Nail trims are the grooming job most people put off. Understandable: nobody wants to hit the quick, and plenty of dogs and cats yank their paw back the second you pick it up. But long nails aren't just a scratched-floor problem. When they get too long, they change how your pet stands and walks.
Here's how to do it at home without it turning into a wrestling match.
How often?
Most dogs need a trim every 3 to 4 weeks. The easy tell: if you can hear their nails clicking on the kitchen floor, they're due. Indoor cats usually need a trim every few weeks as well. Dogs who walk a lot on pavement may wear their nails down on their own and need it less often. If you're not sure, ask your vet at the next checkup.
Clippers or a grinder?
Clippers are quick, but they take a chunk off all at once, and that little crunch makes some pets flinch. On dark nails, where you can't see the quick, it's easy to go too far.
A nail grinder files the nail down a little at a time. It takes a bit longer, but you're in control the whole way and the edges come out smooth instead of sharp. For nervous pets (and nervous owners), a grinder is usually the easier place to start.
Step by step
- Pick your moment. After a walk or during a lazy evening on the couch, not when they're wound up.
- Introduce the tool first. Let them sniff it. If it's a grinder, turn it on nearby and reward them for staying calm. Give it a day or two before you touch a paw.
- Hold the paw gently. Press lightly on the pad to push the nail out a little.
- Use short touches. One or two seconds on the nail, then pause. Grinders warm up if you hold them in one spot.
- Stay away from the quick. That's the pink part inside the nail with the blood vessel. On light nails you can see it. On dark nails, go slowly and stop when you see a small dark circle appear in the center of the nail tip.
- Treat after every paw. Or after every nail, if that's what it takes.
One paw a day is fine
You don't have to do all four paws in one sitting. One paw a day for four days is still a full trim, and it keeps each session too short for your pet to get upset. A lick mat on the floor helps a lot here.
If you hit the quick
It happens, even to groomers. Stay calm, press a little styptic powder or cornstarch onto the tip and hold it for a minute. If the bleeding doesn't stop, the nail is cracked, or your pet seems to be in pain, call your vet.
The PawSheen Quiet 4-in-1 Grooming Kit comes with a quiet nail grinder head, so you can file instead of clip.