Helpful Tips for Trimming your Cat’s Claws

Pet nail care is an important part of your pet’s total health care. Considering that nails continuously grow and are not always worn down as they would if they have been going for walks, subsequently it is up to you to help keep them at a comfy length. If nails are too long, it impacts the way a dog walks which may cause joint inflammation later in life. Also longer nails can get caught as well as torn, or occasionally curl back into the toe pad which enables it to lead to an infection. trimming dog nails is not that upsetting if you have the proper gear and also have taught your dog to allow you to hold the paw.

The nail has a “quick” which houses the veins and nerves of the nail.The quick is easier to see in white nails. By trimming small amounts at any given time and trimming with the plane of the bottom part of the toe pad (horizontally rather than vertically) it is possible to avoid cutting the nail to short as to make it bleed.

Here are a few other strategies to successfully cut your pet’s nails:

1. Get started while your pet is still a puppy or kitten by carefully handling their paws. Start by making a sport of it and inspecting the nails, chances are they will allow you to cut them when they grow older.

2. Pick out nail trimmers for the size and age of your pet.I quite often use a human toe nail trimmer for young pet’s nails because it can easily get to the tiny tips just a little easier plus they are sharper. As your kitten or puppy grows older, I may then convert nail trimmers to the scissor action style of trimmer in lieu of the guillotine trimmer. I find that these stay sharper for a longer time and are a lot easier to use. The guillotine kind some times catches the nails and does not create a clean cut. Your veterinarian can help you purchase a suitable trimmer.

3. When you are trimming your dog’s nails, never undertake it while your pet is sitting in your lap. Enlist someone to aid you and place them on the counter-top or top of the washer or dryer. You can wrap them with a bath towel to assist holding them a lot better. trimming cat claws can be easier if you scruff the cat by grasping the loose skin just behind the head.. If your pet begins to resist, just try holding the paw until he calms. In the event you release the foot when your pet begins to protest, you are just re-enforcing the bad behavior and will make the following nail trim episode a whole lot worse. (Go back to number 1)

4. Be well prepared. Have on hand styptic pencils like silver nitrate or Kwik stop powder. Be aware that the silver nitrate on the end of the sticks does indeed stain counter tops and your skin if you ever get it on you. For beginners, it is best to stick with the styptic powder.

5. If your pet has light colored nails, you are able to see the pink portion of the quick. If your pet has darker nails, trim a little bit at any given time. I like to gently press on the toe and extend the nail out. I then draw an imaginary line level with the bottom of the toe pad and extend it out across the nail. I then trim the nail at this imaginary line so that the nail is now level with the floor when the dog is standing. The nail of the cat is easier to see and it is best to just trim the tips off and stay away from the pink colored quick.

6. You may use an emery board to smooth the rough edges.

7. Pedipaws or similar rotor drill sanders are useful to smooth rough edges and also to trim just a small amount of nail. If the nail is very long in any way, then it may take you a long time to get it trimmed. You should use the drill to maintain the nail shorter or for smoothing the nail after you have used the clippers. Your pet must also be trained not to be scared of the motor, so it’s always best to move slowly and gradually as you each figure out how to handle the drill.

After a little practice and a lot of patience, you may soon be trimming your pet’s nails with full confidence. If all else fails, your veterinarian or groomer are here to help.