Taking care of your dog is immensely important, and that includes trimming your pup’s nails. It’s not the most fun thing to do and it’s also certainly not the easiest. There are a few do’s and don’ts when it comes to trimming canine nails.
Chances are your four-footer will be very agitated when you try to trim its nails because the feeling can be unpleasant if done incorrectly. However, it’s important that the dog’s nails are trimmed regularly for health reasons.
Keeping that in mind, here are some general tips about trimming dog’s nails and the best method to begin.
The nails of a pup definitely serve a purpose, as the dogs use it for additional grip when they’re running around. Some dogs use them so much that their nails wear down on their own, but house pets often need some additional help because flooring inside homes isn’t rough enough for natural wear.
You might think that it’s ‘just nails’, but they’re an important part of a dog’s anatomy.
For example, the blood supply extends with the nail, meaning you can end up with a bloody mess if you trim a nail too deep.
Additionally, when a pup has long nails, the bone structure in the paws tends to change as well, becoming significantly more angled. Because of these steeper angles, their bodies are put under more pressure and your pup will be more injury prone, as well as having an increased risk of joint pain and even arthritis. Not only the joints are at risk, but the spine as well! The dog will have a harder time of keeping its balance, and the flexibility in the pup’s movement will deteriorate as well.
In other words, long nails have a negative effect on pups which makes trimming is absolutely essential!
If you can’t imagine how long nails would feel like for your pup, imagine having to wear high heels instead of sneakers all the time.
How often should it be trimmed?
Although this roughly differs from dog breed to dog breed, a good baseline for all dogs is every two to three weeks. If you’re noticing that your pup has movement issues, it can’t hurt to up the frequency of trimming. Dogs that are more active outside will have more natural wear and tear on their nails, meaning you won’t have to trim as often.
The best method to trim
If you can, find another person who is willing to help and hold the dog in place. Chances are pretty high that your dog will not appreciate what’s about to happen, and in some cases, pups even have to be temporarily sedated and get their nails done by a vet. Reward your pup with treats for their courage.
It’s important to cut the nails at an angle of about 45 degrees. Trimming is a step-by-step process, and you can’t trim a nail perfectly in one sitting. You need a couple of days to clip each day, in order for the blood supply to retract along with the nail. Cut it too soon, and you might end up with blood. Make sure to be prepared and get a blood-stopping product for dogs in case you do make a cut that’s too deep.
The nail will get shorter and the blood supply will retract along. Cut a little bit each day until the nail is properly trimmed.
Of course, if you don’t feel comfortable at all trimming your pup’s nails – ask a friend who’s willing to help out or take your dog to the vet or groomer. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
[/imgsrc] Source: Vetbabble
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