Tips on trimming your pet’s nails

Dog and cat nails that aren’t trimmed regularly can affect your pet’s ability to move about comfortably or cause injury when scratching. They might also break or tear, causing pain to your pet. Leaving it to the professionals is usually the best option, but if your pet is calm and you are comfortable clipping the nails yourself, you may be able to do this task at home without going to the vet.

Here are a few tips:

Remember, the nail is living tissue. Light colored claws are easier to cut than dark claws as the blood vessels and nerves that supply the claw, called the quick, are easier to see. If you clip too close to the quick, the nail will bleed and this is painful.

There are two types of nail clippers available: the scissor type (which resembles traditional scissors) or the guillotine type (which surrounds the whole nail). Both are effective.

Many pets resist nail clipping. One way to get them accustomed to it is to handle their paws or feet from a very early age. Make sure you and your pet are in a comfortable position and you have control of your pet’s head and body. You might need a friend to help. Sometimes a gentle patting on the top of the head and encouraging words in a soft voice can help calm your pet.

If you’re right handed, hold the paw in your left hand and hold the trimmer in your right hand. Unlike cats, dogs do not have retractile claws so keep this in mind when preparing to clip. The colour of the nail is determined by the color of the surrounding skin and hair and light coloured nails are easier to clip than dark.

The handles of the trimmer can be held either pointing toward the floor or the ceiling, cutting the nail from bottom to top or from the bottom to the top.

Place the tip of the nail into the ring of the clippers. If the trimmer is placed parallel to the nail (cutting from side to side), the nail is crushed and may splinter. Cut the claw to within approximately 3 millimeters of the quick.

Always remember to trim the dew claws that are located on the inner surface of the paw.

When you are clipping, take your time and keep calm. Don’t rush the process. If your pet is uncomfortable, stop, take a break and try again later. Remember, never cut too close to the quick as this will cause bleeding, which can last up to five minutes and will be very painful for your pet. If your pet’s nail does bleed, scrape the nail through a cake of soap and the bleeding should stop.

Make sure you give your pet lots of positive reinforcement and a treat at the end to reward a job well done.

It’s vital that you replace your pet’s nail clippers every six to 12 months to ensure they remain sharp. A dull blade may crush and fracture the nail.

If you are worried or need assistance, please call us straight away on 9547 2750.