How to trim a dog's nails. (8 simple steps)

EASY STEPS TO PROPERLY CUT OR TRIM A DOG’S NAILS

Nail trimming is a mandate for proper dog care. For him or her to have a comfortable walk in the park and at home, the nails should be at the right length and shape, which is achievable through proper nail trimming.

Nail trimming may seem like a daunting task, but with the right technique and skills from this post, it’s so simplified.

We guide you step by step to effectively trim your dog’s nails. The blog further explores the importance and how often to trim the nails of your dog.

The 8 steps are:

Prepare all the necessary equipment: a filer, nail clippers, cotton, disinfectant, table, muzzle (for aggressive dogs), enough light, and a clean soft towel.

instruments needed for cutting dog's nails — What you need to trim the nails of your dog

Bring the dog to the room or place where nail trimming is to be conducted, and let him or her relax.

Dog waiting his nails to be cut — Waiting for his nails to be trimmed

Gently put the dog on the table.

Waiting for nail trimming on grooming table — A dog is on the table, waiting for nail trimming.

Properly restrain the dog in the most comfortable position that allows you to do a perfect job with minimal or no stress and pain. (For aggressive dogs, put on a muzzle to avoid injuries.

Muzzled dog — A dog with a muzzle on to avoid injuries

Clean all the nails with a disinfectant and cotton or clean soft towel.

Disinfecting-the-nails-of-a-dog-before-cutting-them — How to disinfect the nails of a dog before cutting them

Identify the cut line where the QUICK ends (demarcation where blood supply stops).

cutline for dog's nail — Quick for a dog

For white or colorless nails, get enough light to easily see the red portion of the nail. The cut line is made a very short distance away from the point where the blood supply or reddened part of the nail ends.

The overgrown nail is the portion of the nail after the reddened area (QUICK).

For the black nails, the cut line is difficult to identify. To see the cut line of a black nail, turn to the lower part of the nail (concave side), the point where tissue development ends, at a very short distance from where the tissue end is the cut line.

File the nail into the required shape.

filing the nails of a dog — **How to file the nails of a dog**

Repeat the procedure above on other nails.

What to do if the toenail bleeds during or after trimming.

Get cotton or a clean soft towel.

Soak cotton or a towel in the disinfectant.

Using the disinfected cotton or towel, apply gentle pressure to the bleeding spot until the bleeding stops.

If bleeding persists after 2-5 minutes, please rush to the nearest vet doctor or veterinary clinic.

How often should I trim my dog’s nails?

The nails of a dog should be trimmed every 2-5 months. However, the frequency of nail trimming is usually determined by several factors, which include:

What are the factors that determine how often to trim a dog’s nails?

The floor or surface on which the dog walks

Dogs that move on a rough surface self-trim their nails due to the friction between the nails and the rough surface. Such dogs need less or no nail trimming compared to those on smooth surfaces.

Age of the dog: puppies and youthful dogs have a higher growth rate, and they need more trimming compared to senior dogs. However, puppies and youthful dogs are more playful and active. So they regularly self-trim their nails compared to the less active senior dogs.

Nutrition: Dogs that are fed food with excess vitamin C, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and other nutrients that aid nail growth need more trimming.