Dogs and Nail Clipping

Clipping your dogs nails yourself can be a daunting task, but patience, the right equipment and a little know how can help you out if you would prefer to do it yourself at home.

Firstly, you do have to be a little bit careful and hold your dog in a firm but gentle position so that they can’t suddenly pull away from you whilst you are clipping.

If your dog’s nails are white it is much easier to clip, whilst black nails are more difficult to judge. You should only clip the very tip off the nail with a pair of dog specific nail clippers. And you mustn’t cut too short otherwise you risk severing the ‘quick’ – the pink fleshy bit that grows through the nail. The quick is packed with blood vessels that bleed profusely if cut into and is also painful for your pooch. If you do cut this, however, you can apply Styptic powder (available from Paddington Pups and most vets) which will form a plug at the end of the nail and clot the blood. It is important to keep pressure on this with a tissue or cotton ball for a few minutes.

If your dog’s nails are very long and/or beginning to curl under, you may be able to cut a little more off if you can clearly see where the quick ends. For black nails, the general rule is to just cut off as much as you think is needed and no more. For example, if puppy’s black nails are scratching the wooden floors at home, you may just want to take a millimetre or so off. As the quick can’t be seen, there is more risk of it being cut as its length varies from dog to dog, they are longer in puppies and much shorter in our elderly dogs.

If the task is too difficult your vet or groomer can do it for you. At Paddington Pups, nail clipping is available for $12, or as part of our “Clean and tidy” and “Full Groom” services. We are also happy to give owners a demonstration and guide you through the process of doing it yourself!