The need to trim a cat or a cat's claws does not always arise. This is required, for example, when the claws are long.
However, if the animal actively climbs trees, and in general moves a lot, it will not be required, because the cat or cat grinds them down naturally, when used.
Diagram of the structure of the dog's claw
You have every intention of trimming your dog's nails weekly, but other things are coming up. And soon you look down and notice long curved daggers protruding from your dog's paw. Well, it's time to turn to your dog's long nails. Overgrown dog nails are extremely painful for your dog and it will only get worse if you don't trim them soon.
Dog nails become overgrown for two reasons: dogs hate having their nails trimmed, or pet owners don't trim them. If your dog hates nails, then check out this series. Please do not force your dog to endure this process. This will only make his fear worse, making it harder for him the next time you trim your nails. Practice every nail trimming session with large quantity awards. Within a week, you will trim your dog's nails.
Sometimes it happens that animals cannot shorten their claws on their own.
This usually happens if your cat (or cat) does not go out or is sick. In this case, the claws grow, and the pet diligently looks for something to grind them off. As a result - damaged sofa upholstery, scratched wallpaper and furniture, torn carpets.
If you just didn't cut them
Grab a lot or brush the peanut butter inside a heavy plate. Now take the nail clippers and the septic tank. Plan to clip your dog's nails during the first session. If you cut too much of the nail then you will end up speeding them up. And be aware, speeding up your dog's nails is very painful and will make him hate nails.
When trimming dog nails, look for the hollow area under your dog's nail. If it's empty, then you can truncate that part. When looking at your dog's nails, you will notice a gray sticky substance. By cutting off the hollow part, the gummed substance will retreat back to the paw.
To avoid such unpleasant situations, you should cut the claws of the animal. How to do it correctly and without harm to your pet, you will learn from this article.
Selection of tools
Before starting the procedure, you must make sure that you have all the necessary tools. It should be noted that the claws of animals are not cut with ordinary scissors.
Your goal is to trim your dog's nails to an acceptable length, meaning that the nails don't touch the ground when your dog is standing. For overgrown dog nails, you need to burn long nails weekly. This gives a quick time to retreat to the paw. Once your dog's nails are finally at an acceptable length, continue trimming the nails on a weekly basis. If you miss a week or two, your dog's nails will start touching the ground. Dog nails grow quickly, so weekly maintenance is required.
Claws are the main weapon
Give your dog lots of fun before and after nail trimming. Basically, you can't reward this behavior! Don't say to stick cool nails clinging to your hardwood floors forever. One of the most important parts of Malamute care is maintenance of the nails and feet. If you have a dog with a normal coat other than brushing, this will be the only trimming you will need to do. Many will even scream, cry and whine so much you think they have been abused!
You will need special scissors, which are called veterinary guillotine cutters.
Since not everyone has these tools, in this case you can use either human nail clippers or trimmer scissors. You may also need a nail file for this procedure, with which you will remove the sharp edges of the claws.
About lifestyle
You'll understand when your big hard Mal is reduced to apologizing, begging and generally running for cover when you're out of nail clippers. The best way to teach the dog he has to present for this "torture" is a special treat indeed. With a Malamute, it's not like the actual circumcision is so inconvenient, but it's also an "alpha gesture." A very dominant dog may have more problems with filing than with actual clipping of the nail, so it is always advisable to start young.
Most well-bred Malamutes will only have 2 dewclaws on their front legs when they are born. Most Malamutes do not have rear dew claws - they are born without them, and if they are, they are removed shortly after birth. Ideally, as a puppy, your breeder will trim and brush the puppy's nails regularly and you can continue with that. While young, nails should be trimmed every week. In a very sensitive dog, just do the leg every day. In the end, while he may not enjoy the experience, he will endure it well.
Nail clipping rules
In cats, only the top, dead layer of the nail is removed. In fact, this is a keratinized cover, which has a shape identical to a nail and resembles a horn. All cat owners should not forget about the fifth finger. The claw on it practically does not touch, and therefore almost does not grind off. At the same time, nothing prevents him from constantly growing, bending, and in some adult cats he can bend into a ring.
What do you need to prepare for cutting nails?
It is very important that you insert nails into your routine as overgrown nails can become crooked and painful to walk on. The fur between the toes can be slippery on hardwood or linoleum floors and also needs to be trimmed. First, gather your tools - heavy nail clippers, scissors or trimmer, etc. important note: buy the right scissors. