Tips and Information to make the trimming process better for you and your pet:

What is the quick and what do I need to know about it? The quick is the living part of a pet’s nail and has blood vessels running throughout. Cutting into the quick during nail trimming is painful for your pet and will result in bleeding. Using the QuickFinder®, will set your mind at ease because our lighting system will ensure that you will know where the quick is!

Another important fact to note is that the quick grows with the nail. As pet’s nails grow longer the quick will also lengthen. So if your pet’s nails are overgrown you will not be able to clip the nails to the desired length without cutting into the quick. You will need to trim the tips of your dog’s nails often, and over time the quick will shorten.

When should I trim my pet’s nails?

When your pet’s nails are beginning to curve is one indication that your pet’s nails need a trim. And if you hear a clicking or tapping sound as your pet walks across a bare floor it’s definitely time for a nail trimming. But it is best not to wait that long - once or twice a month is usually a good rule of thumb for nail trimming. For small animals and animals in cages you will need to inspect their nails regularly. It is important for their health! You will get to know how fast your pet’s nails grow if you routinely inspect your pet’s nails. Even if you don’t actually trim them each time, regular inspection will help assure that your pet’s feet stay healthy. So, make nail inspection and trimming an important part of your pet’s routine grooming.

When a pet’s nails become too long they interfere with their mobility. Untrimmed nails can also split resulting in a great deal of pain, bleeding, and a trip to the veterinarian’s office. In severe cases nails can curl under and grow back into a pet’s paw causing a very serious and painful infection. These types of ingrown nail problems are most common on the dewclaws.

What are dewclaws?

The dewclaws are the nails located on the inside of the paw. If your pet has them remember to include them in your pet nail trimming routine. These nails don’t touch the ground, so they don’t wear down as fast as the others as your dog walks on rough surfaces. Trimming your pet’s nails regularly will easily prevent these problems.

To make this regular grooming habit less stressful, familiarize yourself with your pet’s feet. Hold them and touch them regularly so that your pet is comfortable with you touching their feet.

Trimming your pet’s nails is one of the regular home grooming tasks that helps to keep your pet healthy and active. As with most grooming tasks, rewarding your pet for positive behavior is an important part in your pet’s acceptance of the activity. It’s always best when your pet can associate the attention you lavish on him or her with a positive, happy memory. Learning the tricks to proper nail trimming, training your pet with positive feedback, and showing patience and love will make the time you spend together a reward in itself.

Practice will make it much easier.