Being a pet parent is a big responsibility. Of course, it comes with invaluable benefits in the form of your pet’s love. Among other duties as a pet parent, trimming your pet’s claws is also essential. If you do not trim the nails, they can become overgrown and affect your dog’s overall health by causing pain and even inflammation in some cases.
Like human nails, dogs’ nails grow and need to be trimmed. Some dogs tend to wear down their nails naturally when they are out in the outdoors by traveling, digging, etc., as they walk, run or hunt on hard surfaces. This is not the case with dogs who spend most of their time indoors. They tend to walk on carpets or wooden floors and other softer surfaces at home. Their nails do not wear down enough to keep up with the growth, resulting in overgrown dog nails.
While we can cut our own nails or go to a salon for a manicure, our paw friends need our help cutting theirs.
Why trimming overgrown dog nails is important
Pet parents have a lot of responsibilities. In return, the love you receive from your pet is one of the most valuable benefits of owning a pet. The matter of trimming your pet’s claws falls under the umbrella of pet ownership. A canine’s overgrown claws can cause pain and even inflammation if not trimmed regularly.
- Overgrown dog nails may scratch people unintentionally
- The claws can get caught in a carpet or get clipped on anything
- They can splinter or break and cause bleeding or pain
- Long canine nails can make standing and moving painful for your pooch because his paws do not fully rest on the floor
- In extreme cases, they can grow, curl inward and become lodged in the paw, resulting in an ingrown nail. This is very painful and requires a visit to the veterinarian
- Overgrown nails can also create an unnatural angle for the foot, distributing the weight unevenly
- Overgrown dog nails can lead to ingrown claws and even tendon injuries
How can you tell if dog nails are overgrown
Look for the signs below that could indicate that your pooch nails are too long:
- You hear the clickety noise of nails every time your pup walks around the house. It can be heard more clearly on tiles and wooden floors
- Your pet seems to tiptoe with his nails touching the floor and his paw slightly raised
- He/Her extend beyond the paw or even curl in
- Your pup does not have a proper grip on the ground when walking and slips or slides
- The puppy limps and puts more weight on one foot than the other
- Your dog’s nail bed is bleeding or reddened, this could also be a sign of infection
How often should you cut overgrown dog nails
How often a dog’s nails should be trimmed usually depends on the breed, feeding, genetic factors, and activities it engages in. However, as a general rule, trimming the nails every three to four weeks is ideal. A visual inspection of your pooch’s paws should be enough to tell you if it’s time for a trim.
To prevent overgrown dog nails, it is important to have a routine for nail care. It may be a lot of work at first, but over time, shorter nails are easier to trim and maintain.
How to trim overgrown dog’s nails
You need to be very careful when trimming long canine claws. If you simply cut off the overgrown nail, you could trim off the quick along with it, which can cause bleeding and pain to your pet. It grows along with the nail, so dogs with overgrown claws have a longer quick. This makes it very difficult to trim the nail to a short length.
One method for cutting overgrown dog nails is to cut them gradually so that the quick recedes. Once it has receded, it is easy to keep the dog’s nails short.
How to trim black dog nails
In light colored nails, the quick appears as a pink spot inside the nail and is easy to see. However, trimming black overgrown dog nails is a lot more challenging as the quick is dark and blends with the rest of the nail.
The quick in a black dog’s nails appears as a circular black spot in the center at the underside of the nail. The closer you get to that spot, the larger the oval seems until it looks like it covers the entire nail. Keep some distance from this when trimming. A safe option is to choose a dog nail grinder instead of nail clippers, which will allow you to slowly grind down the nail while keeping an eye on the quick.
How to get them comfortable
Whether it’s trimming overgrown pup nails or getting your pet used to trimming, it’s important to make your dog comfortable. It is recommended to get the man’s best friend used to nail grinding while they are young. Your pup should feel comfortable when you touch his feet, paws and claws.
The first step is to ease your puppy’s fear of the tool or trimming procedure. Introduce your dog to the trimmer, let him sniff it. When he gets to know it, reward him with a treat. This should create a positive association between the dog and the grinder. Make sure you trim his nails only when he is calm and relaxed. Keep giving him praises to make it a rewarding experience.
Conclusion
Most pet owners are familiar with the issues associated with overgrown dog claws. It can cause your pet a lot of pain and even lead to more serious problems.In this article, you have learned about the problems caused by overgrown dog nails and how to take care of them. Additionally, you know how to make your dog comfortable while trimming his nails. Hope this helps you keep your furry friend happy and healthy.
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