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Cats and dogs both benefit from having their nails trimmed. While it can be a battle, there are ways to make this chore more enjoyable for both you and your pet.
Both cats and dogs should have their nails trimmed every three weeks. By clipping them this often, the quick - or blood supply to the nail - will not grow out. The longer the quick, the more chance you will cut it and cause your pet to bleed. Clipping this often will also keep your dog from tearing a nail while playing or your cat from tearing up your couch.
If you have a new puppy or kitten, start trimming now! The earlier your pet is introduced to nail trimming, the more likely he or she will become accustomed to it. With puppies and kittens, just having your little one sit for one nail to be trimmed is a good start. Have patience with older pets as well. Never continue if they become stressed; it is much more important for them to see nail trimming as a nontraumatic event than it is to get all the nails trimmed.
There are several sorts of clippers that can be used. For medium and large dogs, there is a guillotine style put out by companies like Rescoe and V.I.P. With this type of nail trimmer, you put the nail through a hole in the top of the clippers and then squeeze the handle. The advantage of these clippers is that you can buy replacement blades, but it can cause large dog nails to split. Several companies such as Millers and V.I.P. make a style similar to hedge trimmers that works very well, especially on thick nails. For cats and small dogs or puppies, a scissor style clipper works best.
Another good idea is to have a supply of styptic pencils on hand. In the event that you cut a nail too close, just press the styptic pencil to the nail to stop bleeding. You can also use cornstarch or flour if you don't have styptic pencils. Just take a pinch and press it against the bleeding nail.
When you are ready to trim, the best thing to keep in mind is patience. Dogs and cats that haven't had their nails trimmed before are going to be confused at what you are asking them to do. For dogs, it's best to take them to a quiet room. If you have a very excitable dog, try taking him or her for a long walk first. You may also want a second person to hold your dog while you trim the nails. Often you can trim cat's nails while they're napping. Either way, never force your pet. If you have the sort of pet that panics when the trimmers come into sight, you may want to discuss tranquilizers with your veterinarian.
Front nails on a dog are most easily clipped with your dog sitting or lying down. To work on the back feet, have him or her stand and then turn his or her foot upside down. If your dog doesn't like the upside down method, you can trim nails without turning the foot over but it will be a little more awkward. Using as little restraint as possible seems to work best for cats. Allow them to sit or lay any way they please!
To start trimming, hold your pet's paw in one hand. For cats, gently presson their toe pad to expose their nail. On cats and dogs with light colored nails, you should be able tosee a pink hue underneath the nail. This pink is the quick, and is the part you want to avoid cutting. Clip just shy of this point on the nail.
For those owners who have dogs with dark nails, you need to be a little more careful. If your dog will let you, see if you can turn his or her foot upside down. You should be able to see a thin, hooked area of the nail; then a thicker area closer to the foot. This thick area is going to contain the quick. If your dog won't let you lok at the foot upside down, you should still be able to see the hooked portion. Remove the hooked area.
If you are still uncertain about how far to cut, clip the nail in several, small cuts instead of making one large cut. Once your pet has been quicked (had a nail cut so short that it bleeds) it will be very difficult to convince him or her to sit down for a nail trim in the future.
Finally, pay attention to how your pet's nails and feet look while you trim. Both cats and dogs can have split nails that can be very painful. If the nails themselves seem very dry and flaky or abnormally shaped, your pet may have a form of toe nail disease. If it has been an extremely long time since your cat or dog has had his or her nails trimmed, it is possible that a nail will frow around and enter the skin. Check between the toes and around the pads for redness and irritation that can indicate skin disease. If you notice any of the above conditions or something else you consider abnormal, contact your veterinarian to discuss the problem further.
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