Trimming your dog’s nails is a necessary part of their grooming. It keeps them comfortable, safe, and has the bonus of preventing your floors and furniture from getting scratched. When a dog’s nails are too long, it causes pain and can affect their long-term health. While there are natural ways for your dog’s nails to remain short, it’s a part of their well-being that you should always be watchful of.

What are the Basics of Dog Nail Trimming?

Why Should You Trim Your Dog’s Nails?

While different dog species have different rates of nail growth, at some point, they’ll need to have them trimmed.

When they go untrimmed, the nails will curl onto the pad of their feet, causing pain. Dogs are adaptable, and they’ll redistribute their weight, but this leaves them more likely to injure themselves because walking and running will be more difficult. It can also change your dog’s posture, which is detrimental to their health, especially as they grow older.

What are Signs Your Dog’s Nails Need Trimming?

Your dog’s nails shouldn’t be so long that they always touch the ground. When that happens, it presses back into the nail bed, causing pain at the joint of the toe.

The nails might also become torn, which is also painful and needs to be treated by a veterinarian.

If you notice that your dog is limping or they’re licking their feet very often, they’re likely in pain. A quick inspection of their nails could reveal that they need a trim.

What are Some Tips for Trimming Their Nails?

In some cases, you may not have to groom your dog’s nails down yourself very often. If your dog exercises on hard surfaces, like pavement or concrete, the surface will wear down the nails naturally. Softer surfaces like indoor areas and grass fields don’t have the friction necessary to file the nails down.

A dog’s toenail has a nerve called the quick. Accidentally trimming, it will cause pain for the dog and will draw blood. If your dog has white nails, you’ll see the quick is pink from the side. Trim or file the nail slowly, starting from the very end.

If your dog has dark nails, the quick isn’t as visible. When grooming, check the cross-section of the nail after every cut. Once the center appears black, stop trimming. The next cut will strike the quick.

If you aren’t comfortable trimming your dog’s nails, the professionals at Wachal Pet Health Center LLC will do it for you. They provide comprehensive pet care, with services ranging from boarding and microchipping to grooming and teeth cleaning. They also have an in-house veterinarian, Dr. Kelly Jordan, who uses state-of-the-art technology to ensure the health and happiness of your pets. For more information on their services, visit their website. If you’re in the Lincoln, NE, area, make an appointment with them at (402) 477-7877.