How to Clip Your Dog’s Nails

If you can hear your dog’s nails clicking on the floor as she walks or if your dog keeps getting her toenails caught in the carpet, it's time to clip her nails. It is past time really. Long nails can cause your dog pain, can cause balance problems, and can even grow into the toe-pad. The step below will guide you through the nail clipping procedure.

Step One: Preparation
Gather all your tools before you try to gather your dog. Make sure to use clippers made especially for dogs; you may need to do some research on which to buy as there are various kinds. To start, try holding your dog in your lap, if she is small enough, or just sitting next to your dog on the floor or on a chair. Talk softly to your dog while you pet and scratch all her favorite spots. Lift up the first paw and touch the nails. If your dog jerks her paw away or tries to run away, you will not be able to safely clip her nails in this position. You will need to use some amount of restraint.

Using restraint (only when necessary): If your dog is small enough, try laying her on a table. Stand opposite to the nails you are trimming and drape your arms and upper body over your dog. If your dog tries to stand up or move away, you can use your body weight to keep her in place, being careful not to hurt your dog. Make sure to talk calmly to your dog and help reassure her. Hold your dog’s paw in your left hand while holding the trimmer in your right hand. You can also adjust the positioning, perhaps having your dog lay on her side to make it harder for her to jump up. Use the same procedure for a bigger dog, only have the dog lay on the ground instead of a table. You may need to enlist the help of another set of arms!

Step Two: Making the Cut
The goal is to cut the nails just short of the quick (the area where the nerves and blood vessels start. You want to avoid cutting into the quick which can be painful for your dog and will almost certainly cause bleeding. On white nails, the quick is the pink section that you can usually see through the nails. On dark nails is may be impossible to see the quick though the nail so you will need to be extra careful.

• Trimming Light Colored Nails: If your dog’s nails are light enough for you to see the quick through the nails, then you can just make one swift cut through the nail, just short of the visible quick. If the nail is rough, or looks too long on the sides, away from the quick, you can use a nail file to smooth and even out the nail.
   
• Trimming Dark Colored Nails: If your dog’s nails are too dark to see the quick through the nail, instead of making one cut, you will make a series of very small cuts. After each cut, look at the nail. When you start to see light pink or grey tissue near the top of the cut edge, stop cutting – you have found the quick. If the nail is rough you can use a file to smooth the nail.

Step Three: Stop Bleeding
If you accidently cut the quick, your dog’s nail will start to bleed. You can apply pressure with a styptic pencil until it stops bleeding or sprinkle on some styptic powder. Even without treatment, the nail should not bleed for more than a few minutes. This would be a good time to take a short break from clipping and give your dog some positive attention before moving on to the next nail. Be careful when cutting because you do not want your dog to associate nail clipping with pain.

You will need to trim your dog’s nail once or twice a month, on average. It is best to make checking the length of the nails a habit and do it on a regular basis, perhaps while brushing your dog. This will also get your dog used to having her nails touched on a regular basis which will make nail clipping a lot easier for both you and your dog.