If you keep your pet’s nails trimmed on a regular 4-week schedule, bravo! Not only are you filling your home with sonic balance (we always vote for less clicking on hardwood, laminate, or tile floors), but you are servicing your pet in other tremendous, healthful ways. Of course, not all pet owners are able or willing to trim their pet’s nails (it can be off-putting at first for all involved), and that’s where we come in!

We’ll show you our tricks of the trade and you can bone up on the benefits of trimming your pet’s nails below.

Why Your Pet’s Nails Need Trimming

Pets that receive daily, brisk exercise outside require less frequent nail trimmings because nails get worn down on pavement or trailways. Otherwise, 4-6 weeks is a good goal to shoot for. Why, you ask? Simply put, the health advantages of trimming your pet’s nails are elemental to his or her overall well being.

Nails left alone will continue to grow and eventually curl into the paw pad beneath the foot. Pets will try to overcompensate and shift their weight to the back part of each paw. This painful shift changes natural alignment, causes walking difficulty, creates joint stress, and often leads to arthritis.

Be One With The Quick

The quick is the blood and nerve supply to your pet’s nail, and inspires fear and dread among many pet owners. The nail typically mimics the color of the fur closest to the nail, so black nails can hide the pinkish color of the quick. It’s best to ask your groomer or veterinarian for tips on how to find the quick – even if the nails are lighter in color.

If you clip the quick accidentally, your pet is not only in a world of hurt, but it’s a bloody mess (not to mention he or she will have serious trouble allowing future trims). We can show you the best ways to avoid the quick, but even the most seasoned groomers keep Kwik Stop styptic on hand, just in case.

The Right Stuff

The next step is acquiring the right clippers. Guillotine or scissor-type clippers are your best bet for control and precision. Restraining your pet will reduce accidental injury for both of you.

 

• Trim one nail a little at a time
• Be cautious of the quick which will feel slightly spongy
• Give treats and accolades to reinforce a positive association with nail trims

 

If you wish (and your dog is willing), a nail file will nicely finish the job and you can even polish the end of the nail if you’d like!

Trimming Pet’s Nails and Regular Grooming

If your pet has a broken nail or painful infection stemming from an ingrown nail, contact us immediately. Along with nail trimming, your pet may benefit from a grooming appointment, that includes treatment of the coat, eyes, ears, and skin.