Trimming or clipping your pets nails should be part of your routine care. Especially for older pets or those that stay mostly indoors, nail care is needed to keep them in check. Pets that spend more time outdoors will usually wear them down naturally. How often you need to trim will depend on the age, breed, environment and exercise regime of your pet. Younger dogs that are active and have healthy feet that angle the toenails towards the ground may not need nail trimming until they are older and start to become less active. You may need to trim the dew claws (claws on inside of the front legs) as these seldom touch the ground and may become overgrown.
Dogs that have nails that don’t angle downwards but grow forward will need to have the nails trimmed regularly as they are not able to wear their nails down naturally, no matter how active they are. Inspect your dog’s nails regularly and trim them as required.
Cats may also need to have their nails trimmed, especially if they are indoor only cats. Cats that spend time outdoors may have less of a requirement for regular nail trims.
Nails that get too long can break or split which can cause bleeding, soreness and even infection. Nails can curve back in a spiral which can make getting around painful. Uncut nails can even pierce the paw pad if allowed to grow unchecked. This leads to severe pain and infection. Check your pets nails at least once a month. When nails are cut the quick should be avoided as this is full of nerve endings and can be painful when cut. If you cut into the quick and it starts to bleed, use a bar of soap pressed to the nail to stop the bleeding.
We can assist with checking your pet’s nail and trimming if needed. We can also show you how to trim your pet’s nails at home. Call us to make an appointment for a consultation.
