Trimming Your Dog’s Nails

Why Trim Your Dog’s Nails?

It’s important to regularly check your dog’s nails and trim them when necessary. In some cases, nails can become too long, which can lead to discomfort. Overgrown nails can push the dog’s toes upwards, putting extra pressure on the feet and potentially leading to an incorrect posture. The toes may become misaligned, and the nails can grow inwards, break, or tear.

In most cases, a dog’s nails wear down naturally when walking on rough surfaces, making trimming unnecessary. However, the dewclaws (and any additional wolf claws, if present) do not touch the ground and therefore need to be checked and trimmed more frequently.

How to Trim Your Dog’s Nails

As an owner, you can trim your dog’s nails yourself. However, it can be tricky. It’s important to know how to do it properly, as cutting into the “quick” (the sensitive part of the nail) can be painful for your dog. A useful tip is to get your puppy used to having their paws touched and handled from an early age, making future nail trims much easier. Key points to keep in mind:

• First, make sure you have a proper nail clipper specifically designed for dogs. Choose the right size; a Chihuahua needs a much smaller clipper than a Labrador.
• Make sure your dog is in a comfortable position and help them relax. It’s important that they stay still for a moment.
• Hold the paw with one hand and gently grasp the toe with the nail you want to trim.
• Avoid cutting into the quick. With white nails, you can see where the quick runs — cut the nail at a 2mm angle in front of the quick.
• With black nails, it’s harder to see the quick. In this case, trim very small bits at a time until you see a small dark dot in the centre. This means you’re close to the quick and should stop. Another option is to gently squeeze the nail with the clipper before cutting. If the dog pulls their paw away, you may be near the quick. Try again a bit lower on the nail until the dog doesn’t react.
• There are also special dog nail files available. These require your dog to stay still a bit longer, and you must also be careful not to file into the quick.

Accidentally Cut the Nail Too Short?

If you accidentally cut into the quick, your dog’s nail may start bleeding. This bleeding can be hard to stop and often looks worse than it is. While it’s not dangerous, it can be painful for your dog. Try applying pressure with a gauze pad, the bleeding usually stops on its own. You can also use styptic powder or alum (available at most drugstores) to help stop the bleeding. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, contact your vet for advice.

Nail Problems in Dogs

Aside from overgrown nails, there can be other issues with your dog’s nails, such as:

• The nail is split or broken
• The nail is loose
• The nail has fallen off
• The nail bed or cuticle is inflamed
• The nail is ingrown

These problems can be very painful for your dog. If your dog has any of these symptoms, we recommend contacting your veterinarian.

Dog Nail Trimming at De Dierenkliniek

Feeling unsure about trimming your dog’s nails yourself? You are very welcome to visit one of our clinics!

We’re happy to help trim your dog’s nails. We can do it for you during an appointment, or we can show you how to do it yourself. If you only want your dog’s nails trimmed, you can book an appointment with one of our assistants. If you’re visiting us for another reason, such as a vaccination, check-up, or surgery, we can also trim the nails during the same visit.

If you have any further questions about this topic, please don’t hesitate to contact us!