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I Don’t’ Like Trimming Fido’s Nails
Giving poochie a bath -
no problem. You might even be ok sticking a tooth brush
in Lassie’s mouth. But trimming doggie’s nails
is never going to happen!
Actually, giving your dog's nails a
clipping is not nearly as difficult or freighting as
it seems.
Nail trimming in dogs can be done very
easily if you know how. It's always a good idea to watch
someone else first (vet, groomer or friend) who is experienced
in nail trimming.
Some dogs never need to have their nails
trimmed. Many will naturally wear the nails down or
the dried ends of the nails will simply flake away without
you even knowing. But some breeds, especially Basset
Hounds and Dachshunds will likely need your help in
keeping the toe nails reasonably short.
There will be times when you accidentally
cut a nail too short. It just happens sometimes, even
with experienced groomers. The nail will bleed if you
cut it too short, so just be prepared for that.
Get a good nail trimmer. Ask your vet
or the clerk in the pet store which kind they recommend.
Place the main part of the trimmer in the palm of your
hand and the moveable part so that it is controlled
by your fingers. You want to be able to see the small
cutting blade that slides when you squeeze the handle.
Make sure you’re not cutting from
the top downward; but rather from underneath. Slide
the opening over the end of the nail while staying in
the whitish part of the nail. The pink area of the nail
is the live part and has blood vessels throughout. Hopefully
you’ll be able to see where the pink part starts.
If your pooch has dark nails you won’t
be able to see any pink to know where the live part
of the nail starts. Just do a little bit at a time with
the dark nails. Check the end of the nail. The dead
area usually is whitish and as you cut deeper into the
end of the nail you will begin to see a dark area. That
dark area is where the live part starts.
When you are ready to cut, make a smooth,
quick squeeze on the handle while holding the trimmer
steady. Don't try to "pop" the end of the
nail off; it will fall away on its own. You can file
the edges or just let the dog wear the nail smooth.
Taking your dog for a walk on the sidewalk or street
can help them file down.
Remember that at some point you will
cut too short. When this happens, place a tiny piece
of tissue paper tightly against the end of the nail
and hold it for a few minutes. Better yet, have some
cornstarch or flour available and put a small amount
against the bleeding end of the nail, hold it there
with your finger. This works right away. Or you can
do nothing and the bleeding should stop in about five
minutes. If it continues to bleed much more than that,
give your vet a call.
Always remember, you can do this. Play
with your canine’s feet first to get them used
to the idea. If you do it once a week, it won’t
seem like such a tragic event. If you can only do one
paw a day, that’s ok too. Relax and enjoy your
dog!
1howto.com
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