how to cut dog nails that are too long

 

SOS claws? No fear! Often when it comes tohow to cut dog nails that are too long, panic spreads. It is certainly not always a simple task but with the right advice it will be child’s play. The cutting of the nails, in fact, is a fundamental step in the care of your dog.cut the dog’s nails

dog nails too long

In addition to protecting floors, doors and avoiding scratches on the skin, dog nails too long risk causing problems for the dog: they can break and lead to bleeding or, even, as in the case of the fifth finger nail, sticking into the animal’s skin.

The uncontrolled nail, in fact, could curve, tearing the paw of your animal. Furthermore, it could interfere with the course, leading to limping and causing pain. All of this is easily avoided with regular nail cutting.

At what age should you start cutting your nails

Most dogs, we know it well, don’t like the moment of nail cutting. It is therefore fundamental to have the animal approach this ritual immediately at a young age. Getting the puppy used to how to cut his nails without becoming a moment of fear is a great advice.

There is no real right time to start but it is good to make the furry little one know all the tools necessary to cut the nails as soon as possible. For the first time, you could get help from your trusted vet to understand the right procedure for how to cut your dog’s nails properly.

Once at home, then, you can take advantage of a moment of relaxation to make him smell the tools and, as soon as he feels comfortable, go to the manicure !

Do your nails get shorter by walking it, false myth?

Very often it is recommended to let the dog walk on the street to file the nails. Truth or lie? Of course, the walks on the road (in the grass this does not happen) help the nails to file and tend to remain short but this is not enough.

Let’s think, for example, of the fifth finger at the top which, by not touching the ground, will never be shortened by contact with the ground. The risk is that uncontrolled growth leads to the curvature of the nail which could stick to the dog’s paw, leading to pain, bleeding and infections. Remember that the dog’s legs are very delicate and fundamental for its movement.

how often cut dog nails

Once you understand the importance of this procedure aimed at how to cut the dog’s nails correctly, it is good to understand how often to do it. Each dog is certainly in its own right and the growth of the nails varies according to the breed, the daily activity that is done and the natural inclination of your dog.

Generally small or toy dogs have faster nail growth than a medium-large dog. For example, if you have a Yorkshire breed pet, you will probably have to cut nails once every two to three weeks; if you have a German Shepherd, however, the operation will be carried out once a month, up or down.

Do not forget that the growth of nails, for dogs as well as for people, never stops and, so, this procedure you will have to apply it until the end of its life.

The indispensable tools for cutting nails

To solve the problem of how to cut the dog’s nails, first of all, you need the right tools . Remember that, often, low quality products are not very performing and, indeed, they could cause damage to the dog. So what are the indispensable tools to cut the dog’s nails? Let’s see them together:

Nail clipper

When it comes to how to cut the dog’s nails, the classic nail clipper immediately comes to mind and, in fact, it is an evergreen that you can’t do without. Also known as a nipper, this tool allows a quick and safe cut.

Suitable for dogs of all sizes, it allows, thanks to the safety spacer, to avoid a too short cut. The Candure nail clipper is highly recommended , with excellent design and quality. The firm grip facilitates the cutting operation, thanks to the spring that allows you to use the force without problems.

To use it correctly, just insert the nail into the hole, at the desired height: one, two, three … hello hello long nail.

• Latest design: optimized cutting angle of this dog clipper is perfect for nail cutting for dogs and cats. The precise and sharp bords provides clean and safe nail cutting for …
• Promised safety: keep an eye on your Dog Protection, these professional nail clippers include a safety spacer to prevent pet nails from being cut …
• Better grip: an ideal combination of specific plastic and rubber provides a non-slip touch for comfortable and smooth nail cutting. The flat mouth design and soft color …

Scissors

Similar to the classic scissors that you will certainly find in your beauty case, these scissors are very comfortable and easy to handle if they are small dogs or toys. Thanks to the inclined blade, you will be able to see the nail well, avoiding cutting too much and causing bleeding.

• 🐾 UNIQUE TILTING BLADE: Angled blade allows you to see cat’s nails before cutting to avoid over-cutting, making the cutting process safer.
• 🐾 PROFESSIONAL NAIL CUTTER DEGREE: Used by veterinarians and professionals, it is an ergonomic design. Ideal for cats, puppies and small animals such as rabbits.
• 🐾 COMFORTABLE RUBBER HANDLE: The rubber handle offers a comfortable, firm and non-slip grip.

Electric grinder

If the dog is particularly restless and really doesn’t want to know about clippers and nail clippers, an electric grinder can be for you. Excellent the Pecute grinder which, thanks to the shaft of excellent quality brass, can quickly smooth the nail.

The silent motor also helps the dog to feel comfortable, avoiding sudden movements that could injure him. The two rotation speeds will allow you to choose how to use the product based on the hardness and length of the nail.

• 🐾 【Safe and Efficient】 Nail clippers and Electric Grinder made of superior diamond, resistant and can quickly and safely cut the nails of the pet, not …
• 🐾 【Low Noise, Fast Charging and Long Life】 Electric nail grinder adopts the silent DC3.7V motor and is less than 50 dB, pets are not afraid; the tree …
• 🐾 【Two Rotation Regimes】 Low speed is 6000 revolutions per minute which is suitable for cutting the pet’s nails properly; high speed is 6800 rpm which is suitable for …

Step by step cutting procedure

Having learned all these notions and recovered the right tools for your dog, it’s time to start the arduous mission of how to cut the dog’s nails. If your furry friend has a light nail , it will certainly be easier for you to recognize the right point where to make the cut, without going to touch the live fabric. To begin with, therefore, take a good look at your dog’s nails to understand how to proceed.

The situation has to be relaxing for your pet, make sure it’s a good time to proceed. Of course, a dog accustomed from a puppy will be less fearful; he always tries to comfort him, also stroking his legs to give him security.

To understand exactly where to cut, you can help yourself by standing the animal, the nail should ideally reach the same as the ground . Then locate the flesh of the nail and stay away.

Now is the time: take the dog’s paw and start touching a nail, rewarding it with a few snacks until it completely calms down. Once you have identified where to cut, you may also want to try to lay it down. It seems strange but many dogs do not like to watch what is done to them and prefer to lie down and turn away. Lion hearts!

Everything is ready, then rest the nail in the correct place and use the right pressure for a clean cut. If in doubt if you feel unsafe, always stay a little further behind. The cut will be done straight and slightly inclined downwards . You can help yourself with a file, then, to smooth any sides of the nail.

After the first nail, go ahead with prizes and compliments and, come on, nine more are missing!

Eye to black nails, how to proceed?

How to cut the dog’s nails if they are dark or black instead of light ? The difficulty obviously goes pro level but don’t worry. With the naked eye it is not possible to find the pink line that indicates where to get with scissors and nail clippers and, therefore, here’s how.

Proceed by cutting the tip of the nail slowly and observing the color inside: if it is white you can continue to slowly cut another piece, if instead you notice a black point, it is time to stop because the living tissue is close.

Moreover, by keeping the dog standing, you can better see the excessive part of the nail in proportion to the ground. Remember that ideally the nail should be in line with the ground. However, in the case of black nails, it is always good to go ahead with the cutting of the nails very calmly and step by step.

In case of too deep cut, how to behave?

dog nails cut too short

If alas, the cut was too deep or dog nails cut too short, it moved abruptly just at the wrong time, it is better to intervene immediately. To stop the flow of blood, disinfect the injured part well with hydrogen peroxide and then use a hemostatic powder, also widely used by veterinarians and professional groomers. This product, in fact, in addition to stopping bleeding, has an antiseptic function that prevents the onset of infections.