How to cut dogs toenails

The general recommendation is to cut approx 2mm away from the quick. But if a dog has black or dark claws it can be difficult or impossible to see the quick and this will make nail trimming more difficult.

A grinding tool can give a smoother finish to the nail than the clipper and works well on thick nails. It is slower than clipping, and some dogs do not like the vibration of the tool. An important thing to know is that the Dremel heats up and can make the nail hot, causing pain if you are not careful.

To view the quick of the nail, gently lift your dog’s paw and look at the center of the unclipped nail head-on. If the nail has a small dark circle at the center, it indicates the beginning of the quick of the nail. Do not clip any nail that has a circle in the center as you’ll be clipping into the quick.

I remember successfully trimming the nails on about 14 toes when… I hit the quick. A healthy dog will not bleed to death from a cut toenail—not even close! While it is unfortunate that you’ve hurt your dog (which none of us wants to do), and while it may be a bit messy, this is not a serious injury.

Face the nail clipper’s cutting blade toward you.

The two main types of dog nail clippers—guillotine and scissor—have cutting blades. When you position the clipper on your dog’s nail, make sure the cutting blade is facing you. This will place the cutting blade a little farther away from the quick, helping you avoid it.

Apply a styptic stick or powder, cornstarch or flour to stop bleeding. You may need to bandage or put a sock on the paw to prevent your dog from licking his paw and causing bleeding to start again.

Take care to avoid the quick, which is the vein that runs into the nail. If you accidentally cut into the quick, causing bleeding, apply some styptic powder to stop bleeding.

Skipping This Grooming Task Can Cause Your Dog Pain

The quick supplies blood to the nail and runs through the core of it. Nerves in the quick cause bleeding and discomfort when cut. Regular nail trimming will cause the quick to recede from the end.

Much like a human nail, if a dog’s nail is damaged or hurt, it will cause them pain. One way a nail may cause a dog pain is during the trimming process if they are not maintained regularly. Not only does cutting a dog’s nails too short cause them pain, but leaving them to grow too long can be even more painful.

Many pet owners prefer the use of a motorized nail file or Dremel tool that is often less stressful for dogs, as it eliminates the pinching sensation associated with clippers. Manual filing is time-consuming, but for an extremely anxious dog, it may be a viable alternative to clippers or motorized instruments.

Discomfort. According to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), long nails can be uncomfortable, and even painful, for a dog. Long nails can dig into the soft tissue of the paw and cause discomfort while walking, standing or running.

Signs Dogs Feel Their Nails

Some dogs are anxious about it because they are not used to it. They might also start whining or barking if you accidently cut their nails too short. Their nails have a nerve and vein (called a quick), which, if clipped, causes tremendous pain and even bleeding.

Pain is the main reason that dogs hate nail trims. If your dog has ever been cut too close, even once, he will remember it. Nature provides pain as a protection and if something hurts, an animal must learn to avoid, and even fight it. This is a survival instinct.

Bathe Your Dog First

Bathing your dog before trimming her nails softens the nails so that they are easier to clip and less likely to splinter. The massaging motion of cleaning your pet’s fur can relax your dog so that she’s more docile for a nail clipping. There are some dogs who get overexcited with baths.

Be careful with the quick, which is found inside your dog’s claws. Even a dew claw has a quick. If you cut this, it will bleed and cause pain. If you cut the quick, you can use styptic powder to stop bleeding.