Elisabeth Geier is a writer, teacher, and animal advocate with extensive animal handling experience and a soft spot for bully breeds and big orange tabbies. Your dog is also more prone to infections or experience problems when walking. Dogs will avoid nail-cutting sessions, making even more difficult to trim their nails. A groomer can now come to your house! And sometimes, with overgrown dog nails, it’s an easy mistake. You’ll need to find a way to prevent them from chewing on their foot. Remember to be patient. Hold the paw gently and with your fingers separate each toe. Start by looking at the bottom of the nail as you trim. You’ll know you cut the quick because the nail will start bleeding. You should be able to see the nail clearly. You can squeeze the paw and lift one of their toes from underneath to separate out the nail you plan to trim. If they look stressed, go slow. Cut at a slight angle across the tip of the nail, following its natural shape. Our website uses cookies. And be sure to offer your dog lots of praise and treats to continue building a positive association with nail trims. Just Watch These Border Collie Puppies Meet Sheep for the First Time, 9 Surprisingly Dangerous Foods for Dogs (Starting with Popcorn), How to Groom Your Dog: A Step-by-Step Guide, Our Favorite Dog Life Jackets—And Why Your Dog Needs One (Yes, Even Strong Swimmers). Grinders make a noise, which some dogs find scary. And soon, you look down and notice long, curved daggers sticking out from your dog’s paw. Dogs nails contain a soft cuticle known as the “quick.” The quick contains blood vessels and nerves that you do not want to cut because it will bleed, cause them pain, and possibly cause an infection. What Are the Different Types of Service Dogs? After making a cut, look at the tip of the nail. Immediately stop trimming if you get that far, or the nail will start bleeding. Lift your dog's paw and bend the nail away from the fur or pad so you have clearance for the trimmer. The key to trimming overgrown dog nails is to encourage the quick to recede by trimming gradually, according to Dr. Karen Gellman at Dogs Naturally Magazine. On the other hand, if you rush through it, accidents are more likely. Once it … A dog with overgrown nails will have a longer quick, making it difficult to trim the nail back to appropriate shortness. Work slowly to grind the nail so that it is just shorter than the pad. Sign up and get $25 off pet sitting and dog walking! We want to help. After the initial trim of the tip of the nail, trim a little bit at a time on a regular cadence—about once a week—and the quick will recede, making it easier to keep your dog’s nails short. Then, take a break, or even quit for the day. Got experience with dog nails as a groomer? If you’re using the grinder method, touch the grinder to the tip of the dog’s nail as gently as you can. Push the pad from the nail if the nail is curved under and growing into the pad. After each cut, look at the freshly-cut tip of the nail to look for the little black dot that tells you when to stop. Well, it’s time to address your dog’s long nails. As the quick recedes, it becomes more obvious how much nail to trim at once. It’s not a task anyone relishes, but it’s also not as hard as people think it is. All I wanted to do was cuddle this adorable pug, but his long nails scratched me when he tried to scramble into my lap. However, if you’re new to trimming your dog’s nails, don’t expect to get them all at once! Cut your dog’s nails until you see the thin pink fiber which is easier to see on dogs with lighter nails. How To Trim Dog Nails That Are Overgrown. After the initial trim of the tip of the nail, trim a little bit at a time on a regular cadence—about once a week—and the quick will recede, making it easier to keep your dog’s nails short. Handle your dog’s paws regularly, and try to trim their nails once a week. But that doesn’t mean your dog is doomed to have long nails forever. If it won’t budge, use a pair of tweezers to lightly pull up on it. You can then use a nail file to smooth over rough edges. Here’s what to do if you cut the quick: Does your dog need a fresh trim? If you’re wondering how to trim dog nails that are overgrown, keep reading. So, how am I supposed to trim this dog’s overgrown nails? Click here to learn our 10 favorite tips on creating a pet-friendly home. If you notice your dog seems fearful, start by seeing if the dog has any injuries, bumps, or growths on or near the paw pads. Immediately stop trimming if you get that far, or the nail will start bleeding. For trimming the nails of your dog, first, you need to have a nail clipper made for dogs, some treats and a blood clotting powder (for emergency).. You can start trimming the nails on your own but the important point to keep in mind is that do not trim beyond “Quick” where blood vessels are located. Trim Your Dog’s Extremely Overgrown Nails Using A Clipper: Start cutting your pup’s nails with a trimmer, preferably a Safari Nail Clipper. Trim efficiently, but take breaks when necessary. If you live out in the country where your dog doesn’t have as much exposure to concrete, you can use this method, but be careful. If you do this frequently, the dog will get used to placing the paws in your hands knowing that you are not doing to harm it. While trimming the nail you only need to trim the white dead nail and not the quick. The nail and the quick grow at roughly that angle, and if you stick to that you can trim the nail shorter. Like any desensitization training, this can take time. If your dog has dark nails, it may be harder to estimate where the quick begins. You don’t have to trim all nails at once. 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