Puppy nails are sharp. Because puppies have yet to learn that jumping on people is unwanted, those sharp nails can do some damage to your skin. It's important then to introduce your puppy to nail trimming as soon as you bring him home.
Blunt or dull clippers can cause the nail to split. If you are more concerned about your dog's nails being sharp but not long, like when they are puppies, you can use a pumice stone to grind them down into a rounded shape gently.
Smooth the edges: After clipping, your dog nails might be sharp after clipping. To address this, use a nail file or grinder to smooth the edges and make them more comfortable for your dog.
Start clipping puppies' nails within the first week of bringing your puppy home, usually from around six weeks old, then clip them every week, even if it's only a tiny amount. This would get them used to nail clipping. There will not be much to clip at the beginning, but that's OK.
Without regular nail trimming, your pet can experience pain and discomfort from increased pressure when walking, running, or playing. This can also cause mobility issues, especially in older dogs, due to a lack of traction on hard surfaces such as tile or wood flooring.
A dog's nails are oval; they are wider at the toe and narrower as they grow out. Inside each nail is the quick, a highly sensitive bundle of nerves and blood vessels. When cut or injured, it bleeds. If nails are clear, the quick appears pink and the nail growing past the quick is white.
Use a soothing voice to keep her calm as you gently rub her paws. Then focus on the toes, giving each one a soft squeeze. Next apply gentle pressure to the nail itself. If your dog becomes scared or pulls back her paw, stop for a bit and continue only when she settles down.
Once you have trimmed each nail, file the nails with an emery board to remove sharp edges. Normal canine nails should be intact all the way into the foot, not bleeding, cracked or split. Without doubt, your puppy will wiggle, whine, even yelp when you trim its nails. Don't be alarmed by these antics.
Your dog's nails are naturally sharp because they are made of a tough protein called keratin, which is also found in human nails and hair. In the wild, dogs use their sharp nails to hunt, dig, and defend themselves.
Sandpaper. Introduce self nail filing using 80 grit sandpaper. This softer grit is more comfortable during the learning stage and less likely to scratch paw pads. Once your dog learns to drag only her nails across the scratchboard, lower the grit size slowly.
It's best to not cut within 2 millimeters of the quick. As you cut the nail deeper, a gray to pink oval starts to appear at the top of the cut surface of the nail. Stop cutting the nail at this point as additional cutting will cut into the quick and cause bleeding. Styptic powder stops bleeding when applied.
The second way to cause quicks to recede is by trimming the nails every week. These weekly trims will “train” the quick to recede, but it's the consistency that matters! You'll likely use either scissor- or “guillotine”-type clippers. Scissor-type clippers are similar to the scissors you probably use every day.
Hold her paw and gently grasp a single toe. Trim the very tip of the nail. Do not trim too much off at first so you avoid exposing the quick. Reward your dog with praise and a treat after trimming each nail.
So if your puppy whines when you are cutting his nails, it doesn't necessarily mean you've hurt him. It may just be that he's anxious about the process and the strange pressure on his nails.
Unless there is a medical reason not to sedate your dog, your vet should be able to do a sedated trim. Being sedated should make the nail trim process less traumatic for your pup.
Clipping a tiny bit each week is often necessary to keep puppy nails under control. It also helps get your pup used to having their paws handled and nails clipped. Older dogs can typically go two to three weeks between trims.
Correct length for a dog's nails. 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.
It is best to clip your puppy's nails once a week, and only when using professional nail clippers that are designed for the shape of a dog's nails (they are markedly different from human or cat nails).
For tiny puppies, you can start with human nail clippers, but eventually will need clippers designed to cut the dog's toenails at the proper angle without splitting or crushing the nail. Dremel-type nail grinder products work well for some dogs.
Try clipping its nails during sleeping time. Be cautious while doing this, as dogs' feet are sensitive even when sleeping. Use a clipper that makes no sound for a more effective way to cut your dog's nails while sleeping. Replace nail clippers with Dremel tools to trim down the nail.