So why is dog nail clipping so scary?

Dog nail clipping is a bit scary because we’re dealing with a nail structure different than what we see on humans. With people, we can visibly see exactly where the dead part of the nail is and how far we can cut without getting into the pain zone.

For our dogs, their nail (or really their claw) structure is not only different, but they also sometimes have pigmentation (think black) that does not allow you to see where the dead nail can be cut safely without hitting the pain zone (the vein and nerve, also called “the quick”).

Fortunately, we have tools and techniques that can help us get through clipping dog nails safely, but to do this, we first need to understand the basic anatomy of a dog’s nail.

If we didn’t have enough to worry about, we have to remember that the length of the quick inside a nail can vary from dog to dog, meaning one dog can have very short quicks, while another dog can have very long quicks, and in some cases this can even vary on the very same dog, depending on how they walk (their gait) and which nails may get naturally worn down. And (wait for it), different breeds have different basic nail shapes and different natural lengths and add to that the variety of activity levels that can affect where in the growth cycle we are with each nail, we’ve got a lot to consider. In a nutshell, we need to observe each nail and plan our trims on a case-by-case basis.

Check for Dew Claws

If your pet has dew claws, you will find they tend to curl much more than the regular front-facing nails. They also seem to grow faster in comparison to other nails, but this is usually because of their location on the body resulting in no friction or wear. It’s always best to stay on top of clipping dew claws so that they do not curl and grow into the skin of the pet.

 Need help with dew claw trimming? 

Receding the quick

Although most of the dog’s nail structure is external, inside the nail you’ll find the quick, the nerve and blood supply, which if cut, can hurt the pet and bleed (sometimes profusely, if cut deeply). Our job is to cut the dead nail part and avoid cutting the quick. And if we cut the quick, we need to be prepared with a clotting agent, usually called styptic powder, to make sure the nail stops bleeding. But more on that very important part later.

In addition to the four nails that stick out forward from each paw of a dog, many dogs have dew claws, which grow just above the paw on the inside part of the leg.

Dew claws are commonly found above the front paws, but some breeds have rear dew claws as well (and some breeds have two sets of rear dew claws!), so make sure to check for those!

For dogs that have very well-maintained nails that are kept short (either through clipping or by natural means – we’ll get to that), the vein can start to recede a little and become a bit shorter. A shorter quick means we can keep the overall nails shorter, which is not only great for the pet’s paw health, it also is usually considered the most aesthetically pleasing.

Is it necessary to cut as close to the quick as possible?

For professionals, either groomers or veterinary technicians, the answer is yes, to varying degrees (veterinary technicians typically cut shorter than groomers). But for home groomers trying to maintain their pet’s nails at home, cutting a little bit of nail is better than not cutting any nail at all.

Nail trimming is a learning process, and it takes some time to build up the proper confidence (and to make sure your pet has a good experience)! Trimming little bits will help build that confidence, so don’t worry about getting close to the quick if you are just starting out.

It’s ok, both you and your pet should become accustomed to the process as long as it is always kept positive.

Does every dog need their nails clipped?

Every dog needs to have their nails maintained, but some lucky pups can naturally keep their nails short by regular walks and other activities that prevent the nails from growing too long. But most of our pet dogs will need some help to keep their nails paw-fect (had to do it, it was right there), so keep reading and you’ll be well on your way to success!

Does the quality of my nail trimming tools matter?

The quality of all your grooming tools matters tremendously! A sharp, good quality nail trimmer will help to prevent any nail breakage or splitting – and when you’re ready to get close to the quick, a good pair of nail trimmers will let you start shaving off bit by bit until you see the composition of the inner nail change (meaning when looking at the nail directly as a cross section, you see the hard outer nail, white inner filling, and just a hint of an inner darker circle, indicating that you are close to the quick).

Be prepared with Styptic Powder or a good clotting agent

Before we go into the types of tools available for nail trimming, there is a critical point that must be made in concern to safety. Any time you are cutting dog’s (and many other species) nails, it is crucial to be prepared with styptic powder or an alternative clotting agent to treat the nail in case there is an accident.

