Dogs Value Guides

Most dog owners have no idea just how long their dog’s nails are at any given point and the necessity for a trim. Joanne Stefanatos, D.V.M., a veterinarian whom owns her own private practice in Las Vegas, says “ If the claws are actually snagging in the carpet, you know they’re much too long.

Back in the old days when dogs were less domesticated, they wore their nails down naturally, as they ran, played, dug, and scratched their way through the outdoors. And since our pets stay mostly indoors in this day and age, it is no mystery why today’s dogs do not naturally wear out their claws without us having to trim them.

If you add common infections and poorly done doggy manicures to the mix, then you will find that even the most mild mannered dog can suffer from toe and nail problems.

To help you keep your dog’s nail and toes in tip top shape, we have listed several pieces of advice below, all of which were contributed by veterinarians.

1. Have your dog’s claws trimmed as often as possible. They should be trimmed every six to eight weeks to avoid getting too long and causing problems, says M. Lynne Kesel, D.V.M., assistant professor of elective surgery in the Department of Clinical Sciences at the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in Fort Collins. Your dog may not be active so in that case then the claws may be trimmed even more often than six to eight weeks. Every two to four weeks will probably be better.

2. Start trimming your dog’s claws as early as possible when they are a puppy so they can get used to the procedure. If you have ever experienced trying to get an adult dog to sit still while you are trimming their claws, then you have no idea of just how much hassle you will save yourself by conditioning your pup to go through this experience early in life.

3. Do not cut too much of the claw off. This is a mistake many novice ‘claw trimmers’ make with their pets when trimming for the first time. If you go too deep you will cut into the pink part of the nail that contains nerves and blood vessels. Try to view trimming your dog’s claws as “dulling” and not “shortening”.

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