Nail Files for Dogs

Some dogs dislike nail cutters but tolerate nail files. Black nails on a dog make it difficult to determine the location of the quick. The dog experiences intense pain if its quick is accidentally cut with nail cutters. Nail files prevent this from happening as it gradually files the sharp tip of the nail away, preventing accidental injury to the quick.

  1. Manual Nail File

    • Manual nail files for dogs look similar to the ones humans use. They are long and straight. You use a back and forth motion to file the nail down gradually. The dog needs to be trained to accept this new grooming tool if it has not already become accustomed to getting its nails filed on a regular basis. This type of file is suitable for all breeds of dogs and all sizes of dogs. Some files are made smaller for ease of use on smaller dogs.

    Motorized Nail File

    • A motorized nail file works via rotary motor action. A motor spins a round and gritty wheel that files the dog's nail little by little. There are corded and cordless types on the market as of April 2011. Both make a slight humming noise as the motor is working. It requires training to get the dog used to the sound and the feel of the motorized nail file. Different sizes are available based on the size of dog you have. Some motorized nail files are suitable for all dogs no matter the size.

    Sandpaper

    • An alternative to commercially produced nail files is to build a giant nail file of your own. By taking coarse sandpaper and gluing it down to a piece of wood large enough for your dog to paw on, you can make a giant nail file that you can teach your dog to use on its own. This method requires training your dog to paw on the board. Once the dog gets accustomed to pawing the board, it will file its own nails by itself on command.

    Warnings

    • Even though you are filing away the nail gradually, you should still have styptic powder on hand in case the dog's quick is cut. Styptic powder stops the bleeding. It is very painful for a dog to have its quick cut. Be careful when using any dog nail file to stop before possibly reaching the quick. It is easy to determine the location of the quick in dogs with clear nails. For dogs with dark nails, file the nail slowly until you see a gray-colored oval appear. This oval signals that the quick is about to begin.