The Tips and Tricks of Pet Manicures

Cats, dogs, birds and rabbits are some of the household pets that benefit from regular manicures. Their nails grow constantly, just like human nails. Some pets, particularly outdoor pets, don't require as many manicures as others because they wear the nails down on the ground and by scratching trees.

  1. The Quick

    • The base of a pet's nail contains the quick, which is made up of blood vessels and nerves. Exercise caution in nail clipping to avoid cutting the quick; it will bleed. Products are available to help stop the bleeding, such as styptic powders or sticks. The quick is easily visible in pets with clear nails but is more difficult to see when the nails are dark. If the quick is not visible, cut off very small slivers of the nail rather than making one large cut.

    Clippers

    • Clippers designed for use with animals come in a variety of styles -- scissors, the ̶0;guillotine̶1; cutter and a spring-loaded cutter. Nail clippers used for humans can be effective on small pets, such as birds, rabbits and even some cats. Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine's website recommends the guillotine type of animal clipper as easier to use for cats and dogs. However, this depends on personal preference; for many pet owners, spring-loaded animal clippers are more user-friendly.

    Restraint

    • Manicuring a pet requires that the pet be restrained. Failing to restrain the pet increases the likelihood of the owner cutting into the quick. Some dogs are placid and willing to lie down for a manicure, while others may have to be placed on a table and require someone to help restrain them as the nails are clipped. A cat or a rabbit can be placed on the owner̵7;s lap. The cat should be placed on its stomach while the owner rests his forearms over the cat's neck and hind end for gentle restraint. A rabbit should be placed on its back and held in the crook of the arm. Bird manicures usually require a helper; one person holds the bird in his hand while the other person clips its nails.

    Training

    • Nail trimming should be made as pleasant as possible for the pet. Encourage and praise the pet as you clip its nails. Provide a treat as a reward for each nail clipped. Play with the pet afterward to reinforce the clipping as a positive experience. Train the pet to accept nail trimming from an early age. If you̵7;ve adopted an older pet, it may resist at first; this could be a new experience for the animal or it may have had negative experiences with nail clipping in the past.