What is the safest way to clip my dog's nails withouth hurting it?

Answer 1

Dont clip to short or they bleed do alittle at a time

Answer 2

NAIL TRIMMING PROCEDURE

Dog toenails grow as do human fingernails and toenails. The nails should be kept in good trim to avoid scratching when the dog paws at a bare human leg and to keep the dog's structure as sound as possible. Long nails can cause the dog to rock back on his paws, causing strain on his leg assemblies and interfering with his gait.

The easiest way is to accustom puppies to having their feet handled daily so they'll sit still for this essential part of good grooming. Adult dogs may be more difficult, especially if they hate having their feet handled or have been "quicked" at some time.

Sometimes, dog nails grind down if the dog exercises on concrete. Otherwise, the nails should be trimmed regularly. Regular nail trimming is important to your dog's health and well being. Never use ordinary scissors to trim your dog's nails. Use trimmers that are specially designed for dogs. Hold the dog's paw firmly, and cut off the tip of the nail with a single stroke. Be very careful to stop short of the quick, the blood vessel inside the nail. Cutting the nails right after bathing will make the quick more visible; applying baby oil will serve the same purpose. Follow up by filing your dog's nails with a nail file. Ask your vet to show you the correct technique the first time, especially if your dog has dark nails.

Dog nails have a blood supply or quick but the end of the nails are dead tissue and can be clipped without pain. The trick is to trim as close to the quick as possible without actually cutting it and causing it to bleed. The quick appears as a dark line in white nails but is almost impossible to see in darn nails. The best way to begin trimming is to clip only the sharp, curved portion of the nail and then work back a bit towards the paw. Clip only a small bit at a time to avoid trouble.

No matter how careful you are, you can accidentally hit a nail quick and cause some bleeding at some point. Don't panic. Here are some things that will stop the bleeding:

Kwik-Stop (a powder) or any styptic powder. This stings, but is highly effective. Take a pinch of powder and press onto the tip of the affected nail after wiping away the blood.

cornstarch or flour can also be used in a similar manner

you can press the affected nail into a bar of mild soap

for minor problems, simply applying pressure to the tip of the nail may be effective

Some dogs have black nails. To tell how to cut these, turn your dog's paw over and look where the nail has a thicker section than the growth area. Use this as a guideline when trying to figure out where to cut the nail. They won't give the appearance of clearer at the top of the nail, so you have to be very careful that you go by the thickness of the nail when the paw is turned over. Any part of the nail that is thick is the "Quick" in this case and should not be cut. This is the part of the nail on the bottom that grows from his paw. The skinnier part of the nail is the new growth, that you can cut without fear of cutting your dog. You can also try using a torch (flashlight) which sometimes shows where the quick is located.

If all else fails, take the dog to your vet and have him/her show you the proper way to do this.

Answer 3

Turn the foot over and look at the underneath of the nail. Some dogs have a hollow area from the tip to the quick, and this part can safely be snipped off. If the nail is white or light colored, you can see the pink quick, or blood supply. Cut in front of this to avoid bleeding. It's a bit trickier in black nails. Use a good clipper, and carefully shave off a little at a time until the middle of the nail begins to turn gray. Shave off a tiny bit more and soon the middle of the nail (the cross section) will show a darker, black spot. This lets you know you are almost at the quick, so stop. Use that nail as a guide for the rest of the nails. Have Kwik Stop powder on hand to pat on the nail should you nip it too short. It will stop the bleeding instantly.

Answer 4

On a clear nail you can see the "vein" or "quick" inside the nail. On a black nail, you can't see it until you actually clip the nail. Just clip a very small amount off at a time until you see what looks like a "Clear" spot in the middle of the nail. That is the vein or quick. If you go any further, the nail will bleed, which does hurt. Good luck

Answer 5

Oooo, that's touchy (no pun intended). I used to do it and just clip a little off. Then I took him to the vet to get them clipped once and the vet cut too close and nipped him. From then on he wouldn't let anyone touch his nails or paws. He was a BIG dog, so I didn't push the issue. He's passed on (not from the clipping), so I haven't had to do it in a few years.

I would recommend just clipping a very tiny bit off the top. Dogs nails grind down when they walk and dig, so you don't have to do it all the time. Just don't let them curl under.

Answer 6

I would recommend buying a dog toe nail trimmer with a guard on it...it will only allow you to trim a little off at a time. If you get a regular trimmer, you'll want to make sure to trim a little off at a time...and watch for the quick. If you hit the quick it will bleed and hurt, you'll want to have styptic powder on hand if possible to control both...otherwise flour or corn starch will both help the bleeding. If your dog hasn't had them trimmed before, you'll want to play with his feet, nails, etc and reward the dog for staying calm. When the dog is laying down (if possible), get a good hold on the dog's foot and trim the nails. If they're dark, you need to watch for a waxy appearance at the end of the nail...that's when you're close to the quick. If they're clear, you can see the quick. I recommend having someone help you by holding and petting the dog...if the dog squirms at all for you it'll be more difficult.

Answer 7

use professional dog clippers or just have a groomer do it if you aren't sure how short to go

Answer 8

Pay the $8.00 & let the PetSmart groomer do it for you.

Answer 9

take him to the vet

Answer 10

Take him to the vet!!! wow that was hard!