Dog Nail Trimming

Here is a strange piece of trivia for you, did you know that dogs walk on their toes? They do not walk on the soles of their feet, like humans do. Therefore, long nails can cause your dog to tip back on his paws, and cause all kinds of problems. Overly long nails in dogs can cause the development of arthritis, along with sore feet, hips and legs. If you are hearing that clickity click click as your dog walks across the room, it's time to take action!

It is extremely common for dogs to feel uneasy at the prospect of getting their toe nails trimmed. If your dog doesn't want to cooperate, do not get frustrated. Do you realize how many dogs suffer from clipper phobia? If someone else was clipping YOUR nails, you may feel uncomfortable as well. But every positive experience they have with a nail trimming, will reinforce your dogs sense of security, and make them that much more cooperative the next time.

You can choose between a Dremel type tool that grinds the nail, guillotine clippers, or dog nail scissors. Try them all, and see what works best for you and your dog. It is very important to avoid cutting the quick or the vein of the nail, just clip of the very tip once or twice a month. In case you do end up cutting the quick, it is always a good idea to have styptic powder on hand.

An interesting nail trimmer that I have seen advertised, is the Pedi Paw nail trimmer. I cannot honestly recommend it, because I haven't tried it yet. The Pedi Paw nail trimmer is like a Dremel tool, but designed specifically to safely cut your dogs nails. On the advertisement it says it has a protective cap that allows only the perfect amount of nail to be removed. In addition, the Pedi Paw will not cause your dogs nails to crack, splinter, or break. It seems pretty easy to use, and IMO at $19.99, it is worth a try.

Make sure your dog gets his nails trimmed. If you don't feel comfortable doing it at home, take him to the veterinarian or groomer.