As long nails hit the ground, it puts force on the foot and leg structure. This force can potentially lead to arthritis and ongoing pain. The growth pattern of a dog's nails forms a curved shape. If left untrimmed, the claws will eventually curve under the dog's paws and dig into the skin, creating pain when they walk.
Nails that are too long can cause a dog to slip and fall more easily. Long nails cause a dog to place their feet differently, in a “plantigrade” position. In other words the nails “push” the dogs toes up and the “heel” comes down to balance, placing strain on the muscles and ligaments in the legs.
The amount of time between nail trims depends on how quickly your dog's nails grow and how quickly they are worn down. The average dog should have his nails clipped every three to four weeks, but it should be done as often as needed to keep the nail from touching the ground when your dog is standing.
If your dog's nails are too long you can always contact your veterinarian or groomer for a nail trim. This is especially important for dogs that don't like having their paws touched or are hard to handle during nail trims. You can also do at-home nail trims using nail clippers or nail grinders.
If a dog's nails are too long, you will hear them clack when the dog walks on hard surfaces. Deciding if your dog's nails are too long is quite simple. The claws should not protrude over the pad and should not touch the ground when standing. You can cut your dog's nails at home.
It is very important to keep toenails trimmed short! Over-grown nails will change the biomechanics of the digits and could lead to arthritis in the toes. Long nails will also prevent dogs from getting traction on slick floors. Ideally, you should trim your dog's nails regularly (at least once a month).
Many people may not think much of a dog's nails, but they are very important for the dog's overall health. Nails play a big role in how a dog walks, runs, and even affects its posture.
Ways to File Those Nails Down Naturally
The easiest, stress-free way to keep those nails filed down is “naturally.” This happens when your dog is walking or running on rough surfaces enough to keep the nails short.
At the center of every dog nail is a bundle of nerves and blood vessels called a quick. Cutting this quick, or even applying pressure to the area around it, can cause your dog immense pain. Some breeds, such as Shiba Inus, pugs, shepherds, labs, and bully breeds, seem to have exceptionally sensitive quicks.
You can teach your dog to scratch the scratchboard to grind down their own nails. However, it's difficult to teach your dog to use the scratchboard to trim the nails on their hind paws. The dog will usually not be able to grind all of their nails down evenly, so you may still need to use another method.
Clipping and grinding are equally efficient and safe ways to trim your pup's nails. Clippers are cheaper and less noisy, while dremels are louder and more expensive but more precise and efficient.
So, if it's possible and practical to trim your dog's nails weekly or at least every other week, you'll likely see better results, have a much less stressed dog, and experience less stress yourself in the process. The quick is the part of a dog's nail that contains blood vessels and nerves.
Some dogs love a good scratch, especially if you have long fingernails. Many dogs enjoy petting from trusted people in the following areas: Lower back near the base of the tail. Belly and underside of the chest.
A dog's nails should be clipped often enough that they remain short enough to not click on the ground when a dog walks. Long nails that touch the ground may cause discomfort for your dog, and potentially cause problems down the road.
With your furry friend standing in front of you with their front legs under their shoulders, check their nails. Are they touching the ground? If so, then they're too long. And if you hear your dog's nails clicking or see them turn sideways, it's time for a trim.
Depending on how active your dog is, and the types of surface they walk on, you should aim to trim your dog's claws once or twice a month. Make sure you stick to this and get into a routine, e.g. first weekend of every month etc.
Using your preferred clippers, trim a very small bit of nail at a time. Cut at a slight angle across the tip of the nail, following its natural shape. After each cut, look at the freshly-cut tip of the nail to look for the little black dot that tells you when to stop.
Just like in humans, dog's nails continuously grow. Wild dogs naturally wear down their nails due to the amount of exercise (walking, running) they do on uneven and rough terrain. Our domestic dogs don't normally get enough exercise on harsh surfaces to file their nails down.
Survival instinct
The main reason dogs hate getting their nails clipped is because of the pain. It doesn't hurt them if they are clipped correctly but if your dog has been cut too close to their nerve in their nail, even once, he will remember it.
Adult dogs may be fearful of the clippers and the sound they make, especially if they had a previous bad experience (having the nail trimmed too short or “quicked”). Desensitizing older dogs to nail trimming takes patience. The process cannot be rushed.
The nail will bleed and your dog will cry; it's just as painful as it is for us when one of our nails breaks into the quick.
The secret to keeping your dog's nail tips short is to give frequent, gradual nail trims or to make sure they get adequate activity on a regular basis. Consider that each time you trim that nail a little bit more every week, the quick should gradually recede farther and farther up into the nail bed.
Nails scratch a typical hardwood finish.
Over just a few months, your wood floor will begin to look dull and worn just because of all the scratches on the finish from dog nails. Unlike cats, dogs do not fully retract their nails, so they are always clicking on the floor when they walk.
As long as you avoid clipping too close to that pink bit, you'll be fine. Those of you who have a fur baby with black nails, on the other hand, have a much harder time. Black nails contain melanin, which tints them. It's not harmful or cause for concern, but it does make nail trimming much more difficult.