Pet Toenail Care

Caring for your pet's toenails may be one of the most important things you do for him. Our pets rarely get the opportunity to wear their nails down as they would out in the wild. Keeping their toenails in good shape will prevent painful foot conditions.

  1. Dogs

    • Dogs' toenails grow continuously, much like ours, and require regular attention to keep them in good shape. Trimming them with special dog nail trimmers, taking care to avoid the quick, or regular exercise on asphalt or concrete keeps your dog's nails in check. Cutting the quick is painful and causes bleeding. If your dog has dewclaws, they need to be trimmed, since they do not come into contact with hard surfaces when walking.

    Cats

    • Cats' nails are extra sharp and can cause injury to an unsuspecting owner if not attended to. Cats are far less likely to behave during trimming, so trips to a professional may be necessary. It is also wise to provide a cat with a scratching post to allow the cat to wear nails down on his own.

    Birds

    • Birds use their toenails for a variety of things, including eating. If the nails are too long, the bird cannot to grasp adequately and may suffer from malnutrition if she goes too long without regular nail trims. Birds can be trained to be still for nail trims, or taken to a professional. You can also install a emery board type perch that wears down the nails of difficult birds.

    Exotic Pets

    • Other pets with toenails, such as mice, rats, guinea pigs, etc., generally take care of their own nails without much intervention from the owner. This is largely because many of these animals scratch and burrow constantly. However, if you notice the nails are overgrown, take the pet to a veterinarian. If you attempt to do it yourself, you may injure the animal or become injured yourself. Many of these types of animals are sedated before nail trimming procedures are attempted.

    Livestock

    • Horses and other livestock live on their feet, and proper foot care is essential to the health of these animals. A professional farrier should carry out hoof trimming regularly to ensure that the feet are free of disease and do not become overgrown, causing lameness.