Properly Clipping Your Dog’s Nails

Nail clipping has to be one of the most feared elements of grooming around. Neither owners nor dogs particularly like doing it or having it done but this is for very different reasons.

Dogs do not like having their nails

clipped because it feels strange. If you think about having your own nails cut, the sensation is more than a little odd. However, owners do not like clipping their dogs’ nails purely and simply because they know the risks.

If you know what they are though and find out exactly how to clip nails then you will find that it becomes second nature within just a few grooming sessions.

Knowing exactly how to cut your dog’s nails is an absolute must and getting the technique right is incredibly important. This is why a complete step by step guide must be adhered to at all times. However, you might want to know a little more about the nails before you clip them. Not only will this knowledge help you to understand how to clip nails but it will also reinforce why you should because there are serious consequences if you do not do so.

Much like our nails, a dog’s nails grow constantly and so will keep on growing until they are brought under control. If you leave them and expect granite sidewalks to wear them down naturally then this will happen to a degree but not to enough of an extent that your dog’s nails will not be a problem. If your dog does walk on such surfaces often then it may reduce the regularity at which you need to cut the nails but it will not eliminate the need completely. Think of it as a nail file – it can only go so far in wearing the down and the rest is up to you!

Failing to clip a dog’s nails can actually cause crippling, arthritic type pains in your dog’s paws, which in turn can actually lead to malformation of the paws and thus permanent damage and pain. This can occur naturally anyway in certain breeds but you do not want the nails to add to it at all.

Finally, just one last tip to help you during grooming. Always check your dog’s paws out thoroughly when you are cutting the nails. You need to check the pads to make sure that they are intact and not stuck with thorns, glass or other foreign objects. Make sure that your dog has healthy paws and then you will happily be able to leave them alone until trim time rolls around again.

If all else fails then you could always ask a vet or professional dog groomer to do it because they will have extensive experience and know full well how to do it without causing any harm at all to your dog. However, you should try to do it first as a part of the grooming process.

In the next article, we will cover HOW to clip your dog’s nails.

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