How to Trim a Puppy's Toenails

When left to grow, a puppy's nails are sharp, dangerous and can inflict serious injury. Therefore, it is important to keep them trimmed. Trimming a puppy's nails can be a difficult task, because most puppies will squirm and try to wiggle away the first few times. In addition, dog nails contain a "quick," or vein, that carries the blood supply to the nail. If the vein is cut, the nail will bleed. Trimming a puppy's nails is a challenge, but it's a doable task with a bit of patience.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog nail trimmers
  • Styptic powder
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the puppy on a table or other raised surface, if possible. The puppy will be less likely to run or try to get away if it is up high. Just watch the puppy carefully to ensure it doesn't try to jump off the table, which could result in injury.

    • 2

      Grab the puppy's paw with your less dominant hand and examine its nails. If the nails are white or light-colored, you will likely see the pink portion of the nail, or the vein, which begins at the paw and runs out toward the end of the nail. You want to avoid cutting the vein, as it will bleed. If the nails are dark and you cannot see the vein, look for where the nail begins to taper and becomes curved and thin.

    • 3

      Take the nail clippers in your dominant hand. Trim the area of the nail away from the vein or where the nail is thin and curved. These are the areas where the nails can be cut safely without injuring the quick. Clip small pieces of the nail at a time. Try to leave about 2 millimeters of white nail under the pink portion. If you cannot see the vein, cut only the thin, tapered portion of the nail.

    • 4

      Place styptic powder on the nail if it does bleed. Cutting the vein is very easy to do, especially if you have never trimmed a puppy's nails before. Simply place powder on the tip of your finger and apply it to the nail, holding your finger there until the bleeding subsides. Although bleeding may be a bit painful for the puppy, it is not an emergency, unless the bleeding won't stop after a half hour or so. If that's the case, contact your veterinarian.