Can you shorten a dogs nail quick?

4 Reasons to File – Not Clip – Your Dog’s Nails

Are you still getting into a wrestling match with your dog when it comes to trimming its nails? Or, maybe your attempt to clip has ended with a bloody paw and a heavy heart for the hurt you caused with the DIY approach to canine nail care? If you’re ready to stop the nail clipping madness, check out these 4 reasons why you should switch to filing your dog’s nails.

Dog Nail Clipping Hazards

Clipping a dog’s nails is a very tricky business. If you don’t know what you are doing, you can come dangerously close to giving your pet a terribly painful and bloody injury. When we suggest switching to filing, we don’t mean to bring out the emery board that you use for your nails. Even if you have a very small pet, the emery boards and metal nail files designed for humans are not strong enough to last through filing even one dog’s nail.

Professional Pup Pedicure with an Electric Emery Board

A pet’s pedicure service as performed by a professional groomer involves the use of an electric emery board. This device is designed with a quiet motor and variable speeds to effectively and safely file dog nails. Different speeds are appropriate for different breeds, size of dog, and for different nail structure (thick, coarse, brittle, aged, etc.)

Why Does the Length of the Dog’s Nail Matter?

You may be surprised to learn that the length of a dog’s nails can affect the function of the dog’s foot. Without getting too technical…Whether or not a dog’s nails touch the surface when the dog is standing in a neutral position versus in an active position can affect how hard the flexor and extensor muscles and ligaments of the paw have to work. For a wild dog, the surfaces they move across will naturally keep the nails at the length needed for survival. For domestic dogs, which includes the typical house dog as well as the working dog or agility dog, the length of the nails has to be checked and the best length determined by a human. While there aren’t any conclusive studies on the best length for a dog’s nails. If your dog is experiencing paw problems, make sure not to overlook the health and length of the nails when you are at your next veterinary appointment.

Why File, Not Clip, a Dog’s Nails

The dog is comfortable and relaxed during filing.
Filing is gentler, less anxiety producing for many dogs. With a clipper, the dog’s nail is squeezed. Many dogs do not like this sensation. So, you really have to stabilize the dog’s body as well as the paw being worked on. It’s intimidating and stressful for most dogs.

Filing reduces the chances of hitting a nerve.
Within the nail bed is the “quick of the nail,” innervated, vascularized core of the nail bed. The quick provides nourishment to the nail which allows it to grow and aids sensation. Most pet owners accidentally clip the quick, causing bleeding and varying levels of pain depending on how deep and far up the quick the cut is made. If your dog has black or dark nails, rather than translucent, you won’t be able to see the quick. Filing dog nails provides more control and less chance of damaging the quick. Regular nail trims also prevent a painful condition where the nerve and blood supply extends into overgrown nails. Filed nails can also be trimmed shorter than can be done with clipping, which means less frequent trips to the groomer for nail service.

Smooth, rounded nails means less damage around your home.
Clipping a dog’s nails, even when professionally done, can leave the end of the nail jagged. Nail filling allows the nail to be rounded and smooth on the end. A smooth nail is less likely to cause damage to hardwood floors, carpeting, or furniture than the blunt or jagged ends of clipped nails.

Fewer scratches on the dog and the humans.
Along with less scratches around the house, you can expect less scratches on the humans who live in the house. Additionally, the smoothe, filed nail will be less likely to irritate your dog’s skin when they scratch themselves. This is especially important for dogs that have allergies or dry skin as they will scratch at themselves more often. Frequent scratching that tears at the skin can result in infections of the skin.

The Ultimate Benefit of Letting a Groomer File a Dog’s Nails

When someone else is handling the dog’s nails, they have all the right tools to perform the task safely and effectively. The ultimate benefit is that you—the person your dog loves the most—is not involved in the process. There’s no stress, no struggle, no injury to the pooch or the human.

Professional Grooming Done with Love for Smyrna Pets

The Animal Care Center offers a full line of bathing and grooming services for all breeds of dogs and cats. If your pet has spent too much time chasing squirrels or birds and gotten itself into a stink, it’s time to schedule a grooming appointment. Even if your pet is more hygienic than most, regular grooming helps remove excess hair, oil, and debris from the coat and skin. We hand shampoo all of our grooming guests with lots of love! Nail filing is done upon request and the nails are evaluated before we begin. Our professional groomers will trim or cut hair to breed specifications, cleanse the ears, thoroughly brush and have your pet smelling delightful upon pick-up for the ride home with you. Learn more about our grooming services and give us a call today to schedule your pet’s appointment: 770-438-2694. We look forward to seeing you soon!

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Can you shorten a dogs nail quick?

How to Trim Dog Nails That Are Overgrown

March 25, 2021
Caring for a Dog , Dogs

Fact checked by a Hello Ralphie expert veterinarian

Trimming your dog’s overgrown nails can seem like a very daunting task. Luckily, our Hello Ralphie veterinarians can help simplify things and make the entire process less stressful for both you and your dog.

When a dog’s nails grow out, the structures within the claw also grow. Each nail contains a collection of light pink-colored tissue, known as the quick. The quick contains blood vessels as well as a small but sensitive nerve.

