is it possible to clip a dog's nails to short?

Question

when standing, the nails do not touch the floor. I want to cut them untill I don't hear the nails clicking on the floor because I have hardwood floors. is that OK or is that too short?

if you are answering with details about cutting into the quick you are wasting your time! I want to know, do to the mechanics of a dogs foot, can I cut them short or do the need to touch the floor? thanks for all the answers so far, but for all new answers, if your going to lecture about the quick and going to a groomer then don't bother!!

for amblina and mk... GET A LIFE. I never said I was going to purposly hurt my dogs and cut into their quick. you are ignorant and need to stop jumping to conclusions. you think my dog is going to let me cut a second nail after I purposly cut into the vein of ONE nail? I doubt it, my dog is smarter then you two.

Answer 1

They do not have to touch the floor. We have 2 dogs, one which has very short nails by nature. We dont cut them, but they are very short and dont touch the ground.

My inlaws use a Dremmell and file the nails down, that way you dont have to worry about cutting into the quick.

Do it gradually and give treats. Unless your dogs runs free on land or something like that, they very rarely use their claws. Our dogs are very much our "kids" and they dont wander and are in our supervision at all times. Walking them on cement or asphalt will also help file down the nails.

Answer 2

If you trim them too short, you will "quick" them (cut into the blood supply for the nail). This hurts, as well as bleeds, just like if you cut or ripped one of your own fingernails back too far.

If you keep the dogs nails trimmed regularly, and take them back a *little* further each time, you may be able to get them shortened enough that it will reduce the noise. I don't think you will be able to completely get rid of it, due to the mechanics of a dog's feet as they walk.

When the dog steps forward, the paw rotates forward, from the heel to the toe to the claw, so you're going to get SOME contact at the end of the gait.

http://www.oricomtech.com/projects/leg-mech.htm

The question then becomes, how far back is healthy and humane to your dog to trim the nails?

Answer 3

Actually, the best solution I saw for keeping a dog's toenails from ruining hardwood floors is to grind them. If your dog will tolerate it. At my salon we use a dremel power tool (like a baby sander) and grind the nails until their as short as they can go, but with a nice, rounded finish. My clients with hardwood floors are always so excited by this--the ends of the nails are devoid of sharpness and their floors are a lot happier!

Answer 4

Yes it is possible. They have a cuticle just like you and I. When clipping, you'll see an area that is very light and a darker area above it. You only want to clip the light area. The darker area will bleed if you cut into it and is very painful for the dog. Pls be extremely careful. If you're not sure as to how to go about doing this, go to the vet and ask them to clip them, and also ask them to show you how to do this properly. It's only around 10.00 to have a vet do it and the knowledge you'll gain would be worth it as opposed to hurting something that you love.

Answer 5

I asked my vet's groomer about clipping my dogs nails shorter and filing them duller b/c he jumps on me and scratches me. The vet told me that I should not do this b/c it can be dangerous for him outside. I live out in the country and we have a pond, etc and the vet said that they use their nails to dig their way out of things just as much as they use them for digging in to the ground! He said that if there was any possibility of him getting somewhere that he needed the nails to get out of, i.e. the pond, that he would need the nails to dig his way out. Depends on where you live I guess, but I would definitely let a groomer do it for you b/c if you cut them too short you also run the risk of infection. The pinkish colored part of their nails is blood/skin so you definitely don't want to cut in to that!

Answer 6

you can definately cut their toenails so they don't touch the floor. you just have to find the right angle. and if you have hardwood or laminate flooring, be aware your dog will probably slip and slide around before getting used to it. but they do get used to it....

i say go for it

and for all those who say you have to go to the vet or a groomer if you accidentally cut into the quick..... WRONG!!! just put some corn starch on it... it will stop the bleeding really fast----i've done it.

Answer 7

my question for you is that do you not care about cutting into the quick cause thats kinda what it sounds like. my puppy has black nails and when asked if we could cut them back farther are vet told us no it was not recommended as aside from causing the dog to be scared of getting his nails cut it could cause infection or bleeding profusely possible death and he might not walk right if they where too short.
i hope your not considering causing your dog pain just for your wood floors think of how you might feel if you where hald down and had some one rip off your nails one by one thats what it feels like to a dog more than likely

Answer 8

So you're going to cut off your dogs nails, even so short that it hurts them, just so you don't have to hear them on your floor?1? How do you think your dogs feel about that??? Probably not to good-they don't like pain anymore than you do...

Answer 9

You should cut the nail right after the curve in the nail. Otherwise anything shorter is very painful to the animal.also cut it at an angle so there will be no snagging or tearing.

Answer 10

Yes that is too short. If you do that, you'll run to the quick, the vien that runs through the claw, and it could bleed for hours or unless the vet puts something in the nail to stop the bleeding.