It's important to keep your dog's nails trimmed because long nails can lead to broken nails, infection, or ingrown nails. Proper nail care generally consists of bi-weekly to monthly nail trimming for most dogs and cats, depending on the speed at which the nail grows and the pet's ability to naturally wear her nails down. One indicator that your pet may need her nails trimmed is when you hear them clicking on hardwood or tile floors. How to cut your pet's nails? First, let's discuss your pet's nail anatomy.
Inside each nail, there is a soft area called the Kwik or Quick containing blood vessels and nerve endings. We recommend cutting the nail at an angle, immediately where the Kwik area ends. If your pet has light nails, it's easy to see the Kwik. If your pet has dark nails, we recommend cutting your pet's nails a little at a time to ensure you do not cut into their Kwik. As you trim your pet's nails, the Kwik will recede, allowing you to cut your pet's nails shorter. (See diagram to your right)
After the nails are cut, we recommend you file them right away so your pet doesn't hurt themselves (or you!) by scratching with their sharp nails. And make sure you do not forget your pet's dew claws. They grow on the inside of her legs and does not get naturally worn down as it is not in contact with the floor. If these nails are not kept short, they can curl back into your pet's skin, causing infection and pain.
It is also important to keep the fur short that grows in-between your pet's paws. Burrs and other foreign objects can get lodged in the fur and cut into your pet's paws.
Keeping your pet's toenails and paws well-maintained is vital to their well-being. Please drop by the store if you have any questions and we can walk you through how to cut your pet's nails. We can also perform the service at our store. No appointments are needed for a nail trim and file (we also clean your pet's ears too). Nail trims are already included in all of our Bath and Haircut services. With our Deluxe Bath and Haircut, we also give your pet's paws a Paw Pad Rub and complimentary pet nail painting!
