One of the most common questions we hear from our clients is “how often should I trim my pet’s nails?” Unless your pet is very active and wearing his nails down himself they should be trimmed every 4-6 weeks. If you hear your pet’s nails clicking on the floor it is definitely time for a trim.
Consequences of not trimming your dog’s nails
What a lot of pet owners don’t realize is if they let their pet’s nail grow too long they are causing their pet pain and discomfort. The only time a nail should hit the ground is when the dog is moving uphill. When the nail hits a hard surface it is pushed back into the nail bed. This puts pressure on the foot and joints and can cause the foot to twist as it lands. As the nails grow can twist and cause the foot to splay. This can also lead to arthritis. Allowing the nails to grow too long can cause the pet’s foot to become painful so when the pet’s foot is picked up to do a trimming they will often naturally try to avoid this procedure.
Many pet owners avoid trimming their pet’s nails because they are afraid they will trim them too short or “quicking” the nail. If you are not comfortable trimming your pet’s nail yourself you should take them to your groomer or vet. If you are going to trim your pet’s nails yourself it is important to have the correct tools, a pet nail trimmer, styptic powder and treats!
Since many owners are nervous about trimming their pet’s nails they often make their pet nervous as well. It is best to try and remain calm and try to make the procedure as pleasant as possible. You should start by touching your pet’s feet every day and rewarding them by giving them a treat and praising them. Once you have done this for at least 2 or 3 weeks you can start to trim one paw a day. You want to start by making very thin clips at about a 45 degree angle. You only want to trim the portion of the nail that extends past the quick (the blood vessel that runs down the center of the nail). As you approach the quick you will see a dot appear, this is the beginning of the quick. You need to stop at this point. Reward your pet with a treat and praise after each cut. This will help your dog to learn that nail trimming is not an unpleasant experience. If you accidentally quick the nail you need to apply styptic powder to stop the bleeding.
This is a great video by Dr Karen Becker of Mercola Healthy Pets
This is a great video by Dr Karen Becker of Mercola Healthy Pets
