A dog's toenails naturally wear down on their own to some extent through activity, but it is still necessary to get them trimmed occasionally for the animal's comfort and safety. It's a procedure which must be done with care and patience so the dog will not get injured or upset. By following these basic guidelines, Marlton, NJ dog owners will be able to successfully master dog nail clipping without problems.
The use of rewards goes a long way in easing a dog's anxiety about this procedure. A lot of patience is also needed and talking to the dog in a soothing voice can help. Trimming one nail at a time and immediately following it with a treat or fun, interactive game is the best way to make the animal comfortable with the procedure and associate it with being rewarded for cooperating.
Two types of toenail clippers for dogs are commonly sold on the market, the scissors style and guillotine style. Some people may be more comfortable working with one kind over the other. If buying for the first time, a dog groomer, vet, or sales associate at a pet supply store can likely recommend a good set of clippers. Before the clipping session, one should ensure that the dog is sufficiently exercised, as it is more likely to cooperate.
Purchasing a styptic stick or powder is also important, as this compound works to stop bleeding in the event one trims the nails too close to the quick. The cutting technique depends on the type of clippers used. With scissors style, nails need to be inserted at a right angle, and with the guillotine style, the clipper must be positioned perpendicularly to the nail and cut from top to bottom.
Before attempting to cut the animal's toenails, one must first identify the quicks since these contain blood vessels and can result in hemorrhaging if nicked. Clear or light nails allow one to visualize the quick as a pinkish area, but dark ones are trickier, so shining a flashlight behind the nails is recommended as this illuminates the pinkish quicks. Two millimeters from the quick is considered a safe length.
If the dog moves suddenly, one may accidentally cut into the quick and the toenail will bleed. Should this occur, it's important to act fact and apply pressure by holding a cotton ball over the nail, then dab some of the styptic compound on it. Talking in a calming manner to the dog is also advisable as it will likely be frightened.
There is also another method some pet owners prefer for trimming their dogs' toenails, it is a special sanding tool called a "Dremel" made for this purpose. A rotating sanding drum is used to file down the nails one by one, and it has the added advantage of smoothing them at the same time, preventing rough edges. Again, care must be taken to avoid filing to the quicks.
Not every dog owner can cut their pet's nails, some opt to have this done by a veterinarian or dog groomer. Such professionals can safely perform this procedure, but some dogs will get even more upset being in unfamiliar and anxiety-inducing surroundings. If possible, getting its nails cut at home will help ease the animal's fear.
The use of rewards goes a long way in easing a dog's anxiety about this procedure. A lot of patience is also needed and talking to the dog in a soothing voice can help. Trimming one nail at a time and immediately following it with a treat or fun, interactive game is the best way to make the animal comfortable with the procedure and associate it with being rewarded for cooperating.
Two types of toenail clippers for dogs are commonly sold on the market, the scissors style and guillotine style. Some people may be more comfortable working with one kind over the other. If buying for the first time, a dog groomer, vet, or sales associate at a pet supply store can likely recommend a good set of clippers. Before the clipping session, one should ensure that the dog is sufficiently exercised, as it is more likely to cooperate.
Purchasing a styptic stick or powder is also important, as this compound works to stop bleeding in the event one trims the nails too close to the quick. The cutting technique depends on the type of clippers used. With scissors style, nails need to be inserted at a right angle, and with the guillotine style, the clipper must be positioned perpendicularly to the nail and cut from top to bottom.
Before attempting to cut the animal's toenails, one must first identify the quicks since these contain blood vessels and can result in hemorrhaging if nicked. Clear or light nails allow one to visualize the quick as a pinkish area, but dark ones are trickier, so shining a flashlight behind the nails is recommended as this illuminates the pinkish quicks. Two millimeters from the quick is considered a safe length.
If the dog moves suddenly, one may accidentally cut into the quick and the toenail will bleed. Should this occur, it's important to act fact and apply pressure by holding a cotton ball over the nail, then dab some of the styptic compound on it. Talking in a calming manner to the dog is also advisable as it will likely be frightened.
There is also another method some pet owners prefer for trimming their dogs' toenails, it is a special sanding tool called a "Dremel" made for this purpose. A rotating sanding drum is used to file down the nails one by one, and it has the added advantage of smoothing them at the same time, preventing rough edges. Again, care must be taken to avoid filing to the quicks.
Not every dog owner can cut their pet's nails, some opt to have this done by a veterinarian or dog groomer. Such professionals can safely perform this procedure, but some dogs will get even more upset being in unfamiliar and anxiety-inducing surroundings. If possible, getting its nails cut at home will help ease the animal's fear.
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