Dog Nail Clipping At Home

April 24, 2015

Clipping your dog’s nails can be a quick, easy, and stress-free process for you and your pet if you keep some of the following tips and guides in mind. The following is an instructional video on how to perform a nail trim on your dog at home.

Some dogs are as lovely, laid back and docile as Lucy in our video, but for those that aren’t, patience, treats and a little skill can make this routine activity easier. For some owners, nail trims are simply too difficult, in these cases, seek help from your veterinarian or groomer.
Always have your supplies ready to go. Choose a good nail clipper that you are comfortable using. There are several different types, our hospital tends to use the scissor type clippers you will see in the video.

Anatomy of the Nail

The nail is shaped like a curved cone. Inside that cone contains the nerve and blood vessels (called the “quick”). It is important to cut below the quick. Cutting the quick will cause some bleeding. With white nails, you will see the quick as the pink area close to the nailbed. If your dog has black nails, shine a flashlight behind the nail and the quick will become visible.

Supplies

Gather all your supplies before starting the nail trim. You will need:

• Nail Clippers
• An agent that will stop bleeding if an accident occurs
  • One product we use is Kwik Stop®.
  • In a pinch you can use flour or corn starch
• A treat! (or many treats)

Restraint

It will be much easier if you can find an assistant to hold your dog (watch how our Technician gently holds the dog in our video). There are a few techniques your assistant will want to follow:

• Hug the dog close to your body
• Keep one hand gently pressing their head toward your body
• Slightly extend the leg you will be working on from behind the elbow (or knee depending on the leg)
  • This gives you control over leg movements
• Be aware at all times, of your dog’s body language. If he or she is starting to become too stressed or agitated, release him or her, give a treat, and take a break. Safety first.

Clipping the Nails

Once you are all set up and your helper is safely holding your dog, you can start to clip one nail at a time below the quick. If at any time it becomes stressful for your dog or yourself, take a break and praise your pup for getting that far, and then you can pick up where you left off a bit later.

Always remember your veterinarian or groomer is there to help. Feel free to contact us with questions or to make a nail trim appointment.