Whether you use a dog groomer or not, sometimes you need to trim your dog's nails.  Most dog's nails seem to grow really fast, a lot faster than their fur!  I almost never have to trim Icy's nails, she's so active they get worn down naturally.  But I often need to step in and trim Phoebe's nails myself between grooming sessions.

DO YOU DREAD TRIMMING YOUR DOGS NAILS?

Icy is always outside, running around the yard or taking very long walks and hikes.  Her nails always wear down naturally.  She goes to the groomer for a bath on occasion, but rarely needs any grooming.  Other than brushing of course, because the way Huskies shed, brushing them is like a full time job, LOL!

Icy is so active, her nails wear down naturally and rarely need to be trimmed.

Phoebe, on the other hand, needs to be groomed several times a year.  I like to let her hair grow out in Winter to keep her warm, so she goes several months between grooming sessions.  During that time her nails get really long!  She goes out for walks and does some hiking with us, but she's not as active as her Husky sister.  Her nails don't get naturally trimmed the way Icy's do.

Phoebe isn't nearly as active as Icy.  Her nails seem to grow at lightning speed, so trimming her nails between grooming appointments is a must!

I had been struggling with trimming Phoebe's nails for a while.  It was getting so frustrating trying to clip her nails.  I'd get out the nail trimmer and make an attempt, but it didn't do the trick very well.  Then, I'm embarrassed to say,  I'd get out my own large toenail clipper and try to use it to trim her nails.  That didn't work out so well either.  I just couldn't get the hang of successfully trimming my dog's nails!

My husband, a serious DIY-er always says "You need the right tools for the right job".  I thought I had the right tool, a pet nail trimmer!  The trimmer came in a pet grooming kit I won at a party a few years ago.  I had used it but only sporadically.  What I didn't realize was that the trimmer had gotten really dull really fast.  

I couldn't successfully trim Phoebe's nails because the trimmer was too dull to make a clean cut.  How did I find that out?  My husband suggested the trimmer might have gotten dull and was no longer able to make a clean cut.  I decided to make one last ditch effort and buy a new pet nail trimmer.  If I couldn't be successful, I'd resolve myself to extra trips to the groomer just to get her nails trimmed.  As though grooming isn't expensive enough!

These two dog nail trimmers look like the same kind of tool, but one of these things is not like the other.  One of these things is dull and won't cleanly cut!

I found a dog nail trimmer in the pet store that looked pretty good so I bought it.  I was trepidatious, I didn't expect it to work any better than the one I had.  I assumed the problem was me, I just couldn't perform the simple task of cutting my dog's nails.  To my surprise, the new nail trimmer worked perfectly!  I was able to get a clean, sharp cut the first time.  No flattening of the nail or not catching it, just a clean cut.  I was overjoyed!  I had felt so inadequate not being able to do the simple task of trimming my dog's nails.  Now I know, dog nail trimmers don't last forever.  Dog nail clippers wear out, get dull and eventually need to be replaced just like any other tool!

If you have the right tool, the job of trimming dogs' nails is a lot easier

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO TRIM YOUR DOG'S NAILS?

Keeping your dog's nails trimmed isn't just cosmetic, it has actual health implications.  Letting your dog's nails get too long can cause them to lose traction as they walk and run, which could lead to a foot or leg injury.  It can cause pain for your dog to walk if her nails are too long.   When long nails hit the ground, it creates pressure back into the nail bed.  It also puts pressure on tendons in the foot and leg, and can cause injury to them over time.  

A really overgrown nail can ultimately start to curve, and grow into the dog's paw pad!  This is an extreme case, but I have seen it once or twice at the animal shelter where I volunteered.  Most of us would notice something like that long before it happened right?  However, if your dog has dew claws it is something that could escape your notice for quite some time.  Those claws don't usually get very worn down during normal activity.  I was shocked and a little mortified when I once found that Phoebe's dew claw had gotten insanely long and started curling under. I hadn't been to the groomer in several months and I hadn't tried to trim her dew claws.  I didn't see them under all that hair!  Now I make sure to trim those too.

There was only one place for those dull dog nail clippers!

HOW TO TRIM A DOG'S NAILS

➤➤ Before you start, trim the excess hair from around the toes using blunt edged scissors so you don't accidentally cut your dog's foot.

➤➤ Grip the paw firmly but be gentle, tiny paws are sensitive!

➤➤ Don't cut the fur with your nail trimmer, it will dull the trimmer.  I wouldn't be surprised if that's what happened with my trimmers.  It's so hard to get Phoebe's wavy hair out of the way to cut her nails.

➤➤ Be careful not to cut the quick,  the pink part of the nail that contains tiny blood vessels.  Cut the "shell", the clear part that hits the ground.

➤➤ Make a quick clean cut.  If you're having trouble making a clean cut, your trimmer might be dulled like mine was.

If you're still unsure how to safely trim your dog's nails, watch this video from PetMd on how to properly trim dogs' nails:

Some people prefer to use a grinder to keep their dog's nails trimmed.  I haven't used a grinder, mainly because I'm afraid Phoebe's wavy hair will get snagged in it.  I also feel more comfortable with a small hand trimmer than a powered tool.  It's a matter of personal preference.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IT'S TIME TO TRIM YOUR DOG'S NAILS?  

I could usually tell by the way Phoebe's nails tap on my hardwood floors and tile.  I can tell they're too long when it sounds like she's tap dancing on the floors!  Now that I've got the right tool for the right job, and I no longer dread it, I can trim her nails on a scheduled of every 2 weeks or so.

For more Dog Health tips and information, SUBSCRIBE to the blog!

If you enjoyed this post, you may also like:

 UNLEASH A FRESH SPRING LOOK WITH PETSMART GROOMIING

EMBRACE YOUR DOG's DIGGING!

How to Identify, Treat, and Prevent Ear Infections in Dogs

Note: I am not a Veterinarian or Vet Tech, nor do I play one online!  I share tips and information that I have found useful for my own dogs, my foster dogs, and those of my family and friends.

Do you trim your pet's nails yourself, or do you leave it to the groomer?  We love hearing your thoughts, so please tell us in the comments!