Ideally, when you trim your dog’s nails, you will avoid trimming them too short as doing so makes it possible to accidentally trim the quick. Trimming the quick can result in bleeding, and if the nerve is also cut, the dog can experience pain.

Unfortunately, as your dog’s claws grow in length, the quick and the nerve within it also grow long, which makes it much more likely that you will accidentally cut it the next time you go to cut your dog’s nails.

So, How Do I Trim My Dog’s Overgrown Nails?

When you trim your dog’s nails, the goal is always to trim the upper part of the nail that has the hook or claw. By just trimming the claw, you can avoid cutting the quick.

Clear Nails:

In dogs that have clear claws, it is possible to see the quick inside the nail. In clear nails, the quick will look either pink or red, so it is fairly easy to avoid. Trim the part of the white part of your dog’s nail, ideally as much of the nail that is ahead of the quick as possible.

Opaque Nails:

In a dark-colored nail, it can be nearly impossible to see the quick. If this is the case with your dog, try trimming just the nail tip in very small increments.

If you are having difficulty, it can help to flip the dog’s paw over and trim darker nails from underneath. The part of the nail that looks hollow is the part of the nail you should be trimming.

Trimming the Dewclaw:

Do not forget that dogs also have dewclaws. These are actually the evolutionary remnants of thumbs! The dewclaw nail is often overlooked and can grow quite large. Not only can a long dew claw be uncomfortable for your dog, but the dewclaw nail can also become ingrown, so it is always worth keeping an eye on.

Trimming Excessively Long Nails:

In cases where your dog’s nails are severely overgrown, you may not be able to cut the nails short because the quick will have grown too long. In these situations, you should trim the nails a very small amount frequently. With enough trimmings, you can train the quick to recede. Eventually, you can cut the nail shorter to a more acceptable length.

What Happens if I Cut the Quick?

When you trim the quick, the nail will most likely bleed. As a dog owner, there is a good chance you will accidentally trim the quick several times, and it is important to know that this is okay. While you always want to avoid doing so, it will heal relatively quickly. Accidentally cutting the quick the odd time is always better than never cutting your dog’s nails.

Remember, the more you trim your dog’s nails, the less likely you will be to cut the quick. Not only will you gain experience, but you will also train the quick to become smaller. Dogs are also much more comfortable when their nails are of an appropriate length.

If you accidentally trim the quick during a nail trim, you can apply a styptic powder or another cautery to the nail. Icing the dog’s paw can also be used to control the bleeding in some situations.

If you are unsure if the amount of bleeding from the dog’s toenail is normal, schedule a consultation with one of our Hello Ralphie veterinarians. An online vet can quickly take a look at the foot and determine whether the bleeding is excessive.

How Do I Trim My New Puppy’s Nails?

The sooner you can get your new puppy used to the feeling of his or her nails being trimmed, the better! Puppies often have much softer and smaller nails than adult dogs. Start by touching the claw trimmers to your puppy’s paws while offering words of encouragement, such as “good boy”. Slowly, you can start to trim the very tips of your puppy’s nails.

It is important to make sure you offer some sort of reward when your puppy is tolerating the nail trim. Positive reinforcement will go a long way, so small treats between each toe or foot is a great way to get your puppy used to nail trims. A Hello Ralphie veterinarian can guide you through your puppy’s first nail trimming and offer suggestions you can use to make sure it goes smoothly. Visit our New Puppy Guide for more help on introducing a new puppy to nail-trimming and other experiences.

How Do I Care for My Senior Dog’s Nails?

As dogs age, their bodies change, just like ours do. Sometimes they can develop arthritis in their joints, unthrifty coats, or become reluctant to walk. Arthritis can cause painful wrists and joints, making it more difficult to trim your dog’s nails.

A Hello Ralphie veterinarian will be able to provide you with advice on how to help treat your elderly dog’s arthritis. The good news is that most of the over-the-counter supplements used for arthritis are also beneficial for coat and nail health. These supplements include natural fatty acids, such as Omega-3 and Omega-6. These act as natural anti-inflammatories that can help reduce the impact of arthritis. They also help with overall skin and nail health, helping with the production of keratin cells.

If your senior dog is sensitive to nail trimming, walks and other exercises can naturally wear the nails down. The more active your dog is, the less you may have to trim its nails. A Hello Ralphie veterinarian can provide a thorough consultation on managing your senior dog and explain how you can treat severely overgrown nails.

Why is it Important to Trim Your Dog’s Nails?

Overly long nails can make it difficult for your dog to walk because they can prevent them from placing their full weight on their paw pads.

This is often an issue for senior dogs, as they often already have difficulty walking due to arthritis or stiff gait. Overgrown nails are also at more risk of breaking, which is painful. Not only are broken nails uncomfortable, but they can also lead to ingrown nails. Long nails can also curl inwards, which can put pressure on the skin and paw pad.

If you are unsure if your dog’s nails are too long or you need further advice on how to cut the nails, schedule an appointment with one of our Hello Ralphie online vets today!