There are few things worse in grooming than having a bleeding nail that you cannot treat quickly. The vein in a nail tends to bleed a great deal, so the clotting agent will ensure that the bleeding stops (and if it doesn’t stop within a few minutes, it is advised to call your veterinarian!). To understand how to apply styptic powder to a bleeding nail, this video should help:  

Need a clotting agent? 

Clipping vs. Grinding

Thought you could get away from clipping and just grind your dog’s nails with a rotary sanding tool (like a Dremel)? Only if they are pretty short to start with. Active dogs that walk on concrete on a regular basis sometimes just need a little grinding touchup to keep them smooth. But most of the pets that come through a professional salon get a combination of clipping (for the length) and grinding (to smooth them out). Grinding long nails can actually cause more anxiety to the pet since it takes a long time, there is noise involved, and it increases the chance of the grinder catching hair, the sanding band wears out and can get hot – basically, unless your dog’s nails are already short, plan on clipping before grinding.

A few final notes on grinding:

-          Be careful when working with a rotating grinder around a pet whose hair can be caught in the sanding band.

-          Watch out and do not get your own hair caught!

-          Always wear eye protection when grinding dog’s nails. Nail pieces can fly fast and unpredictably while nail grinding.

-          Make sure you keep the pets face far away from the grinder to prevent them from licking the grinder or getting nail particles into their face or eyes.

Our video on Cutting Black Dog Nails and Grinding Black Dog Nails will demonstrate how to use a grinder safely!

My dog just won’t let me touch his paws or claws – how do I do this?

If your pup is not letting you touch their paws at all, you’ll need to step back and plan a desensitization regimen, which, as with all pet training tasks, will take patience and time.  Many owners find success in gently touching their pet’s feet while in a relaxed home environment for a short duration, and then rewarding calmly.  With increased duration and manipulation, many dogs become comfortable with having their paws touched.

That being said, some dogs have severe panic reactions to having their paws or nails touched, often because of a previous bad experience (i.e. having a nail cut too short in the past). If your pet is showing signs of serious distress when working with their paws, seek professional help. A good groomer should be able to assess the level of stress and if your pet requires a referral to a medical professional.

Most dogs can “accept” having their nails trimmed but be prepared – it is rare that a pet is thrilled with the process!  They are usually a little fussy, and that’s ok. Stay positive, give lots of reassurance, ask a friend to help if necessary, and always remember that this is for your pup’s benefit!

So, if we’re ready to jump in, let’s look at what’s available for us to get this nail clipping job done right!

Types of Nail Trimmers

Nail clippers come in two basic types:  Scissor Style or Guillotine. 

Scissor Style Nail Clippers

As the name implies, scissor style nail clippers are shaped like scissors, but with the cutting end shaped and edged differently to accommodate dog claws.

Scissor style nail clippers can range from basic to super fancy. Choose the style and price point that may work best for you, but always focus on the quality of your grooming tools – it matters.  Here are some of our favorites as well as some neat-o cutting edge (no pun intended) nail clippers:

Guillotine Style Nail Clippers

The guillotine style of nail clipper is shaped differently than the scissor style and operates by squeezing the handles which moves a blade over an opening where the nail tip is placed.  Many professional groomers use the guillotine style, especially since many models allow you to change the blade so that you always have a sharp tool.

Let’s look at some of the nail clippers available in a guillotine style:

Super Basic:

Great home-use nail grinder at affordable price, 2 speed:

Basic:

Grind the edges for a perfectly smooth finish

Now that we have our nails nicely clipped with our good tools (and we were prepared with styptic powder, of course!), it’s time to file any sharp edges off of the nails.  Remember all the safety precautions – they really matter!  When you’re ready to grind, you have some options:

How it all started, the tested and true Dremel:

This one looks interesting, ergonomic design:

Another home-use grinder with 5 speeds:

And from Andis, a true pro grooming company:

Final thoughts on dog nail clipping

Now that you know the anatomy of dog nails, what to look out for, how to prepare, and which tools to use, you are on your way to clipping your dog’s nails successfully! Do not get discouraged – even for professionals, nail trimming can be challenging. But we get through it for the sake of our beloved pets. Good luck!

Fancy, with magnification and LED light:

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