Avoid cutting your dog's nails too short

Caring dog owners would never willingly inflict pain on their animal or animals. In fact the opposite is the case and feeding, exercising and grooming are usually done with loving care. You may decide to trim your dog's nails as you think that their length is causing your dog pain.

However, if you trim a dog's nails too short you will inflict some pain and distress to the dog. The pain caused could be worse than the animal would suffer with a slightly overgrown nail. Before you trim your dog's nails make sure that you have all the information necessary.

Assess the dog’s nails
Examine your dog's nails in order to assess what needs to be done. It may be that only one or two nails need trimming or perhaps all of the dog's nails will need some attention.

The nail’s blood supply
If your dog has pale coloured nails you may be able to see the blood supply, and where it ends, through the nails.

Where to make the cut
Your cut must stop short of the end of this blood supply. If it does not the nail will bleed and your dog will feel some pain. In turn this will make the animal nervous about such grooming in the future.

General advice for cutting a dog’s nails
Hold your dog gently but firmly.

• Take hold of the nail to be cut and line the clippers well below the end of the blood supply.
• This blood supply will draw back after about a week.
• This means that you can safely cut a little more nail in a short time.
• Trimming a dog's nails is often easier with two people.
• Be patient and calm.
• If your dog is nervous, only trim one or two nails initially. As the dog's and your confidence grows you can cut more.

You Will Need

• Appropriate nail clippers.
• A knowledge of where the dog's blood supply ends in its nails.
• Time to do the job properly.
• A small quiet area of your home or garden.

Tips & Warnings

• Have some Kwik Stop just in case you cut a nail too short and it bleeds.
• Leave a week after trimming long nails and then trim a little more.

Check out our comprehensive guide - How to trim a dogs nails