How to Trim Canine Nails

Check your pets nails regularly to see if they need trimming. How often they need to be trimmed depends on the pets lifestyle, but most pets benefit once a month.

If your pets do not like nail trims, start from square one. Get them used to their paws being touched. Give them rewards. (Peanut butter smeared across a surface is a great distraction!) For some pets it is the sound they do not like, so try introducing them to the nail trimmers first. The next day try trimming one nail. Repeat this process so they can become more comfortable.

If your pet is very active and constantly walks on hard surfaces, (the road, sidewalks) they will naturally wear down the nail. In this case the dogs nails may not need regular trimming.

Trim the nail back as far as possible trying your best to avoid cutting the quick (blood vessel). With white nails the quick is visible, so you can see how far you can trim. With black nails since you cannot see, just trim off small pieces at a time until a small white dot appears in the centre. Once you see this, you have trimmed enough.

While there are many concerns about cutting the quick, it really is not the worst thing that can happen. Did you know that every once in a while you actually can slightly cut the quick? This helps it to recede back into the nail bed to make the nails shorter in the future.

For instances where the quick does get cut you can apply flour to it or any coagulating agent.

One last thing....Don‘t forget those declaws! (Check the front and back)