How to Clip Your Dog's Toenails
A Guide to Trimming Dogs’ Nails at Home
Occasionally it may be required of pet owners to clip or trim their dog’s toenails. A dog’s nails should touch the ground, but they don’t need to be any longer than that. Nails that are too long, limit traction and can be uncomfortable for the dog, causing it to stand abnormally.
Dogs' nails continue to grow, just as human nails do. On larger dogs that exercise outdoors and walk on concrete, it is usually unnecessary to clip nails as they are worn down naturally. It is smaller dogs and inside dogs that require regular nail trimming.
If nails are allowed to continue growing they can in fact grow in a complete circle, piercing the foot pad. This is particularly true of dew claws, the toe that sits higher up the foot, as it doesn’t touch the ground so the nail has no chance to be worn down.
How to Clip a Dog's Toenails
The nail bed is called the quick and this is actually the dermis of the skin. The quick is filled with blood vessels and nerves and this is where the nail grows from. The nail itself is epidermis and contains no nerves or blood vessels.
To cut the toenail a pair of nail trimmers specifically designed for dogs should be used. They are available from veterinary clinics and pet stores in sizes for small dogs to large dogs. White nails are easiest to cut, as the quick is clearly visible. The quick will appear as a pinkish line running down the center of the nail. It is best to cut approximately two millimeters past the quick.
If the dog's nails are black, it is more difficult to trim the nails, but not impossible. Because the quick cannot be seen, it is best to cut the nail to be equal to the bottom of the foot pad. This should mean avoiding the quick and leaving the toenail at the correct length. The nail shouldn’t touch the ground before the toe pad does.
If the quick is cut, the nail will bleed, but while this may be a bit painful, the pain won’t last and it is not serious unless the dog has a blood clotting disease (Hemophilia). To stop the bleeding, press a cotton ball onto the nail for a few minutes or rub a cake of soap on the nail to seal it off.
If the bleeding continues, consult a veterinarian. Most veterinary clinics and dog grooming salons will clip dogs’ toenails for a small fee if owners aren’t comfortable doing this at home.
Dog's Toenails
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