Nailing Your Dog's Nail Care

Imagine being forced to wear painful, ill-fitting shoes 24/7. It would be hard to do or enjoy much, wouldn’t it? Such is the case with your dog’s nails if not looked after properly.

Unlike human nails, canine nails grow directly out of the bone. Running down the center of the nail is the quick, which is soft tissue containing nerves and blood vessels. The quick helps your dog gauge their environment and movement. Damage to or exposure of the quick can lead to pain and infection.

Ideally, a dog’s nails should stop just above the ground when standing. Anything longer can splay their feet, cut them when they scratch, make them prone to infection and injury, and even negatively affect their overall posture and gait. Having nails too short reduces a dog’s traction, affects their balance, and puts them at risk of injury and infection if their quicks are exposed.

In the wild, canines spend much of their time running across rough surfaces, digging, climbing, and naturally wearing their nails down. Our domesticated pals, though, aren’t as concerned with survival, so tend to be less active and live on softer surfaces. This means keeping an eye on your pooch’s paw health is fundamental to their general wellbeing.

Where to start? First, get your dog used to having their paws handled. The last thing you want is for your dog to equate having their nails trimmed with fear and pain. Try gently touching their paws when you pet them, holding one paw at a time and rewarding them with a treat, etc. Build their comfort level and trust so they are not so stressed when the clippers come out.

It also helps to give your pup the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the clippers before doing any trimming. Give them the chance to sniff and look it over before use. The more comfortable they are around the equipment, the easier and safer taking care of their paws will be.

The frequency of nail trimming needed varies dog to dog, but it is generally recommended they have them trimmed every 2-4 weeks. Before trimming, be sure to examine your dog’s paws for the following:

• Cracks and splits – This can be an indicator of insufficient diet. If your dog has several cracked nails over a few months, it may be time to reevaluate their nutritional needs with your vet.

• Pus and/or bleeding

• Curling, especially the dew claw

• Swelling around the base of the nail

• Rough or jagged edges

• Inflammation and/or tenderness to the touch

• Brittleness – Brittleness is more common in cold weather, so be especially vigilant in winter months.

• Chewing or licking of nails – Dogs who do this are often experiencing itchiness around the nail base. This could be caused by allergies, or fungal or bacterial infection. In the case of infection, this could be a symptom of a larger health issue with their immune system or a reaction to medication. Be sure to consult your veterinarian.

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