Tips to Care for Your Dog’s Nails

Caring for your dog's nails is important to grooming and health maintenance. Long or untrimmed nails can lead to discomfort, mobility issues, and injury. If you are a dog owner, one of the maintenance tasks you must regularly perform is trimming its nails. If a dog's nails are not cut, there is potential for pain as it walks. Your dog's nails can also become snagged in carpet or material. If your dog's nails are black, you may find it difficult to see and cut the veins properly. Contact Dogs Gone Country in Magnolia, TX, if you need assistance. Our company provides dog boarding and grooming services. Here are some tips to care for your dog's nails.

Obtain the Right Tools

Black nails on a dog make cutting them more difficult, as the quick and inner blood vessels are not seen as easily. This portion of a dog's nail needs to remain intact, or bleeding will occur. Purchase a set of nail clippers from a pet supply store. They come in scissors or guillotine form. Many find the latter easier to use as they cut the nail in its entirety. In addition, obtain styptic powder to keep on hand while you trim your dog's nails. This powder will stop bleeding, should it occur.

How to Trim Your Dog's Nails 

Hold your dog's paw firmly but gently, and use the nail clippers to trim a small amount of the nail, taking care to avoid the quick. Start with the tip of the nail and work your way back gradually. If you need help determining where the quick is, make small cuts and examine the cross-section of the nail. You'll see a grayish or pinkish center surrounded by a white or translucent outer portion. Avoid cutting into the grayish or pinkish part. This color is the quick, which contains the blood vessel that brings blood to your dog's paw.

How to Handle the Quick

You must act fast to stop bleeding if you cut too much of a nail. Sprinkle styptic powder over the nail immediately. You may need to apply it a few times to stop bleeding. You can also bandage your dog's paw to reduce bleeding. If you have concerns, contact our business to speak to a professional in our grooming department.

Visit Our Office at Dogs Gone Country

If you need help cutting your dog's nails, call Dogs Gone Country in Magnolia, TX, to make a grooming appointment. We offer dog boarding and grooming services. Contact us today at (281) 259-7338 to learn more about us and our services to dogs living in our area.