Just like us, dogs’ nails continue to grow throughout their life. Ideally, when you walk your dog, hard surfaces should wear down their nails naturally and maintain a good length, but sometimes nails are not worn down as quickly as they grow, especially with dogs who are walked on softer surfaces. As a pet owner, it’s good practice to check that they aren’t growing too long routinely.
If nails get too long, they can cause issues like snagging, splitting, or even growing into the pad, which can be painful and lead to bleeding and infections.
How do I know my dog's nails are too long?
A good way of finding out is to hold your dog's paw flat on the palm of your hand. As a general rule, if the nails touch your hand, they may be slightly on the long side. You might also hear them clicking on solid surfaces as they walk.
If their nails are becoming a problem, you may also notice your dog licking or chewing their paws, which may suggest that they're causing them some discomfort. If you notice any signs of painful claws, you should take your dog to the vets before attempting to cut the nails yourself.
How do I trim my dog's nails
Before you start, it’s important to know the anatomy of your dog’s nails. The ‘quick’, which is at the centre of the nail, is a fleshy area with blood vessels and nerves inside. So, when cutting, it’s important to avoid this as it can bleed a lot, be very sensitive and painful. If you are unsure where the quick could be, it’s always best to get professional help or advice from your vet.
Try to make nail trimming an enjoyable experience through reward-based training. It's a good idea to get your dog used to having their paws handled from an early age to make nail trimming less stressful for both of you.
- Use dog-specific nail clippers, which you can buy from a vet or pet shop. If you have a nervous dog, you might want to try using a file.
- You need to hold the paw firmly yet gently. This can be quite stressful for some dogs, so ensure you are taking great care and stop if your dog is getting upset.
- When holding the paw, flex the pads slightly to give you better visibility of the claw.
- Start with just taking the tips off, then double-check again where the ‘quick’ is before deciding if they’re short enough or if a little more needs removing. Longer nails can have longer quicks as well.
- Position the clippers over the claw, leaving a good length between the ‘quick’ and the point you’re going to trim, approximately 3-4mm, so you don’t make your dog’s nail bleed. If you do catch a nail and it’s bleeding, ring your vet and ask for advice.
- Check all your dog’s nails, including the dew claws, which are located further up their leg on the inside, they can be on both the front and the hind legs. They’re not always obvious, so they can easily be missed and may start to curl around back into the pad, which can be very painful and an infection risk.
What should I do if my dog's nail starts bleeding?
Whether they’ve caught it themselves or you’ve clipped too far down the nail, you need to make sure you don’t leave the blood vessel exposed and bleeding. Nails can sometimes seem to bleed a lot, which can be very upsetting and worrying to see, but is unlikely to cause problems for a healthy dog.
Although it may look scary with all of that blood around, keep everyone calm around you, so your dog doesn’t worry.
Ask someone to contact your vet straight away for advice. Meanwhile, you’ll need to try and stem the bleeding. Firstly, you’ll need someone to help you to hold your dog while you apply a bandage. If you’ve got a pet first aid kit, then that would be very useful. Find a sterile and non-adherent dressing and apply it directly on the nail, applying pressure with your hand, then use a bandage to wrap over the dressing and nail, then around the paw and secure it with a piece of tape or by tying a bow with the bandage material. If the blood starts to come through the dressing, don’t remove it; just add another bandage layer over the top until you can get to your vet.
FAQs
Position the clippers over the claw, leaving a good length between the 'quick' and the point you're going to trim, approximately 3-4mm, so you don't make your dog's nail bleed. If you do catch a nail and it's bleeding, ring your vet and ask for advice.
What not to do when cutting dogs nails? ›
The most important thing to remember when cutting your dog's nails is to avoid clipping the quick. The quick are blood vessels inside your dog's nail (you'll even be able to see it if your dog has lighter claws), and trimming into these will not only cause bleeding, but also be painful for your dog.
