Nail Care
Importance of Nail Clipping:
How often should your dogs nails be trimmed?
The average dog will require their nails to be cut about every 4 weeks. This is the average, but each dog is an individual. The length of time between nail clipping will be determined by the amount of exercise on concrete or gravel, your dogs conformation, activity level and breed. Your Pet Stylist can help you set up a schedule based on your dogs needs. You will usually be alerted to the need for a nail trim by the sound of clicking as the dog walks on hardwood or linoleum floors.
Do I make an appointment for a nail trim?
We have Pawdicures available during the week with appointments at:
8:00, 8:30, and 9:00 AM
12:00, 12:30 and 1:00 PM
4:00, 4:30 and 5:00 PM
Be sure to give us a call to set a time.We also have walk-in Pawdicures on Saturdays from 1 - 4 PM.
What is a ‘Pawdicure’?
A Pawdicure is a nail trim that includes filing of the nails with a dremel tool and trimming the hair in the pads and around the foot.
Overgrown nails?
When a dogs nails are allowed to over grow, the vein in the nail (referred to as the ‘quick’) grows along with it. This makes it difficult for the person cutting the nails to get the nails very short. Dew claws tend to grow twice as fast as any other nail because they have no contact with the ground and nothing to ware them down.
Dogs with long quicks need to come in more frequently (2-3 weeks) and the groomer can try to come as close to the quick as possible and help that quick to recede. Unfortunately this technique usually does not work with older pets.
Why is it important to get the nails so short?
When a dogs nails and ‘quicks’ overgrow the animal may then start to walk on its nails instead of the pads of their feet. This is painful and can cause deformation of the paws, arthritis and lameness. It may also cause the dog to shift its gate and become sore in the paws, legs, hips and shoulders.
Overgrown nails may sometimes curl around and grow into the pads of their feet. This is very painful and may need veterinary care.
Shorter nails are less likely to break off or become stuck in things such as carpet or blankets. Both of these things are far more painful than a ‘quicked’ nail.
What if my dog bleeds from a nail trim?
Don’t panic, its not un-common for a dog’s nail to be cut past the quick. This is not done from negligence, carelessness or inexperience. There is no way to tell how far to cut a dogs nail back 100%. It is an educated guess only! Also, dogs are moving targets, the more they move, the more likely they are to be ‘quicked’
This happens so regularly that there are more than 15 different companies that make a cauterizing powder to stop the bleeding. Your Pet Stylist will make sure that the nail has stopped bleeding before the pet goes home!
At some point in your pet’s life you may get home and notice the nail is bleeding. Oftentimes dogs get very excited when owners come to pick up and then their blood pressure goes up, and if they’re running around outside on concrete or gravel or even in winter on sharp snow/ice. Those are all things that can happen to make the nail bleed after being trimmed. You can clean the toe off with ice cold water and apply some flour or cornstarch to the nail if you do not have a cauterizing powder.
Will my dog be traumatized after?
It’s the owners that are traumatized far more often than the dogs. Many dogs will have a nail cut short in their lifetime and many don’t even notice when it happens...but they do notice your reaction!
Take the stress out of nail trimming:
-It is very important to get your pet used to having their paws handled on a regular basis
-Start young or as soon as you get your pet and make it a regular habit. The more you get the nails done, the more the dog will become accustomed to it
-Be firm and confident, but never aggressive or over bearing because you may do more harm than good. Try and make handling their paws a positive experience always
-Reward your pets with treats and praise after every session working with the paws
-Have patience and get the dog used to having their paws gradually and never attempt to do nails while the dog is asleep
-Put the dog on a raised surface such as the top of your washer or counter top and use a non-slip mat such as a bath mat
-Exercise your dog and take them for a ‘potty break’ before a nail trimmingIt is also important to keep on eye on the condition of the nail, and to seek out your vet’s advice if you notice any changes such as: crumbly nails, nails that fall out, fungus signs near the nail bed, etc.
Cats Require Nail Care Too
Cats also need to have their nails trimmed on a regular basis, about every 4 weeks.
This will help keep your cats claws from becoming stuck in your couch or blankets and the carpet.
As cats become older their nails may become thicker either from lack of use due to arthritis or other ailments. Thicker nails mean that they aren’t ‘scratching’ the layers of keratin off, this is not a direct health concern but they do need trimming to help aid in healthy nail growth.Cat nails can grow long enough to curl into the pads, which is very painful and could become a costly vet bill.
Remember, your cats need a place to ‘scratch’ so be sure to have something available to them so they are not using your sofa!
Vada's Club K9 (204) 221- 0998
628 St. Anne's Road
Winnipeg, Manitoba R2M4W3 vadasclubk9@gmail.com