Anyone who has owned a dog knows that at some point in time, you HAVE to cut their nails. And just like humans, dogs have a quick, or blood vessel, in the nail that will bleed and hurt like the dickens if cut or torn. While our parents usually teach us how to groom ourselves, who teaches us how to groom our dogs? Many people opt to empty their wallets into a groomer's hands (or their vet's!) and let them do the dirty work. Even after a demo from the pros many people never feel confident enough to clip their dog's nails themselves, however, years of experience and yes, cut quicks, have shown me that it IS possible for the everyday person to learn to give their pooches a pedicure.
- Ideally, you would start trimming your dog's nails as a puppy. This is one of the most important things that a vet, trainer, breeder or anyone who knows about dogs would tell you. This helps them to learn that it is normal, painless, and part of life. However, most people reading this are reading because their dog HATES nail trims, has probably ran away or tried to bite during one, and/or has serious phobias about them (which often start from a negative experience) so let's assume that our readers are not in the ideal position with this situation!
- Before going any further I must say this: If your dog has shown aggression or you have concerns about how he or she may react (or you know for a fact that your vet/groomer has to muzzle, hog-tie, and sedate your dog to trim nails) BE AWARE THAT YOU MAY GET BIT OR HURT. A dog that has it in their head that they are about to be hurt may do anything to get away or stop the action. Unless you really know/trust your dog, it can be hard to tell what they may do. While your dog most likely trusts you much more than a groomer, e.t.c, that still does not guarantee they will not perceive this as a threat. I need to say this to avoid problems later on.
Now that we have that out of the way, the first item of business is the clippers themselves. The two most common varieties are the guillotine and scissors style. The guillotine clippers actually have a hole that the nail is inserted through and then cut with a blade in guillotine manner (hence the name). The scissor variety look like a pair of pruning shears. While many people prefer one over the other, I have found both to work well. The only caveat to the guillotine clippers is that the dog's nail must be inserted through the hole, which can be tricky with a dog who isn't cooperating. In addition, it is easy for the nail to be pushed too far through and cut too short. For this reason, beginners may be safer and have more control with the scissor style clippers.
It may seem like common sense, but the best time to trim your dog's nails is AFTER exercise or at the end of the day when he or she is resting. You'll get a lot less resistance if they have less energy!
The best way to hold your dog is to sit side by side, with them up against you on your left (or right side if you are a lefty!) and both looking forward. You can then use the arm closest to your dog to go around him (over the shoulders) and down to the front leg on the far side. This way, you use your left arm to hug the dog against you, preventing escape, and use your left hand to pick up the paw you're working on.
Check out your pup's nails. If they are clear, your job is all the more easier. Clear nails allow you to actually see the quick that runs into the nail. Clip about 2mm (a tiny bit) in front of the end of the pink quick to avoid getting too close.
If your pup has black or dark nails, you can still do this! You just need to use a bit of visualization (see diagram above). A rule of thumb is 'cut with the curve'. That is to say, when looking at the side of the nail, cut where the nail begins to curve down towards the ground. You should ALWAYS err on the side of caution and start closer to the tip and work your way back. Making one large, quick cut is a lot harder to fix than making a few extra small ones. Ten years of experience as a vet tech has proved this over and over.
You can also look at the nail head-on to determine how close you are to the quick. If you were to cut off just the tip of a nail it would appear as in the first diagram above, with a large, dark area on top (nail itself) and a smaller, light area on bottom. As you trim away slowly, a grey to pinkish-colored circle or oval will appear in the middle. This circle grows larger as you get closer to the quick. Once it occupies about the middle third of the nail, it is time to stop or you will hit the quick.
And what if you do hit the quick? Your dog's nail will bleed... A LOT, so be ready for it and don't be shocked at the amount of blood. It is not life-threatening, however it IS painful and can get infected once the quick is exposed.
If the worst happens, the best thing to have is Kwik-Stop, a yellow powder that is sold at pet stores and vet clinics. This styptic powder can be packed onto the edge of a nail and will instantly stop bleeding (HINT: pour a small amount into the lid and press the nail into it to pack in the powder). Anyone who is going to be trimming their dog's nails should have this handy; it only costs a few dollars and saves a lot of hysteria later on. If for some reason you don't have it handy, flour or cornstarch can work. A vet clinic will use Kwik-Stop on your dog's nails and if that doesn't work, they will use silver nitrate sticks. Usually, they will then allow the nail to heal on it's own. If the nail was actually torn off, however (I have seen this happen when the pet's nail caught in the guillotine clipper as the pet tried to pull away) the vet often must clean the exposed quick and bandage the paw to prevent an infection.
- While I mentioned above that cutting too close to the quick isn't life-threatening, it's one of the best ways I know to give your dog fears or phobias of having their nails trimmed. It's amazing that one bad experience can stick with a dog for life. While most dogs will not run and hide from just one 'too short' trim, it can happen. That being said, make sure you go slow when learning to trim nails and don't rush!
- If you still aren't feeling confident, ask the groomer, vet, or a knowledgeable friend to give you a demonstration. In addition, if YOU'VE never trimmed nails before, see if you can give it a try on a dog who is comfortable having their nails trimmed. This will build your confidence and make you more assured when it comes time to try it on your dog.
If your dog is really fearful, there are things you can try to help lessen these fears.
- First, try to start handling your dog's feet even when you are not trimming nails. With your hand at his shoulder, slowly move down the leg to the paw so they can tell where you are and what you are doing. If you suddenly reach out and grab a paw, most dogs are likely to jump or pull away. This makes sense since most doctors, etc tell you what they are going to do before they do it so you don't freak out. Although we can explain to our dogs, too, they most likely will not quite get it, so touching them like this helps to prepare them!
- Always talk to your dog while you are working with him or her. Use a soft tone and phrases like, "Good dog", so they learn that they will receive positive attention.
- Try doing one paw, or even one toe, at a time. This works well for dogs who tend to get worked up quickly.
- It may sound insane, but I've had clients who 'ambush' (for lack of a better term) while their dog is asleep. They clip one or two toes whenever their dog passes out. While a normal owner may think this is extreme, someone who owns a dog that has to be sedated and muzzled every time they go in for a trim this is much easier for everyone!
- If your dog is just too wild and won't stay still, you can try using Benedryl to sedate them for a little while. This is one of the best, safest ways to tranquilize your dog as it is over-the-counter and wears off quickly with few possible side effects. The dose is 1mg/lb, so a 25-lb dog would need one 25 mg. capsule. Make sure to pay attention to the size of the capsules. KEEP IN MIND WE TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY PROBLEMS THAT MAY ARISE FROM MEDICATING YOUR DOG! While I have used, and seen this used countless times by veterinarians, you never know if your dog will have a reaction or other problems from a medication. In addition, if you miscalculate the dosage you could make your dog very sick. If you are unsure, the best thing to do is ask your veterinarian.
If you have a dog that is really just 'impossible' for nail trims, it may be best to leave it to the pros. While ten or twenty dollars may seem like a lot of money for a nail trim, it's nothing compared to the cost of sedating a dog with anesthesia because they have a heart attack every time you pull out the clippers, or medical bills for a dog bite from a scared dog. While I feel that just about everyone can learn to trim their dog's nails, I'm more than willing to admit that sometimes, it just has to be left to the pros. That being said, good luck, and happy trimming!
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