Things You'll Need
- Dog nail clippers
- Ruler
Instructions
Place your dog in a comfortable position. You may seat small dogs in your lap, or lay larger dogs on a flat table. Hold the dog firmly to restrain them, but do not use aggressive force.
Raise your dog's paw and squeeze the first pad gently, in order to extract the claw, making it easier to see and access.
Examine the claw. Deep within each nail is a pink, fleshy layer called the "quick." This layer contains nerve endings and should never be cut. If your dog has light-colored paws, you can spot the quick very easily. If the dog has dark-colored nails, you will need to examine them very closely and spot the subtle color variation.
Cut the nail approximately 2 mm above the quick. The Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine specifically recommends this measurement, as it prevents the risk of bleeding and leaves the dog with a smooth, dull nail. Two millimeters amounts to the length of two of the tiniest lines on a standard ruler.