For what purpose do people get a dog? She is an excellent guard at home and a true friend for a man who will always be waiting for his return. There are elite breeds of dogs. People start them for financial gain: they sell offspring, they carry them to exhibitions and competitions. For a full existence, the animal needs not only good nutrition and daily walks, but also proper care. This article will discuss in detail the topic of how to trim a dog’s nails.
Nail structure
Depending on the breed of the animal, there are two types of nails:
- Bent. They differ in an arched shape. In some dogs, they have a curved tip. Owners of such nails are service and guard breeds.
- Hare. Differ in a direct form. Often they are long and have a pointed end. The owners of such nails are decorative dogs.
An important component of the claw is the pulp, in which the blood vessels and nerve endings are concentrated. It is very important not to damage it during processing, it can cause acute pain in the pet and bleeding.
Nails are required to grip while walking or running. And also with their help, the animal digs the ground.
What is it for?
How to trim a dog’s nails? Before you talk about this, it's worth figuring out why you need such care?
- Excessively long nails will fall into the ground. Because of this, the dog will begin to club together. Such a shift in the centers of gravity is a harbinger of the development of joint and spinal deformities.
- An animal can injure itself with a sharp limb while walking. Through an formed wound, infection can enter the body.
- A groomed claw tends to cling to bushes and branches. If the dog cannot release the paw on its own, a sudden movement can lead to tearing of the soft tissues. At home, she will begin to damage the surface of upholstered furniture.
- During games, a dog can injure a person.
- A dog with long nails will fall more often due to loss of balance.
- A secondary reason for this care is an aesthetic appearance. Often the owners tidy up the appearance of the pet before the exhibition and competitions. For the same purpose, a manicure is done.
Long nails cause discomfort not only for the dog, but also for the person. At night, she will loudly clatter her paws on the surface of the floor.
When is the time to get a haircut?
How to understand if it’s time to trim the dog’s nails? The procedure must be carried out with the appearance of several characteristic signs:
- The pet began to walk noisily on a hard surface and claw.
- He periodically clings his paw to the bedspread and upholstered furniture.
Normally, the procedure is required to be performed at least once a month.
Interesting fact: many dogs do not need a nail clipper. They grind on their own if the pet often walks on asphalt.
Another important question that worries many owners is where can I cut my dog’s nails? It is recommended that you take your pet to an animal salon or veterinary clinic. Firstly, the specialist will cope with this task better and faster. Secondly, he will perform the procedure as safely as possible. Thirdly, he will be able to create beautiful and even nails.
Not every person is willing to spend 700-1500 rubles a month on caring for animals. In order to save money, you can trim the dog's nails at home.
What is required?
Nature laid so that the nails of the animal have a solid structure. They are much thicker and harder than humans. Therefore, it will not be possible to trim the dog's nails at home with ordinary scissors. For this purpose, special claw cutters will be required. You can buy them at a veterinary clinic or pet store.
When choosing equipment, you should pay attention to several factors:
- Material. It is recommended that the blades be made of brass. This material is solid and durable. If the surface is additionally treated with chrome, then the claw cutter will last a long time, and the blades will not become dull.
- Design. The equipment is required to be cast, fastened with strong rivets.
- Pens. They must be rubberized. In this case, the claws will not fall out of the hands.
On the store counter you can see a large assortment of goods of various sizes. A tool suitable for the breed of dog should be chosen.
In addition, a hard-coated nail file is required, which is necessary to create smooth corners.
Pet moral training
The task of each caring owner is to take care of how to trim the dog's nails painlessly. In most cases, animals fear this procedure. This is due to previous negative experience and reluctance to sit in one place for a long time. The first stage of preparation includes the moral preparation of the pet for the procedure.
It is necessary to lay out all the tools on the surface and allow the dog to examine them. Let her carefully sniff every detail. If the procedure is carried out for the first time, then it is better to carry it out together. One person will hold her paw, and the second - to distract the pet with bright objects or a treat.
The dog may behave aggressively while shearing. It is recommended to put a muzzle on it and fix it on a short leash.
Familiarity with the scope of work
The second stage of preparation is to get acquainted with the scope of work. You can trim the nails of the dog only if they have a flat surface. Contraindication to the procedure is the presence of fungus and cracks.
Each paw of the pet should be washed, rid it of pollution. Additionally, it is not necessary to treat it with alcohol or an antiseptic.
Now it’s worth determining where the pulp is, that is, to what level each nail can be cut. On a light surface, a person will see it immediately. Under the black layer, it is almost impossible to make out, so once a month you can remove only 0.5 mm of the nail.
Choosing the right moment
An important component of foot care is the mood of the dog. It is not recommended to carry out the procedure when she is tired and hungry. Postponing nail cutting is required in case of illness and poor health of the pet.
Action algorithm
It is worth remembering that during work, a person should not perform sudden movements that could scare the dog. Each nail needs to be processed quickly and confidently, any fluctuation will negatively affect this process.
- Care should begin with the front paws. The first thing to do is to trim the wool if it interferes with further work. Now you should carefully grab the pet's paw and make an incision at an angle of 45 degrees. The distance from the tip of the nail to the cut line should not exceed 0.5 mm.
- If the dog behaves well during the procedure, you need to pet it and give a treat.
It is important if the claw suddenly brightens, which means that a nerve ending is located near the cut line. It is not recommended to continue cutting.
- Each nail needs to be additionally treated with a hard nail file in order to blunt sharp corners.
- After 2-3 hours, you can begin to process the hind legs.
Another important point in the question of how to cut a dog’s nails at home is choosing the right position. It is recommended that the pet lay on its side.
After the procedure is completed, all instruments must be sterilized with alcohol or an antiseptic and removed by wrapping in clean cloth.
Important points
Many owners wonder if it is possible to trim a dog’s nails if she resists this process. It is strongly not recommended to hold it by force and squeeze a paw. Better try to distract the animal. If it is nervous, then you should immediately stop the procedure.
It’s important to stay calm. If you get nervous, it will be passed on to the dog. She will feel the danger and may begin to behave aggressively.
Before processing, pay attention not only to the nails, but also to the paw pads. If any damage was noticed on them, then it is worth holding the paw carefully, without causing discomfort to the dog.
A lot of bacteria accumulate on the palms of a person. It is imperative that you thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water before cutting to protect the pet from infection.
The owner should be as responsive as possible to the first procedure. How it passes will determine how the animal will relate to it next time. Often the dogs get used to the haircut, begin to trust the person and behave very calmly. If one nail is damaged, then she will feel a sharp pain. Because of this, her claws will be dangerous.
The optimal processing time is 10-15 minutes. After the dog gets tired of sitting in one place and begins to resist.
If, as a result of careless action, a wound was inflicted, then the affected area of the paw must be treated with special powder that stops the blood. It is strictly forbidden to use zelenka and iodine, these alcohol-containing solutions will intensify the pain.
Conclusion
Each owner should know when and how to trim the dog’s nails. This is a very responsible procedure. If there are difficulties with its implementation, then it is better to entrust your pet to an experienced specialist.