Here’s another tip from our friendly vet Dr. Jon.
How often should you trim your dog’s nails?
Well, it depends. Some dogs need their nails trimmed every three weeks while others can go six to eight weeks between cuts.
City dogs and dogs
that frequently walk on sidewalks and asphalt wear their nails down as they walk, so they need less trimming. Indoor dogs, and breeds like Dachshunds and Bassets, may need to have their nails groomed more often.
As a rule, if you can hear your dog’s nails “click” when he walks, they need to be trimmed.
Trimming your dog’s nails is important to his comfort and good health. Overgrown nails can cause problems like:
- Ingrown nails
- Torn bleeding nails
- Splayed toes (deformed feet)
- Bone and joint problems
- Hip and back problems
Trimming your dog’s nails is a must. But often, it is a stressful and unpleasant task for both you and your dog.
We asked our dog owners to tell us what they dislike most about trimming their dog’s nails. Here’s what we learned.
- Most people said their dogs made it difficult. Whether their dogs were scared or simply uncooperative, it was hard to safely trim their nails while struggling to restrain them.
- Pain and bleeding are a common complaint. There is a blood vessel running through your dog’s nails called “the quick”. You can usually see it, except on dark-colored nails. When you cut into the quick, the nail bleeds. This is painful for your dog and it can be a little scary for you.
- Painful cuts make dogs fearful of nail trimming. So they struggle and resist, making a tough job even tougher. Some dogs hated having their nails trimmed so much that they actually bit their owners.
It’s not surprising that most dog owners would rather not cut their dog’s nails. But professional nail trimming can get expensive.
Many of the pet owners who groom their dog’s nails at home prefer to use a nail-grinder
instead of clippers. It’s easier and safer. Grinders don’t cut off large pieces of nail. They file it away in thin layers so it’s easier to control the amount of nail being removed, and there is almost no risk of painful bleeding.
Recently, my staff and I compared some pet nail-grinding tools. We wanted to find out which grinder was best, and we chose Gentle Paws
.
This rechargeable nail-grooming tool is powerful, safe and easy to use. It lets you do the job quickly and easily because it’s up to 5 times faster than other nail grinders. And it gives you the most value for your money. It has a professional motor with 2 operating speeds for better control. And the design of its safety guard is better than other grinders (the holes where you insert the dog’s nail are spaced much better).
Gentle Paws is made to perform dependably for years to come. Other pet nail grinders simply cannot compare to the quality and durability of the Gentle Paws grinder. It really takes the worry out of a tough job and makes it easy.
To learn more about the Gentle Paws nail grinder and to see it in action, click on the video below, or go to: http://www.petproductadvisor.com/gentlepaws
Untrimmed nails can curl and grow into your dog’s footpads. Just walking can cause pain because it is difficult for your dog to put his full weight on his feet. If your dog cannot walk correctly, bone and joint problems can result. So it’s really important to keep up with trimming or grinding your dog’s nails.
One more thing – when you start, be patient so your dog will get used to the grinder. Do a little at a time and reward your dog for his good behavior!
Until next time,
Dr. Jon
P.S. If you go to a groomer or vet to get your dog’s nails trimmed, Gentle Paws can save you a LOT of money. And it makes it easy to trim your dog’s nails yourself. If you’d like to get one for your dog, check out this special offer at PetProductAdvisor.com. For a limited time, you can save $5 on Gentle Paws. Just go to: http://www.petproductadvisor.com/gentlepaws
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