Dog Problems: Clipping Nails

Trimming your dog's toenails can be difficult. He may squirm or won't hold still long enough for you to trim one nail. Possibly, you're afraid of trimming his nails because you don't want to hurt your dog pain or make him bleed. There are a few things you can do to make nail trimming easier on both you and your dog.

  1. Items to Have on Hand

    • One way to clip your dog's toenails is using clippers, which is less time consuming. The other is to use a grinding tool. The advantage to the grinding tool is that the nail won't have sharp edges that can snag. The disadvantage to the grinder is that the noise may be disturbing to your dog, and the friction from the grinder will heat up the nail which may also cause your dog pain.

    Keeping Your Dog Still

    • One of the most difficult problems with clipping nails on some dogs is keeping him still. Some dogs will sit patiently during the process, though many will squirm. If your dog is small, you can have him sit in your lap, but a large dog will need to lie down on his stomach or his side. For large dogs, the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine (WSU CVM) recommends using your body to lean across him, your chest against his back. This will help keep him steady while you are clipping his nails.

    Proper Way to Trim Nails

    • According to Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue, when clipping nails, you should trim your dog's nail at an angle so that the bottom of his nail is a bit longer than the top. The bottom part of the nail is a bit softer, and your dog wears this down during his normal activity. Light colored nails are easier to see the quick, allowing you to know how close to cut. You cannot see the quick in dark nails, and the best way to cut is by cutting small pieces off at a time. Stop cutting when you see the gray or pink area inside the nail, according to the WSU CVM.

    Bleeding

    • A problem most people fear is clipping too much of the nail. Most dog owners have cut too close to the quick, watched the dog jerk his paw away, maybe even whimper. Then the bleeding starts. You can use powders or liquids that will help stop the bleeding, but you should take care that you don't use too much of the product, according to Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue. These products usually stop the bleeding, but if this doesn't work, you may need to raise your dog's foot and use your fingers to squeeze the area where the toenail begins, right at the foot. Once you've stopped the bleeding, try to keep your dog still for awhile to prevent further bleeding, recommend Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue.

    Considerations

    • Most dogs are not active enough to wear down their nails, so their toenails need regular clipping. If nails are not trimmed, they can split and tear which is not only painful for your dog, but may lead to infections.