by: Lisa Correia, Certified Master Groomer
Keeping your dog’s nails short is an integral part of
maintaining your dog for show. Long nails exert pressure on your dog’s nail bed
and disturb the natural alignment of the foot. Feet then become splayed and
reduce your dog’s traction. Short nails keep the dog’s feet tight and
pain-free. Cutting and filing the nails
is what will create a desirable tight foot.
Nail Anatomy
Your dog’s nails are made up of
three different layers. On the outside,
you have the hard outer shell; this can be black or white. Just below that is the second layer called
the inner shell. This is the layer that
you probably notice is grey and can crumble when cut, especially if the nail is
allowed to grow too long. Running
through the center of the nail, just below the second layer, is what is known
as the Quick. The Quick is a blood vein
that allows the nail to grow. The longer
the nail is allowed to grow, the longer the Quick gets as well. Letting your dog’s nails get too long,
increases your chances of cutting into this nail and making your pet
bleed. But don’t worry! Although it may
be uncomfortable for your dog if you cut into the Quick, they will never bleed out. There are simple ways of stopping the
bleeding as well.
Cutting your dog’s nails
Now that you know that your dog
won’t die from cutting his nails, let’s talk about how to get them done. To start, you need a good pair of nail clippers. Nail clippers need to be sharp
to go through thick, hard nails. Know
that they will not stay sharp forever.
When the clipper cannot quickly go through the nail, or you see the nail
crumble and shred, it is time to replace your nail clippers. There are two types of nail clippers to
choose from, guillotine and plier. The guillotine style has a blade that you
place your dog’s nail through. The
cutting action comes from underneath the nail through the softer tissue,
allowing for a quick cut. The plier
version allows you a bit more control on how to cut the nail but comes with the
price of slower cutting and more pressure on the nail itself. You want to choose the nail clipper that best
fits your hand to lessen the chance of nicking the quick. Either way, you want to cut at a 45-degree
angle, away from the dog, from the
bottom of the nail to the top. If you
use the plier type nail clipper, you can go back and trim off the sharp edges
on either side of the bottom of the nail.
Filing your dog’s nails
Filing is an essential step for
nail health. Sharp edges can not only
cut you; they can create wounds on your dog from their scratching themselves.
Sharp nails can also damage your hardwood floors. Filing can happen in one of two ways. The first is with a traditional nail file. This is a slower way of filing nails, but if
your dog is patient, it is more economical.
The second way to accomplish smooth nails is to use a rotary tool, also
known as a dremmel. The rotary tool quickly and easily buffs your dog’s sharp
nails into a smooth and blunt edge. The
rotary tool can also take down a long nail immediately, without the hassle of
breaking out the nail clippers. Diamond bits for rotary tools are professional dog groomers’ favorites. The bits keep their edge and quickly, yet
easily grind the nail to smooth perfection.
Diamond bit sets come with a large bit with a coarse grit. The large bit is for taking down nails
quickly. The smaller bit is made with a
finer grit. This bit is best suited for
buffing down any sharp edges. Diamond
bits that have a concave body allow for the perfect placement for the nails to
be quickly and easily shaped.
Bleeding nails will stop!
Let’s put your mind to rest. Your dog will not die if you expose a
quick. Depending upon your dog’s anxiety
level, he may bleed quite a bit or very little.
Either way, you can get the nails to stop bleeding, and your dog will
heal from the cut. Actually, you may be
doing the dog a favor by “quicking” him.
When you cut into the dog’s quick, you are causing the quick to recede. When the Quick decreases, cutting your dog’s
nails next time will be easier.
To stop nails from bleeding, we
suggest using styptic powder. When you start your nail cutting process, make
sure to have your jar already open. This
lessens the anxiety of having to get the jar open when you see blood, and you
can quickly address the issue. When you see the nail bleeding, quickly squeeze
the base of the nail where it meets the toe, between your pointer finger and
your thumb. Take a paper towel with the
other hand and dab off any excess blood.
With the same free hand, take a pinch of the powder and hold it one the
end of the nail for about 15-30 seconds and then slowly release the pressure.
If the nail continues to flow, repeat the process. Generally, one application is all that is
needed to stop the bleeding.
Cutting your dog’s nails may seem
like a daunting task, but it is a necessary one to keep your dog healthy,
pain-free, and show ready.
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