How To Cut Dog Nails

When your dog's nails get too long, you may wonder how to cut dog nails yourself, rather than bring the dog to the groomer. When dog nails get too long, it is easy for the dog to scratch you, your guests or themselves a little too hard. Long dog nails are also painful for your dog. It hurts their paws when they walk on overgrown nails.

You will need:

• Dog nail clippers
• File

1. Use nail clippers made especially for dogs. Do not use the type for people because they can split and splitter a dog nail. Human nail clippers do not have a large enough opening for a dog nail to fit in.
2. Grasp your dog's paw and place your thumb on the pad of his paw. Gently squeeze his paw, which presses the dogs' nail out from beyond the fur. Clip a little of the nail off at a time. Stay away from the area nearer to his paw, called the quick. The quick has many blood vessels and if you cut the quick, the nail will bleed. If you have a dog with dark colored nails, you cannot see the quick so proceed very cautiously.
3. Use a file to file down the rough nail edges. Make the edges of the nails nice and smooth.

Cutting dog nails is easier if you give your dog a bath first. The water will soften the dog nails, making them easier to cut without breaking. Cutting dog nails is not a difficult job; you can successfully cut his nails on your own. This should be a part of your dogs regular grooming and start when the dog is young and more likely to be tolerant.