Is it bad to not cut your dogs toe nails?

Question

I havent cut my dogs nails in 6 years that shes been living. And they arent long but you can hear her coming through the kitchen with her clacking nails. Is it bad?? And when i did try to cut them a few months ago she whined as if it hurt her. Did it? and Does it?

Answer 1

It hurts dogs if you don't get their nails cut. They get too long and they start to hurt them. If they are the black nails then I would take them to the groomer to get them cut, so you don't cut the vein which will hurt them severely. If they are the white nails then you can see the vein from the bottom, so you just have to be careful not to cut it. You can get nails cut for under 10 bucks at most dog grooming places.

Answer 2

Yes it is bad not to cut them, it will break down the bones in their feet. Many dogs don't like them to cut and they will whine as if it hurts. You can hurt them if you cut the nails too short, which will make the nails bleed. The nails should not be touching the floor when the dog is standing. The quicks (the part that can bleed) do get longer the longer it goes without the nails being clipped. Try to find someone experienced in clipping nails and see if they can show you how to tell how short you can clip them. Otherwise the vets or groomers will do it for 8 to 10 dollars. It should be done about once a month.

Answer 3

When you have a dog whose nails don't usually get trimmed and grow long, the quick inside the nail will also be longer than in a dog with short nails. If you cut them, it can be painful for them if you cut the quick, and it can also cause bleeding if you cut into the quick.

Your dogs nails should not be overly long. If they are left to grow too long, they can cause health issues and they also affect the way the dog walks because the nails can get in the way.

If you're not comfortable with cutting the dog's nails yourself, you can have it done at the vet or at a groomer's. It's not very expensive and most places will do it quickly and without sedation unless your dog is very anxious and frightened.

A properly trimmed nail should not touch the ground when the dog is standing normally. The pad of the foot should be on the ground, but not the nail.

This website shows diagrams of what a properly trimmed nail and overgrown nails look like, and how to trim long nails in order to get the quick to recede so you can go to a proper length eventually.

http://my.execpc.com/~rebec/dog_nails.gif

Answer 4

Does your dog get to run around on lots of rough or hard ground? That would naturally wear down the nails, but if she is in the house more she might need them trimmed. If she has light colored nails you will be able to see the vein in them, you should always just trim the very tip off, if you do trim a little too much it will bleed a bit but it will stop. Just by trimming the tip though your less likely to cause her any distress and it will just take that edge off the nail. She could be whining just because she was not liking the nail cutting, since she has never had them done it might be a little scary to her. If you hit the vein it will hurt them a bit, just trimming the nail part tips there is no nerves in that area. Is she has black nails it's sorta hard to know where the veins end...I would probley take her to a groomer where they have the experience to do it and it would be a lot easier then you worrying about hurting your pet unitentionally.

Answer 5

Some dogs need their nails cut and some dont, i found that with my dog when he was young i never needed to cut them as he was always walking around on the pavement etc and that wore them down but as he got older (14years old) he doesn't walk as much so they are growing quickly.
You should cut dogs nails when they get too long a way to recognize that is when the dogs paw is on the ground the tip of the nails should be on the ground also in a nice arch. (its very hard to explain in text)
It should not hurt your dog to cut nails but if cut to short it will be sore as they have a blood vessel in the nail and if you clip it, it will sting. When cutting the nail apply slight pressure with the clippers and if your dog pulls away or whines you are on the blood vessel so cut lower, if in doubt take your dog to the vet so they can show you how to do it the first time.

Answer 6

It could just as well be her toe nails. It isn't very health if you haven't clipped your dogs toe nails because they start to curve under and yes it is painful. You should go into your local vet as soon as possible so that her nails can be clipped. I know that I found a dog off the street that must have been at least 8 and she looked like she hadn't been taken care of in years...her toe nails were curved under and every time she walked she looked like she was in a lot of pain. DO NOT let your dog's nails get that bad...because you will regret it. Sure she can trim them down when she's walking on pavement...but that's not the greatest treatment...I mean do you like it when you have long toe nails on your feet? I mean it kind of hurts when you put them in tennis shoes and such...so a word from the wise...take her in and get the nails clipped to a more comfortable length the next time you try to cut them. A vein starts to grow longer as you let the dog's tonails get longer...so when you cut them too short...you are also cutting the vein.

Hope my answer helped!!!

~Me

Answer 7

You should cut your dogs nails if they get long enough to touch the floor when they are standing.
If they get too long, it puts the wrong pressure on the foot and can cause all sorts of issues.
If done correctly, it doesn't hurt, but a dog that isn't used to it will find it irritating.
Use treats as a motivator for the dog to cooperate and get a pro to show you how to cut the first time so you know what you are doing.
If done incorrectly and cut too short, it is painful and the dog will not allow you to do it the next time, so like I said, get a pro groomer to show you how. Or even just pay the 10 bucks to have it done.

Answer 8

It doesn't hurt if you don't cut low into the nerve and make them bleed.

Most dogs are just scared to have their paws touched. Walking on a side walk may help keep them at a comfortable length, but there's always a chance of them getting so long they grow into the pad.

Groomers can cut nails. Since they seem to have a system, you may want to pay the extra money and have them do it.

Answer 9

If you don't know what you are doing, you could make the dog bleed to death, if you cut the vein. Have a groomer or a vet show you how to do it properly.

Some dogs nails will wear down on there own if they are walked on cement or pavement enough, but in hot weather the cement and pavement can burn the pads on their feet, and cause cracking and bleeding.

If you are afraid to clip them yourself, try a groomer, it is not very expensive.

Answer 10

ok it's not that bad not to trim them. if the dog go outside it can wear them down themselves. it is a good indication that your dog gets enough excerise if they don't need to be cut. but some dogs do, and your groomer or vet will do it FREE of charge when giveing other services. it's soooo easy!!!! if your dog has white nails , look at the nail the closest to the foot will be pink and the tip will be white you clip the white portion. NOt the pink that is the nerve. have you vet show you how to do it next time you go. if the dog has black nails its a little more complicated but not hard. i always do my dogs nails. but its not soo much becouse of them it's becouse my legs get all scratched up. dogs who don't get it done usally throw a fit couse they don't like haveing their feet touched. if they bleed then it hurt then but not that bad and dip the nail in flower to clot the blood. they will be fine! good luck:)