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keeping a dog's claws in perfect
condition is imperative to avoid leg
injuries if we acquire the right tools
it's possible to trim the nails
ourselves of course we need the right
method along with these tools so
animalwise brings you the step-by-step
guide to cutting your dog's claws at
home with some helpful tips to ensure it
goes smoothly
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why is it important to cut your dog's
nails
normally dogs wear their nails down when
walking on hard ground this might not
always happen so we should check them
ourselves to see if they are too long if
a dog's nails grew excessively they will
be unable to walk properly and
comfortably they begin to adopt awkward
postures leading to serious health
problems such as sprains or injuries to
their paws also the nail can grow so
long that it burrows into the skin
leading to pain and potential infection
how often should the nails be cut
a dog's nails should not exceed the pads
of their paws as soon as we see them
start to approach the end of the paw pad
it's time for a trim
what does it take to cut a dog's nails
to be able to cut the nails of a dog at
home without hurting them you'll need
the appropriate tools for small and
medium sized dogs the most advisable
thing is to use a pair of clippers
preferably with a guard like this
it's important to note that trimmers
like claws come in several sizes so it's
essential to choose the size which best
suits our dog
for larger dogs it is best to choose a
guillotine style clipper with a more
effective design
and if we are too unsure of our own
ability to trim a dog's nails with
clippers as they do not like to be
manipulated we can still use a nail
grinder instead it's easy to use and
allows us to file the dog's nails to the
perfect length
finally we recommend having styptic or
silver nitrate harder to stop
hemorrhaging if you accidentally cut too
much both can be found in veterinary
clinics
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now that we have the right tools we can
talk about the formation of the dog's
nails and how far we should cut inside
the nail is living tissue which we
should never cut since this would cause
great pain to the animal the tissue can
be observed by looking at the nail in
the light showing a line of pink
coloration which doesn't extend to the
tip this is our cutting limit it is also
imperative we cut in a straight line or
at a slight angle which follows the
natural shape of the nail if your dog
has black nails and you cannot see the
tissue you should place the dog in a
flat surface and trim the nails on the
ground
now we start with these steps if this is
the first time you've trimmed your dog's
nails you should familiarize them with
the clippers and relate them to positive
stimuli to do this let them smell the
clippers and give them a reward when
they do this must be done for a few days
before the clipping create a relaxed
environment and accustom your dog to
being touched on their legs if you
haven't done so already
ask another person to help by holding
the dog
grab one of the nails and examine it to
see the living tissue and know how far
to cut cut the nail with clippers in a
quick and safe motion if you take too
long it can make the dog nervous and
they'll try to escape repeat with all
the other nails
for black nails you can use the grinder
simply turn it on and place the nail in
the right part following the product
instructions
if you cut too much stay cam stop the
bleeding with the powder and reassure
the dogs so they are come as well
in addition to the previous guide we
share some tricks and extra tips to
ensure this is a positive experience for
everyone touch their paws and nails on a
regular basis so they get used to being
handled
present the clipping tools positively
and reassure them not to be scared
avoid cutting your dog's nails when
stressed nervous or in a hurry it's best
to carry this out when can
during the nail cutting session don't
forget to use words of encouragement and
reassuring pets so they associate the
experience positively if you notice
you're too tired or nervous stop and do
it at another more appropriate time
synthetic pheromones can sometimes help
create a relaxed environment if you
adopt your dog as a puppy start this
routine as soon as possible
only use clippers which are dog specific
be patient and positive as not all dogs
will get used to this routine quickly if
your dog has a lot of fur on their paws
it's best to trim this before clipping
their nails
when to go to the veterinarian
if your dog is too uncomfortable being
manipulated or even shows aggression
during a clipping it's best to go to a
vet or professional groomer to have
their nails cut
also if your dog's nails are black it
may also be preferable to visit a
specialist
have you found this video useful do you
have any stories about trimming your
dog's nails
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