Good Lifestyle

Taking care of your dog is a responsibility that begins when they are puppies and continue through their upper years . In addition to being aware of what you feed them and the search for potential health problems, you will also want to master basic grooming, as how to cut your dog's nails. Whether you are a practical company owner who likes to be able to help his canine when he needs it the most or just notice your dog's legs need attention between grooming visits, do this important task of the right way is not as difficult as it seems. Read the rest for a step -by -step guide on how to cut dog nails safely, according to pet experts.

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Do you have to cut your dog's nails?

Keeping your cubic dog's nails are part of an ordinary grooming cycle. Although it is an apparently simple task, experts warn that the health of their nails can have a major impact on your dog's health.

"Not all dogs need to cut their nails, but it is important to check them regularly and be ready to cut them if they become too long," Kathryn Dench , DVM, veterinary surgeon and chief scientific advisor of Patte origins , tell Better life . "Long nails can cause discomfort, affect their walking and posture, and even cause long -term joint problems."

She emphasizes that dogs that make a lot of walking, racing or excavation on a soil or relatively hard surfaces are generally less likely to need a nail trim, because their nails are naturally weighed during their daily activities.

How do you know when it's time to cut your dog's nails?

With an unintented eye, it can be difficult to say when dog nails have become for too long. This is where your ears can come into play.

"If you hear clicking on the floor while walking, if the nails start to curl up, or if they hang from the fabric or the carpet, it is certainly time to cut your dog's nails," said Nita Vasudevan , DVM, veterinary consultant for Embred pet insurance . "Checking your dog's nails regularly every two weeks can help you maintain an appropriate length."

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How to cut dog nails safely

Although there are not two identical animals, it is always important to approach the nail cut in the right way to help ensure success. Just follow the following steps.

Have the right ready tools

Cutting dog nails safely at home can be delicate. This is why Vasudevan says you need to make sure you use the right tools.

"Investing in good quality nail swabs or a nail grinding tool for dogs is crucial," she suggests.

Make sure your dog is prepared

The regular cutting of nails requires your dog to be comfortable with the process beforehand. Fortunately, there is a way to prepare them.

"Make the puppy get used to legs," said Steve Dale ,, Consultant in certified animal behavior . "Give treats when you watch Netflix emissions, or everything you do while you relax and your dog is relaxed and just massage [their] legs while offering treats. Make it all positive and fun."

Make your pet accustomed to the view of the mowers

Anxious dogs can sometimes react to the simple view of an object they fear, especially if they have had a bad experience. For this reason, Dale says that you may need to reassure them that your tools will not hurt them.

"Take the mower out of a new location as the place where you usually keep it and place it a few meters from their food dish. Then leave it there, as if it was a piece of furniture," suggests -he. "Place the treats around him randomly, so the mower is a kind of treats dispenser. Over time, get closer and closer to the food dish, so the puppy combines the mower with something very Nice as a meal: when the clipper leaves, the meal too. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

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Take it slowly

Once you are ready to start cutting dog nails, it is important not to rush things.

"Cut a single dog nail or maybe two ... but stop while you are in advance. And give the dog treats," recommends Dale. "The next day - assuming everything went well - has done a few more nails."

He says that running dog nails is something that should be done with confidence but nonchalantly.

"Do not act as if you expected that there is a problem. And simultaneously, ideally, with another pair of hands offering something like damp food or good treats," he said. "Preparing a positive experience combined with distraction should do the trick."

Learn pros

If you have trouble mastering the process, you can learn pros. Consider participating in a brief demo of an animal expert.

"One intelligent thing to do is to bring [your dog] to have [their nails] cut by a professional groomer, an approved veterinarian technology or your veterinarian and make you learn," said Marty Goldstein , DVM, veterinarian and educational contributor to Pet supplies .

How to avoid cutting your dog's nails too short

"The most important thing when cutting nails does not cut them too short in the area known as rapid, which contains blood vessels," said Goldstein. "This will cause pain and bleeding."

To avoid cutting the fast, Dench says to cut just a small amount of nail at a time. "If your dog has light or clear nails, you can probably see a pink area easily. It's the fast: stop cutting at least 2 millimeters before him."

Vasudevan says that in case you accidentally cut the fast, use flour or styptic powder to help stop bleeding and contact your veterinarian.

How to find a dog nail quickly

Never assume that you know exactly where is the fast on your animal because it can develop longer over time, says Goldstein. However, there are a few tips to find it.

"For dark nails, look at the underside of the nail and stop where it starts to dig," explains Dench. "The use of a flashlight can also help highlight the fast inside the nail on the interior side where the blood vessel is, and some nail cutters are even delivered with integrated lights."

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How to cut a dew claw

Not all nails that require maintenance are located on your dog's paw. A higher on their leg, known as dew claw, could be particularly worrying.

"The dew claws require special attention because they do not wear out naturally," explains Dench. "Keep it gently, isolate it from fur and cut it as you would with the other nails, being careful of the rapid, which can be closer to the tip than in the other nails."

Conclusion

If you plan to prepare your pet at home, learning to cut dog nails in the right direction is absolutely essential to their health. The owners should put their dog at ease with the act before starting the process by offering treats as they get used to the tools and their legs touched. Once you have started, go slowly, cut your dog's nails a bit both or even for a few days.

The most important thing to remember is to avoid cutting the fast located in dog nails, which can cause pain and bleeding. Getting instructions from a professional groomer can make the start of the ordinary nail cut at home.