Long nails are more than a cosmetic problem. They change the way a dog stands and walks, can split or snag, and make that familiar clicking sound on hard floors. A nail grinder files the nail down a little at a time, which makes it easier to stay away from the sensitive part of the nail and leaves a smooth, rounded edge instead of a sharp cut.
How to tell your dog's nails are too long
- You can hear them clicking on wooden or tiled floors.
- The nails touch the ground when your dog is standing still.
- Your dog seems to slip more than usual, or the toes splay out.
Know where the quick is
Inside each nail is the quick, a living core with a blood supply and nerves. Grinding into it hurts and causes bleeding, so the aim is always to take the nail down to just in front of it.
- Light-coloured nails: the quick shows as a pink area inside the nail. Stop a few millimetres before it.
- Dark nails: you cannot see the quick, so take off thin layers and look at the end of the nail after each pass. When a small dark or moist-looking dot appears in the centre of the filed surface, you are close and should stop.
A grinder with a light, like the Quiet Pet Nail Grinder with LED Light, makes it easier to see what you are doing, especially on light nails.
Get your dog used to the grinder first
Many dogs dislike nail trims because of the noise and vibration, not the trimming itself. Spend a few short sessions building up before you grind a single nail:
- Let your dog sniff the grinder while it is switched off, and reward them.
- Switch it on a short distance away for a few seconds, then reward.
- Touch the grinder body (not the spinning head) against a paw while it runs, then reward.
- Gently handle your dog's paws and toes at other times of day so it becomes normal.
Keep each session short and finish before your dog gets uneasy. A low-noise grinder helps a lot with sound-sensitive dogs.
Step-by-step: grinding the nails
- Choose a calm moment, such as after a walk, and work somewhere with good light.
- Keep fur out of the way. On long-haired dogs, push the fur back from the toe, or slip the paw through a piece of tights or a sock with the nail poking out, so hair cannot catch in the rotating head.
- Hold the paw firmly but gently and press lightly on the toe pad to extend one nail.
- Touch the grinder to the nail for one to two seconds at a time. Short touches stop the nail getting warm. Work across the tip and underneath, then smooth the edges.
- Check after every few passes for the pink quick or the dark centre dot, and stop when you see it.
- Do not forget the dewclaws on the inside of the legs. They never touch the ground, so they can grow long and curl.
- Reward your dog often. You do not have to do every nail in one sitting; one paw a day is fine.
How often should you grind?
Little and often works best. A quick touch-up every one to two weeks keeps nails short and, over time, can help the quick recede, which lets you keep the nails shorter. Dogs that walk a lot on pavements may need it less often.
What if you go too short?
It happens to most owners at some point. Stay calm, apply styptic powder or a pinch of cornflour to the nail tip and hold gentle pressure for a few minutes. If the bleeding does not stop, or the nail is split or damaged, contact your vet.
When to ask a professional
If your dog's nails are very overgrown, your dog is extremely anxious, or you are unsure where the quick is, ask your vet or a groomer to do the first trim and show you how. You can then keep the nails maintained at home.
What you will need
- A quiet, rechargeable nail grinder: the Pet House Quiet Pet Nail Grinder has a low-noise motor and a built-in LED light.
- Plenty of small treats.
- Styptic powder or cornflour, just in case.
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