Nails & Canine Paw Care
Today is paw ‘bout that nail care!
Whether you provide the pawdicure or have a professional do it, well-maintained nails = a well-maintained pup. Nobody likes getting scratched by their dogs nails, so not only will maintaining their nail health benefit them, but it’ll benefit you and your arms and legs too.
Pawesome Benefits to Regular Nail Care
Comfort
Joint Care
Reduce Injury
Comfort. Letting your dog’s nails get too long can cause pain and discomfort. If left unattended, the growing nail could curl into the pad of your dogs foot -- OUCH! Not only that, but overgrown nails can also cause discomfort for your dog when walking or running. When their nails are too long, they lose traction. Imagine that feeling of walking on ice, unable to hold traction; well, that’s how your dog feels when their nails are too long.
Joint Care. Overgrown nails will also put more pressure on your pups joints, which could have a long-term affect on their overall health. The pressure on their joints might cause them to distribute their weight differently, potentially making walking and running uncomfortable, even painful.
Reduce Injury. Not only will trimming your dog’s nails regularly reduce their risk of injury, but it’ll reduce your risk too. Working at Dog Star Ranch, we’ve encountered our fair share of scratches, we’ve even compared our battle wounds with each others. It happens, and it’s all a part of the job but it is preventable with regular nail trimming (which we in return greatly appreciate). Even more so, keeping your dog’s nails short will reduce the risk of their nails getting caught and torn or splitting.
In the end, maintaining a regularly scheduled nail trim will ensure that your pup stays happy and healthy!
Natural Ways
There are ways in which you can provide your dog the opportunity to grind down their nails naturally.
Daily Walks
Biking/Running on Hard Surfaces
Designated Digging
Daily walks or biking/running are not only is a great way to have fun and exercise with your pup, but it’s also a great way for your dog to naturally wear down their nails.
And I know what you might be thinking…
Did you just say that you want my dog to dig? Yes, yes I did. Oftentimes this is a habit that we discourage, but hear me out! I said designated digging, so they can’t excavate just anywhere. You’d give them a time and place for digging (this is a great option if you have a digger). Digging at the hard/rough surface will help work down their nails. And when they’re done, be a good human and fill in the hole.
Maintaining your dogs nail care through natural options like regular exercise and digging are great and all, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’ll eliminate the need to clip their nails.
How To: Trim Nails At Home
Things you’ll need:
Dog Nail Clipper
Dremel (optional)
Treats (for praise)
The dremel is nice if your dog isn’t comfortable with the nail clippers, but doesn’t mind the dremel. The dremel is nice to help smooth out the nail after it’s been clipped, but also keep in mind that not all dogs like the sound of the dremel.
Remember: Be patient and take your time. Some dog’s naturally take to getting their nails done, whereas it might take other’s time to become comfortable with the process.
Image from caninetofive.com
Steps:
Choose a quiet area and make sure your dog is relaxed
Hold foot gently in your hand, but firm enough that they can’t pull away
If you’re using nail clippers: Place a tiny bit of the nail into the clipper and snip. If your dog’s nails are really long, you’ll need to slowly work them back (cutting off too much at a time could lead you to quicking your dog)
If you’re using a dremel: Grind a little off of the nail at a time
Provide praise & treats for good behavior
If you quick a nail:
Stop the bleeding by applying pressure to it with a damp washcloth
Apply Kwik Stop (available through Amazon)
Don’t have Kwik Stop readily available? No worries! These household products have your back:
Cornstarch
Flour
Baking Soda
When using one of these household products to stop the nail from bleeding you’ll need to really press it into the bleeding nail (while endlessly apologizing to your dog).
Steps:
Pour household solution into palm of hand
Gently dip dog’s nail into palm
Continue to dip until bleeding seems to stop
But don’t beat yourself up too much for quicking your dog because accidents do happen! Your dog will forgive you, but could be wary the next time you bring out the clippers so it’s important to build back up that positive experience.
Not all dogs are going to be comfortable with having their feet touched, let alone having their nails clipped! To make your life easier, as well as your groomer’s it’s important that you desensitize your pup to having their feet touched and played with.
Start them young:
Play with their paws by rubbing their feet and pressing on their pads. When playing with their paws, make sure that you are rewarding them with treats simultaneously. This way paws being touched = positive experience
Bring out the tools and have them get comfortable with them. Let them investigate the nail clippers and desensitize them to the sounds that the clippers and/or dremel makes
Consistency is key: Make sure that you’re trimming their nails on a regular basis (about every 2-3 weeks)
But what if your dog is already fearful of getting their nails done? It’s not too late, but will take time.
What to do:
Again, reestablish that positive experience of having their paw touched by touching and playing with it gently. Don’t scold them when they pull away and reward them with praise and treats when they don’t
Reintroduce the tools and what they sound like and what they’ll feel like. Holding their paw, slowly bring the clippers to touch the nail without actually clipping. Reward with treats and praise after every successful attempt
Finally, clip one or two nails. This might be all your dog can handle, and that’s okay! Take a break and come back to it when your dog is relaxed again. Eventually you’ll be able to a paw and then all four feet
Not comfortable doing it yourself? Worried you’ll hurt them? Hard to keep them calm? Just don’t like doing it or it’s hard to find the time? If you answered yes to any of these questions…Go to a professional! It doesn’t have to be a horror movie, our Stylists to the Stars can help! We would love to pamper your pup and give them a PAWsitive pedicure experience.
Call us Monday-Saturday for Walk In appointments or add a nail trim to the end of their boarding stay or daycare day!
