Although all veterinarian offices, pet spas, and even some puppy daycare centers provide nail trimming services for your dog or cat, paying high prices for professional trimming is not always within the budget. Fortunately, as long as you buy an essential tool: a nail trimmer, you can complete this task in the comfort of your own home.

Why trimming your pet’s nails is important

Trimming your pet’s nails on a regular basis is not just for aesthetics. “Unhealthy nails can cause pain and, in rare cases, can cause irreversible damage to the dog,” the American Kennel Club (AKC) explains.

The dog’s nail has two parts: the live pink fast and the outer shell. The outer shell is a hard outer material. “The blood line supplies blood to the nail and runs through its core. When cutting, accidentally cutting the blood line can cause bleeding and discomfort,” AKC explained. “Pruning your nails regularly can make the blood line smaller. For the dog’s health, a shorter blood line is the preferred length.”

So, what happens if you not trim your pet’s nails from time to time? Long nails can turn healthy claws into open feet, which not only reduces the pet’s traction, but also may cause foot deformation and tendon injury in the long run. AKC explained: “When the spikes fall to the ground, the pressure puts pressure on the feet and leg structures.”

Trimming your dog’s nails on a regular basis is a must for the owner. It’s related to the dog’s health

When should trim pet’s nails for the first time

Dogs naturally hate cutting nails, so you have to stick to this throughout their lives-the sooner you start trimming your pet’s nails, the easier it will be for you. Ideally, from when they are still a puppy or kitten, get them accustomed to handling paws and cutting their nails.

The purpose of trimming the nails is to shorten the dog’s nails so that they will not completely touch the ground when standing on flat ground; she should be able to cross the kitchen floor without knocking, knocking, or knocking. When a dog is standing and moving, the nail that touches the ground will push the toe away from its natural position; the longer the nail, the greater the displacement of the toe.

How to soothe anxious dogs (without medicine)

It needs hospitality… and two people

Before you try to trim your pet’s nails, please make sure you have your grinder at your fingertips, along with an assistant and snacks. We always recommend two people-one holds pets and feeds them snacks, the other stretches out paws and trims nails.

Technology is the key

Even with the best nail trimmer, it all boils down to technology-even some veterinary technicians are working hard to solve this problem. In a veterinary clinic, this is usually the hardest thing to do because most dogs hate it!

Here’s how to do it: First tilt the nail trimmer back so that you can cut more from the top of the nail and less from the bottom of the nail. It is important to avoid blood vessels and nerves-you can see the pink part on pets with white nails. If the cut is too short, the pet will not like it and will be more afraid in the future, so it is better to be cautious and take a small amount at a time.

If the nail is bleeding, apply cornstarch or flour to the tip of the nail and monitor if it stops.

Grinder is best for dog nails

Diamond grinding heads for rotary grinders are more expensive than sandpaper belts, but they grind smoothly and will not wear out as quickly or frequently as sand belts, making them the first choice for many professional beauticians.

Fortunately, taking a small part at a time is what the rotary grinder is best at! Frequent removal of excess nails one millimeter at a time will help “quickly” recede toward the base of the nail. For very long nails, see if you can polish your nails for a few minutes once a week. It may take several months for the nails to become short and strong, but if you stick to it, your dog’s feet and legs will be healthier. Once your dog’s nails reach the right length, only one or two short sharpenings per month can maintain them.

A few tips:

* Do not rub on any nail for more than one or two seconds, because friction will generate heat and cause a burning sensation. Touch the grinder to the nail for a second or two, then pull it away-a grinding release, grinding release mode.

* In order to maintain the effectiveness of the grinder, be sure to replace the sandpaper-like belt after it is worn out. Replacement straps are cheap—about $6 for a pack—and can be purchased through many online pet supply stores.

* The use of diamond drill bits (instead of abrasive belts) helps to reduce grinding noise and vibration. These drill bits are more expensive (ranging from $20 to $20), but they can be used for a long time.

Hold the Tool at a 45-Degree Angle

By holding the pet nail file at a 45-degree angle, it can perfectly fit the natural shape and curve of the nail. In this way, you have complete control over the entire process. You can trim as much or as little as you need without risking injury to your dog. The nail guard will capture any flying nail dust while keeping the fur and hair away from any rotating parts. There is no need to put any extra pressure on the paws, so you and your precious pet can easily care for your dog’s nails.

Introduce electric nail grinder to your dog

Let your pet have time to learn about the electric pet nail grinder at his own pace. Over the course of a few days, let the dog sniff and touch the tool. Turn on the tool a few times without trimming the dog’s nails to familiarize your dog with the buzzing sound and the vibrations it produces. Try to use the tool to touch your pet’s paws without reacting in a frightened way. Don’t forget to give a lot of compliments and hospitality at every step.

What to do about bleeding

No matter which tool you use to trim your nails, don’t start if you don’t have a styptic powder on hand.

Styptic powder is used to stop bleeding quickly. If you accidentally cut off the blood supply to your nails, any bleeding will occur. It is an anti-bleeding agent that seals injured blood vessels by constricting tissues.

When you start nailing nails, no powder nearby is a good way to simulate a crime scene; if you have a “Oh!” when you trim your dog’s nails and have to go into another room to get the powder, you can be sure of your The dog will leave blood stains-either follow you or try to escape and avoid you!

The styptic powder is sold in various containers with various applicators. These applicators should be easier and quicker to apply to the cut nails. However, most commonly, it comes in a small jar. Some people tap some powder into the palm of the hand, and then press the clipped nail into the powder in the hand. I like to keep a small tray of water nearby so that I can wet my fingers without licking, especially during these pandemic periods. Generally speaking, I take special care not to put my hands on my face. I applied a thick layer of styptic powder on the wet fingers, and then pressed the styptic powder directly onto the tip of the affected nail. I tapped it lightly to help pack it with powder quickly.

If the nails continue to ooze the first layer of powder, reapply as needed. If necessary, you can temporarily occupy the dog’s position with your favorite chewing bone to prevent it from smelling, then lick your nails and start bleeding again.

No styptic powder? In a pinch, cornstarch is also effective.

If the bleeding does not stop within 20-30 minutes, please contact your veterinarian, as this may be a possible sign of a clotting problem.