How do I cut my dog's nails when my dog won't let me? ›
Place the nail clipper over each nail. Hold your dog firmly but gently and reassure him, provide a treat or distraction. Start squeezing clippers near the toes to make a clipping sound but do not actually clip the nail. Place the clipper on your dog's nail, but near the end, far away from the quick, and clip the nail.
Should you soak dog's nails before cutting? ›
The best time to cut dog's nails is after the bath as they are more relaxed under warm water. Don't cut all nails at once, extend this procedure for few days if needed. Don't forget to cut the dew claws. Some dogs will also have back ones!
Do dogs feel pain while cutting nails? ›
Just like human nails, dogs do not have any feeling in the nail itself, but the quick contains a nerve that transmits sensations back to the brain. When trimming the nail, it is important to stay far enough from the quick to avoid causing pain or drawing blood.
How do you cut an uncooperative dog's nails at home? ›
Hold your nail clippers out for your dog to sniff, gently lick, or poke and prod with their snout. Set the clippers on top of their paws, let them swat at them, and just get your dog used to the item. Once the clippers no longer bother your dog, you can start cutting their nails.
Is it better to cut or grind dog nails? ›
Clipping and grinding are equally efficient and safe ways to trim your pup's nails. Clippers are cheaper and less noisy, while dremels are louder and more expensive but more precise and efficient. Whichever you choose, nail maintenance is still an inconvenient and challenging task for dog parents.
How do you cut a dog's nails without them freaking out? ›
Gently handle your dog's paws regularly, offering treats and praise during the process. Gradually increase the duration of paw handling sessions to desensitize your pet to the sensation. Turn on the clippers (without trimming) or close a manual set a few times and let your dog hear the sound they produce.
How much Benadryl can I give my dog to cut his nails? ›
The recommended starting dosage is 1 mg/ lb., and the maximum dosage in an 8-hour period is 1 mg /lb. Benadryl dosage chart for dogs. Check with your vet before administering these dosages.
Do dog hammocks work for nail trimming? ›
Yes. Unless you have a really chill dog, they don't like being groomed. Enter the grooming hammock. Smith says these hold a dog still so you can give their legs and tail a trim, brush or nail clip.
Give your dog a low dose of valerian root for a natural sedative. This over-the-counter supplement is available in pill or liquid form, but there is not a standardized dose for dogs. Consult your dog's veterinarian for a dosage suggestion and to make sure it's okay to give this medication to your dog before you try it.
What angle do you cut a dog's nails? ›
The cutting blade should be closest to you, not the dog. Be sure not to cut too short, as the nail will bleed. Nails should be cut from underneath at a 45-degree angle.
What is alternative cut line dogs nails? ›
The best way to maintain quick and nail length is to go with the Alternative Cut Line. This technique allows you to keep the nail cut as closely to the quick as possible, chasing it back. It's worth keeping on top of the nail length, because the quick grows all the time with the nail.
How do you know where to cut a dog's nails? ›
If your dog has light-colored nails, you should be able to see the quick within the nail. Your goal is to cut approximately 2-3 mm away from the quick, to avoid causing your dog pain. If your dog has dark nails, you may not be able to see the quick. In this case, trim just the very tip off of the nail.
How to cut dogs nails safely? ›
Take a small portion off the top left, then the top right, and then take the third portion off the middle tip. You should be trimming around the quick and not across. If after these steps the edge of the nail still looks dry and flaky, that means you can still take a little more off.
How do you stop a dog's nail from bleeding after cutting? ›
If you cut your dog's nail too close to the quick, it will bleed. For a dog's bleeding nail, a dab of styptic powder will get the bleeding to stop. If styptic powder isn't available, try some corn starch (see below) or apply pressure with a clean cloth or your finger to stop the bleeding.
How do you know when to stop clipping black dog nails? ›
As you cut back the nail, you will see this horn material start to appear in cross-section as a white circle under the black nail. Once you cut far enough back, the quick will appear as a small black dot in the center of the white horn. Once you see the quick, stop cutting!
