Animals Library: How to Trim Dog Nails

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How to Trim Dog Nails – “Troubleshooting”

As we’ve recently touched up on the equipment made to easily facilitate the trimming of dog’s nails and the frequency of dog nail trimming sessions, this time around we’ll be covering “troubleshooting tips” when a dog nail trimming session goes awry.

The two issues we’ll be talking about here are the most commonly encountered during dog nail trimming sessions, along with some tips in what to do when they happen to you and your dog.

The “Holding Still” Issue

Not all dogs are comfortable with the idea of having their nails trimmed, and many have resorted to different solutions to dogs with this tenacious attitude against grooming.

Some have called for two or more people holding a dog down while trimming doggy nails, as other have tried measures such as sedating dogs and trimming doggy nails while he/she is out cold.

These solutions prove to have some hassles (and some risks, especially when sedating dogs are involved), and as such, desensitizing them to getting used to the idea of having their nails trimmed proves to be the best solution.

Just like with teaching your dog new tricks, consider rewarding your pooch if he/she has been cooperative with nail trimming sessions. Do gradual frequency installments with nail trimming sessions, in instilling the idea to your dogs.

At times, calling for the services of the pros helps, but these services will cost money, and will also cost you the opportunity to bond with your dogs.

Bottom line, don’t expect your dog to get used to the idea of nail trimming on the spot. If a dog is uncooperative, give him/her the chance to get used to the new idea of nail trimming.

The Cut Into the Quick Issue

When a dog’s nails bleed during a nail trimming session, this could probably mean you’ve cut into the nail quick of your dog. This happens when dog nail trimmers cut too deep, hitting the nerve and blood vessel within the dog’s nail.

When such a situation happens, some flour or corn starch can be used as a styptic powder substitute, though the home-items aren’t as effective as styptic powder. Use tissue balls or cotton balls in wiping away blood.

Cuts like these cause pain, but they’re not lasting nor are they exactly debilitating for dogs. Just remember that the idea is to trim your dog’s nails and NOT to cut them all off!

Not your dog’s reactions whenever you trim a nail. If your dog yelps indicating pain but no blood comes out, this marks that you’ve cut close to the nail quick and cutting/trimming any further wont’ be a good idea.

Do well in ensuring that your dog’s nails aren’t cut too short. This could traumatize your dog, making nail trimming sessions more difficult to manage.

So there you have it! The basics of dog nail trimming sessions, covering the right equipment to have, the ideal frequencies between dog nail trimming sessions and what to do when blood and pain happens during dog nail trimming sessions.

Do well in remembering the points raised in this topic-series.

Dog nail trimming sessions will be significantly easier, and your dog will greatly appreciate your efforts.

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How to Trim Dog Nails – How Soon and How Often

Last time, we talked about the different types of dog nail trimmer types, equipment which will come in handy when trimming the nails of one’s dog.

This time let’s talk about the frequency and the whens involved in dog nail trimming, particularly on how soon and how often one should trim the nails of a dog.

How soon should nail trimming sessions be enforced upon dogs?

It is highly advisable to get started as early as possible, giving your dog time to get used to the idea of nail trimming.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you start trimming nails even before a puppy learns to walk! Once a puppy and his/her nails are sharp enough, it’s best to put in the nail trimming habit into them, assuring them that there’s nothing to fear when you hold his/her paws and do what you do with them with your nail trimmer.

This would greatly help you and your dog during future nail trimming sessions, and as an activity, it is also an avenue where you and your dog can share a bond between each other.

How often should one trim a dog’s nails?

There really is no universal answer to how often one should trim a dog’s nails, only that the frequency is dependent on the dog in question.

With the amount of time a dog gets to wear down his/her nails and the amount of time his/her nails grow, doing a simple test helps determine if it is time to trim a dog’s nails: if a dog’s nails touch the floor while he/she is standing, it is time.

Generally speaking, trimming your dog’s nails once a month is good. Also, know that the nails of a dog’s hind legs tend to grow slower compared to a dog’s front legs, and balancing the amount you trim with trimming sessions is a good move with all of your dog’s paws.

Don’t overdo dog nail trimming practices. Position and space the time between trimming sessions properly, since over trimming your dog’s nails could prove to be a problem for your dog in his/her day to day activities.

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How to Trim Dog Nails – Dog Nail Trimming Equipment

Trimming your dog’s nails stand to be a dog grooming basic, one that isn’t just there for aesthetic purposes, but also one which involves dog health and dog mobility-inclined reasons.

As regular trimming is part of your dog’s regular ablutions, using the right kind of dog nail trimming equipment helps reduce the onset of nail trimming-inclined problems, dog inconveniences and any other complications which fall along the lines.

Here’s a quick look at the most commonly encountered dog nail trimmers, with each boasting features which dogs and dog owners can benefit from.

The Scissors-Type Dog Nail Trimmer – just like a pair of scissors, scissor-type dog nail trimmers cut dog nails easily and safely, often made with a curved blade to veer away nicks on doggy paw skins.

They are considered to be the cheapest variety of dog nail trimmers, and their use isn’t all that difficult, granted that dog owners will have to let their dogs settle down when using them.

The blades of scissor-type dog nail trimmers, generally speaking, easily dull over time, and problems related to its hinges are known to happen, thus care in their storage and upkeep have to be considered with their use.

The Pliers-style Dog Nail Trimmer – often used by dog professionals, pliers-style dog nail trimmers are more solidly built than scissor-type trimmers, giving users more force in trimming and shaping doggy nails.

Like scissors-type dog nail trimmers, pliers-style trimmers require maintenance and storage attention, given that their blades, though it’d take ample periods of time, dull up.

The Guillotine Style – this type of dog nail trimmer is quite popular, often used by amateurs and professionals in keeping a dog’s nails trim and clean. It’s dubbed “guillotine style” for a reason, since it resembles the mechanical operation of a guillotine.

Generally, the nail trimmer is designed with a hole which has an internal blade. Once the handle is squeezed, the blade would then trim the tip of a dog’s nail which had been positioned in the hole.

It is very quick and easy to use, but its functional benefits are only heightened when talking about dogs with well-sized paws. Dogs with too large or too small nails will have problems with this type of dog nail trimmer, and for these the scissors-type dog nail trimmer or the pliers-type dog nail trimmer are better options.

With the right dog nail trimmer keeping your dog’s nails well groomed is easier. Spot the right dog trimmer type for you and your dog, and the whole process will be easier and lesser of a hassle for everyone concerned.