GROOMING
How to Trim Your Dog’s Nails Safely at Home
Want to know how to trim dog nails at home? Veterinarian Dr Tanaya Pai shows you how to trim dog nails in a safe and stress-free manner.
Table of contents
Why Is It Important to Trim Dog Nails?
Nail trims are essential for dogs. Long, uncut nails can be uncomfortable for them as it can adversely the way they walk. As responsible pet parents, it is thus important for us to understand how to keep them short and when is the right time to visit your dog’s groomer or the vet. Although you may require your veterinarian to help you out from time to time, regularly grooming these body parts at home ensures that your dog is healthy and happy, and vet visits are hassle-free! So, let’s get started!
How Do I Know When to Trim My Dog’s Nails?
If your dog's nails are touching the ground when they walk and making a Tippy-Tappy sound on the floor…they are far too long and it is time for a nail trim. If you don’t file your dog's nails at home, you will probably need to get them cut at the vet’s or your groomer’s every four to six weeks or learn to do it yourself. If you do decide to use a nail file, routine filing will be needed every 15-30 days.
The dewclaw is the nail on the digit (finger) that is located on the inner side of your dog's leg slightly higher than the paw. It’s the equivalent of your dog's thumbnail. This nail does not touch the ground when your dog walks and also tends to curl as it grows. So, it is important to either file the nail regularly or get it cut every 4-6 weeks at the vet’s or your groomer’s. For dogs that are active and spend a lot of time outdoors, you may need to only trim the dew claw.
For dogs that are active and spend a lot of time outdoors, you may need to only trim the dew claw.
How Do I Keep My Dog's Nails Short at Home?
Most dogs' nails get filed down when they go for walks. However, if your dog is not leaving your house and spending a long time on smooth flooring (tiles/marble), they can get quite long.
This is true for young puppies that are not leaving the house because their vaccinations are not complete. It is best to get their nails checked by the vet and trimmed every time you go for a vaccine (every 2-3 weeks).
Although nail trims are painless if done correctly, the paws are a sensitive area that most dogs don't like being touched or handled. That’s why if you don’t work on getting them used to it at home, nail trims can quickly become something that your dog fears and hates.
Although nail trims are painless if done correctly, the paws are a sensitive area that most dogs don't like being touched or handled. That’s why if you don’t work on getting them used to it at home, nail trims can quickly become something that your dog fears and hates.
Long, uncut nails can be uncomfortable as it can adversely the way they walk. It is thus very important to understand how to keep them short and when it's time to visit your dog’s groomer or the vet.
How to Trim Your Dog’s Nails at Home?
Before you begin filing or cutting your dog’s nails, it is important to first get them comfortable with their paws being touched and handled. Having a daily grooming ritual where you introduce touch and get your puppy to be comfortable and even enjoy touch is important. You can check out this article by Canine Behaviourist Alisha Krishnayya about the same here.
Once your puppy is comfortable with their paws being held or touched, take a nail file and gently use it in soft but swift motions on your puppy's nails. Start with just one paw at a time until your pup gets comfortable with it. Every time you file one nail, offer a small treat and lots of praise! And make sure your puppy has something to chew during this time, whether it’s a toy or food. Keep your initial introductory sessions short so that you do not prolong the filing as this could stress the puppy. Remember to pause if your puppy seems too agitated, wait for them to calm down and begin the process again.
The Pasta Trick: When it comes to cutting your dog’s nails, it is often the crunchy, sharp sound of nail breaking that can alarm them. To desensitise them to the sound, you can hold their paw in one hand and break a dry piece of pasta next to it, to replicate the sound. You can quickly reward them with a treat to ensure that they build positive associations with the sound.
You can use a regular nail file or a special one meant for your dogs. However, here are something things to keep in mind:
Once your puppy is comfortable with their paws being held or touched, take a nail file and gently use it in soft but swift motions on your puppy's nails. Start with just one paw at a time until your pup gets comfortable with it. Every time you file one nail, offer a small treat and lots of praise! And make sure your puppy has something to chew during this time, whether it’s a toy or food. Keep your initial introductory sessions short so that you do not prolong the filing as this could stress the puppy. Remember to pause if your puppy seems too agitated, wait for them to calm down and begin the process again.
The Pasta Trick: When it comes to cutting your dog’s nails, it is often the crunchy, sharp sound of nail breaking that can alarm them. To desensitise them to the sound, you can hold their paw in one hand and break a dry piece of pasta next to it, to replicate the sound. You can quickly reward them with a treat to ensure that they build positive associations with the sound.
You can use a regular nail file or a special one meant for your dogs. However, here are something things to keep in mind:
- Don’t forget to cut or file the dewclaw- this nail does not touch the ground when your dog walks and hence tends to grow quite long.
- Be very careful that you do not hit the quick- a blood vessel that runs through the centre of your dog's nail. If you end up cutting your dog’s nails too short, two things will happen:
- The nail will bleed. There can be quite a lot of blood, don’t panic. If this happens, hold pressure for 10-15 mins using some cotton.
- It will hurt your dog. The quick also has some nerve endings. Your dog will become quite uncomfortable and vocalise/snap/mouth or try to take away their paw if you are getting too close to the quick.
- With dogs that have clear or white nails, you will be able to identify the quick as a red-coloured line that runs through the centre of the nail. However, if your dog has dark or black nails, the quick will not be easily visible. In this case, be extra careful while trimming or better yet, leave it to the experts.
Remember, most dogs seem to be more sensitive around their paws. So, if you are not comfortable and experienced with nail trims, do not risk it and leave it to experienced experts.
Happy Pet Parenting!
Thank you to Canine Behaviourist & Trainer Alisha Krishnayya for her valuable inputs for this article!
Happy Pet Parenting!
Thank you to Canine Behaviourist & Trainer Alisha Krishnayya for her valuable inputs for this article!
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