When Should I Trim My Dog’s Nails?
It’s More Than Just Looks
Grooming your dog is always an important task, but grooming should include more than just bathing and brushing your dog. To protect both you and your dog, their nails should be clipped regularly. Trimmed nails are a good sign of pet hygiene and health. If you’re not comfortable trimming your dog’s nails, Pawmper Fluffy can handle this for you. Our mobile pet grooming services will cover everything your dog needs to look and feel clean and fresh.
Most pets will become stressed when it comes time to trim their nails. That is why you should start doing this at an early age.
Pawmper Fluffy wants to show you why clipping your dog’s nails is so important and how to do it properly.
How Often Should I Trim My Dog’s Nails?
Unlike outdoors animals, indoor pets need their nails trimmed more frequently. Outdoor pets’ nails will naturally be trimmed down by running around and staying active. Indoor pets need their nails trimmed more frequently due to softer walking surfaces and only having a fraction of the activity.
It’s time to trim your dog’s nails if they can be heard, usually a clicking sound when they walk on hard floors and surfaces.
Dogs need their nails trimmed regularly, about every 3-4 weeks. Some pet owners will wait too long which can cause health issues for your dog.
What Happens If I Don’t Trim My Dog’s Nails?
Nail trimming isn’t just a cosmetic factor when it comes to your dog. Long nails can become painful and can cause irreversible damage to the dog.
Most people look at the damage that long nails can cause as scratches on hardwood floors, carpet snags, and claw marks on the sofa. Long nails, however, can cause issues for the dog. Long nails can lead to a splayed foot, reduced traction, deformed feet, and even injured tendons after a long period of time. The force of walking on them can also lead to arthritis and other ongoing pain and problems.
Dogs naturally have a curved nail shape. If these grow too long, they can eventually grow into your dog’s paw and through the skin, making it painful to even walk. This is a similar pain to having an ingrown toenail. Dogs will try to combat this by putting more weight on their back paws. This can lead to sore muscles and joints, back pain, and arthritis.
Longer nails are also more likely to grab onto carpets and fabrics. The outer enamel found on the nail can wear away as they try to pry it off. This can lead to exposure of the inner nail, leading to more injuries and potential infections.
How To Trim Your Dog’s Nails
There are two parts of the nail that you need to watch for when trimming your dog’s nails. This includes the softer, living pink quick and the harder outer material known as the shell. The pink area is what supplies blood to the nail and runs to its core. Watch for this pink area as cutting this can be very painful and will cause bleeding. It’s best to regularly trim your dog’s nails so the quick becomes shorter and easier to avoid.
There are a number of different nail trimmers that can be used for your dog. It’s best to find one that works for your dog or makes them the most comfortable. If you have never trimmed a dog’s nails before, a veterinarian can teach you the proper way. Pawmper Fluffy handles nail trimming and can do it right in your driveway!
Follow these steps to trim your dog’s nails at home:
– Hold the paw firmly but carefully, placing your thumb on the pad of a toe and your forefinger on the top of the toe on the skin located above the nail, ensuring that none of the dog’s fur is in the way.
– Push your thumb slightly up and backward on the pad while pushing your forefinger forward to expose the nail.
– Cut only the tip of the nail straight across. Make sure to get the dewclaws on the inside of the paw.
– Do not clip past the curve of the nail to prevent clipping the area where blood vessels are located.
With practice, you and your dog will become comfortable with the procedure.
Need Mobile Grooming Help?
If you want your dog’s nails clipped while also receiving a full grooming session, Pawmper Fluffy is here for you. We don’t want you to ever go to the in-person pet salon again. We offer mobile pet grooming services in South Florida that make grooming your pet easier than ever. Visit our contact page and booking page now if you have any questions or concerns.
