Top Tips for Nail Clipping

A post shared by Vince Lamkin (@coilyane) on Jul 27, 2018 at 12:03pm PDT

Do you have a mutt who likes to do a lot of jumping up onto furniture, or even worse, sitting on your lap to lick your face? If so, you probably shave their nails every day, only to get bitten later by their housemate or unwanted guests — and rightfully so! If that happens to you — and I know it happens at least once a week — you will want to get your hands dirty with these 10 top tips for safely clipping your dog’s nails, and you’ll be completely covered.

1. Cut the Nails on Both Sides: Some dogs poop in both directions, so if you cut them both in the same direction, you can easily cover the poop.

2. Pick a Straight Cut: Depending on your dog’s teeth and the length of time you plan to trim it, you will want to choose a sharp square edge cut to avoid (jelly).

3. Don’t Use a Sharp Shaver: Use a two-way eraser trimmer to help your razor (or even straight razor) glide through the nail tips.

4. Avoid the Quick Sip: Leave your cuticles alone for the majority of your pet’s life, and its nails will grow longer.

5. Cut With a Long-Aire Knife: If you do not have a long-edge brush like this one, you will still be able to remove the bottom set of nails as long as you don’t stray too far from the center of the nail.

6. Make Sure It’s a Straight Cut: Always keep the nails faced downward, and make sure there is no “shoe closet” or crevice below the nail where you could cut the nail.

7. Store Nails in the Grip: This tip works for cats, too, as their nails grow thick and strong, and are often difficult to snip. Some cats would rather not be petted at all — or are just overprotective — so any excess hair won’t be too tempting.

8. Keep Fleas Away: Try clipping the dog’s nails at night to keep fleas away, and make sure you wash your dog with a lavender-based antiseptic to disinfect after the clipping.

9. If Your Nail Is Unnatural, Cut It Off: If your nail is dead, it is unlikely to grow any longer and will not attract fleas, lice, or other insects. If you do have natural nails, remove them and perform an in-store nail trim to maximize the life of your dog’s nails.

10. Clean Out: If you have a dog that usually removes her own hair, carefully keep her out of rugs. Wipe down the carpets with a bath of alcohol (yes, alcohol) to make the scratching sessions that much more painful and to prevent mouse infestations.

If you are unsure of the correct method to use, consult your local veterinarian or visit our nail-managing blogger Michelle’s vet’s website to get his or her feedback.