How to Trim Dog Nails

How often should you cut or trim your dog’s nails?
In general, your dog should have their nails trimmed about once a month. However, it depends on how often your dog runs or walks on pavement or another hard surface. For dogs that get routine walks, the pavement helps to do much of this work for you because each time they step, their nails rub and wear down.

How do you know if your dog’s nails are too long?
The easiest way to tell if your dog needs their nails trimmed is when you hear them clicking against the hard floor when they walk. You can also visually inspect the nails and if they naturally touch the ground as your dog is standing, then they need to be trimmed.

Can long nails affect my dog’s health?
Yes, long nails that are not naturally worn down or trimmed can cause your dog pain in the short term and potential joint and toe problems in the long-term. As the nails become longer, your dog’s toes must adjust to reduce the pain, which could lead to deformities if the issue is not dealt with.

How do you hold and use a dog nail clipper?
Most dog nail clippers feature a spring-action, two-handled design in which you hold one handle with your thumb and the other with your four fingers. When clipping nails, you simply position the part of the nail you want to cut between the two blades and squeeze your hand to cut. The best way to ensure you’re cutting only the part of the nail you want to cut is to use the bottom blade as your guide, holding that to the nail and pulling the top blade down to cut.

What happens if you cut the quick?
If you cut into the quick, you’re likely to cause your dog’s nail to bleed. If this happens, don’t panic. Simply grab your dry cloth to wipe away the blood and hold it on the affected area. Then remove the cloth and dab a small amount of Styptic powder on the wound to stop the bleeding. Make sure to reassure your dog that everything is okay, so they don’t become too stressed out. Reward them with a treat to help take their mind off the incident.

Find more tips on how to stop dog nail bleeding.

How far should you cut your dog’s nails?
A dog’s nail is made of two parts—the hard outer shell and soft inner part, which is where the quick is. This area is very sensitive and contains blood vessels. When cutting your dog’s nails, it is important to cut a little at a time and inspect the bottom of the nail to see how close you are to the quick. You want to cut close to the quick but not into it.

How do you cut dark nails?
It is more difficult to identify the quick in dogs with black or dark nails, at first. However, once you begin trimming, you’ll notice that the hard outer shell of the nail where you were cutting will be chalky white. You’ll know where the quick is when you start to see a black center inside the chalky shell. If you can barely see the black center, you can continue cutting. Once it gets wider and more prominent, it’s time to stop trimming. If you see some pink inside the black center, you don’t want to trim anymore because cutting into that will result in bleeding.