Must Read! How to help dogs trim their toenails?

Most dogs do not need to have their toenails trimmed; they are naturally trimmed when they walk on hard surfaces such as sidewalks. But untrimmed toenails can break, bleed or even grow into the paws, which can be very uncomfortable for your dog. If your pet makes a “clicking” sound when walking on hard surfaces, it’s clear that his toenails need to be trimmed. So how do you cut your dog’s nails? Prepare tools: dog nail clippers, hemostatic powder, reward snacks, small or large towel (if you want to wrap your pet). Trimming steps before cutting toenails: Make sure your dog is very relaxed and comfortable. If he has never had his toenails clipped before, then do the same adaptation with him several times a day for about a minute each time while tapping the nail clippers that will be used on him. Respond to his voice with a gentle tone, tell him not to be afraid, and gently massage his ears to distract him and reduce his anxiety. Sit down with your dog, look at your dog at the same level and talk softly to him to reduce stress. Remember to keep a calm attitude throughout the process and do not stress or shadow your dog, whether or not the cut is successful. Toenail clipping: 1. Steadily and gently grasp your dog’s foot from his ankle with your palm so that your hand is in the same direction as his paws, with his back away from the dog. Remember not to try to scratch his paw through the flesh pad, even very cooperative dogs will keep pulling their paws away for fear of itching or discomfort. To secure the toenail, gently place your finger under his paw and use your thumb to secure the toenail being trimmed from above. 3. Identify sensitive areas. If the dog’s toenail is white, clear or light-colored, the clipping will go smoothly because it will be easier to see the sensitive area inside the center of the nail, which looks like tiny pink or red veins. If the dog’s toenail is black or dark, be extra careful because you can’t see the sensitive area. Sensitive areas are the areas where blood vessels and nerve endings gather. Dogs can get very, very upset if they accidentally cut into their sensitive areas, so this is definitely something to avoid. 4. Start by chipping the toenails. If this is the first time you have cut your dog’s toenails or if his toenails are unusually long, then you need to know how to cut your dog’s toenails. It’s very simple: stabilize the guide part of the toenail cutter on the surface of the nail and then cut a small piece with the blade. This is done because the sensitive area is very close to the tip of the toenail. It is a very safe practice to familiarize your dog with the toenail based on the subsequent clipping. Each time the nail is cut, the sensitive area is set back a little. If your dog has black toenails, this is a very wise thing to do. 5. When you are ready to cut the nail, look at the shape of the dog’s nail and see that the base of the nail is relatively straight and does not bend until the tip. Use a toenail clipper to cut off the tip of the toenail, but make sure you don’t hurt the sensitive area. You will want the blade to reach exactly where you have in mind, but some toenail clippers may slightly obscure the blade, so be sure to pay careful attention. The dog will instinctively pull the toe back a little, but the owner should quickly remove his unease and let him know that this is what he is supposed to do. The dog is very obedient and with your reassurance he will cooperate as much as possible in trimming the next toenail. 6. File the nail. After trimming the toenail, file it down. Note that if you accidentally hurt your dog’s sensitive area and the toenail starts to bleed, do not let your dog run away from you, but hold him and comfort him so he can settle down. You will need to keep pressure on the powder for two to three minutes, the longer it takes, the better it will stop the bleeding.