Learning how to cut puppy nails is as easy as clipping your own nails once you get some practice.
Why is clipping a puppy's nails important?
All dogs need proper foot and nail care. Nails that are not kept short will grow too long and become irritating and painful to the dog. It can also cause the feet to splay, or spread, and nails can actually curl around and grow into a dog's pads. Don't let the fear of hurting your dog keep you from taking good care of her feet and nails.
What type of nail clippers is best for my puppy?
There are two types of dog nail clippers. Use scissor-type clippers to cut puppy nails. When your puppy becomes an adult, you can switch to guillotine-type clippers, unless he's a small breed. You can continue to use scissor style clippers on small breeds into adulthood.
How do I trim my puppy's nails?
Prepare your puppy for regular nail trimmings by touching his feet, pads and nails as often as possible. This way he'll get used to his feet being handled.
To begin to cut a puppy's nails, hold his foot and gently push down with your thumb at the base of each nail. This will cause the nail to extend slightly, making it easier for you to see the nail. Trim each nail at a 45-degree angle away from the puppy so that the newly cut nail is flush with the floor when he walks.
Always avoid trimming a dog's nails too short. There's a blood vessel in each nail called the quick, and cutting the quick could be painful to a dog and cause bleeding. In dogs with light-colored nails, it's easy to see the quick. But with dark-colored nails, the quick is almost impossible to see. So it's best to use caution when trimming, cutting each nail back just a little bit at a time to be sure you cut up to-but not on-the quick.
It's helpful to have a coagulant (a substance that causes blood to clot) handy each time you trim. If you do cut the quick, you can apply a coagulant to stop the bleeding.
What is a dewclaw, and does it need to be clipped like the other nails?
A dewclaw is a fifth claw on the inside of the leg (typically only the front legs) just slightly above the other claws. If a puppy has dewclaws, these should be trimmed just like the other nails.
What if I need help clipping my puppy's nails?
If you start trimming your puppy's nails regularly from the time he's young, he'll get used to the process. If you need help, your veterinarian can show you how to trim your puppy's nails properly.
You can also leave the nail trimming to the academy-trained groomers at the PetSmart® Grooming Salon. Our groomers receive special training on how to groom puppies and offer a package just for puppies called the 'Puppy Bath, Brush & More' that includes a nail trim.
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