
Increases the Stability
Short nails help to grip strongly and adhere to the surface. Long nails cause difficulty, so they should be trimmed regularly.
Supports Emotional Well-Being
Trimming long nails and making them short helps to improve the overall health of a dog. It makes your dog stay active and happy.
Tools for Safe Nail Trimming
Using the proper tools can make the complete nail trimming process smooth, easy and comfortable for both you and your dog. You will require the following tools for it,
Dog nail clipper: Choosing proper nail clippers is important for your dog. Guillotine-style clippers are good to use for small and medium-sized dogs. Scissors-style clippers are good to use for strong and thick nails.
Nail grinder: Use the nail grinder cautiously, because it can likely cause quick cuts. But it provides a smoother finish. The nail grinders are good for anxious dogs who do not like long trimming sessions.
Styptic powder: It is a coagulant that is used for stopping the bleeding instantly. Keep it in your dog’s grooming kit.
Dog sling: A dog sling keeps your dog in place while securing and supporting it. It is good for fearful and senior dogs.
Treats: Dog treats help your dog calm down. And makes it happy throughout the trimming session.
Step-By-Step Guide to Trim Your Dog’s Nails Safely
Following the steps mentioned below, you can easily trim your dog’s nail safely and effectively.
Step 1: Provide a sense of safety and security to your dog. Try to give it some dog treats to show a connection with the dog. It helps it to stay calm.
Step 2: Make your dog comfortable with you. Hold it paws slightly and massage them, show some affection.
Step 3: The dog’s nail has a sensitive part called the quick. It contains vascular tissues that can be easily injured. It is easy to see this part of nail in light colored nails of a dog. But those who have dark colored nails, trim them slowly to avoid injury.
Step 4: By holding the paws slightly, trim the nails as required.
Step 5: Use a nail grinder for a finishing look
Step 6: End the session with a treat for your dog.
Tips for Trimming Dog Nails
Some tips for nail trimming for dogs are given below to help you out and ease you into trimming your dog’s nails.
- Try to trim a nail only a little at a time. It avoids the chances of overcutting a nail that leads to discomfort and paw pain.
- Trimming your dog’s nail after a bath makes it easy to cut, as the nails become soft after a bath.
- Provide many dog treats and try to positively engage with your dog to make trimming easy.
- Try to keep the nail trimming session short, so your dog does not get offended.
- Use nail grinders for good nail finishing.
- Always stay calm and try to keep your dog calm too.
- Use proper tools in good condition for trimming the nails and stop immediately if the dog shows signs of stress
When to Sedate a Dog for Nail Trimming
Some dogs have a fear of trimming nails, anxiety or are so aggressive that they do not let anyone cut or trim their nails. Sedating a dog for nail trim is important for such dogs. It is done in professional supervision. Sedation is used for the dogs who are medically unwell. It helps the dog to calm down and stay in place.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Dog parents make some mistakes while trimming their dogs’ nails. Sometimes they cut too close to the quick, making the paw painful and ignoring the signs of discomfort that cause problems for them and their dogs later. They try to rush and do the trimming in a very careless manner, which makes future trimming harder. Dog owners sometimes use dull blades that do not cut the nails properly.
These mistakes should be avoided while trimming your dog’s nails. If your dog shows any sign of discomfort or is not willing to get its nails trimmed by you, bring it to the Park Hills Animal Hospital. Here, vets will help your dog get rid of their long nails.
Conclusion
Nail trimming is important, yet essential for proper pet grooming. It helps your pet to get an injury-free, risk-free life, allowing your dog to move and eat. Nail trimming for dogs is as important as for any other pet. It maintains the decorum of your home and the personality of your dog. Take safe measures to enhance your dog’s appearance. Do it at home, or visit a specialist, but get it done.
FAQs
How Frequently Should You Trim Your Dog’s Nails?
You should trim your dog’s nails once or twice a month, as required by your dog. How often it should be done depends on the nail growth of your dog.
What Should I Do If My Dog Dislikes Nail Trims?
Try to engage your dog by giving it some treats and a sense of security by cuddling and warmly massaging its paws.
How Do I Know If I Cut The Quick?
Bleeding starts, or you may look for instant discomfort in your dog’s behaviour or on the face. Stop at once and get checked by a vet.
What’s the Best Age to Start Nail Trimming?
Develop A habit of trimming nails regularly from puppyhood. So, your dog can adapt to it easily.
Can Long Nails Cause Health Issues?
Yes, they do. Long nails increase the chances of skin and paw infections in dogs. These long nails cause joint problems and affect the posture and body alignment badly.
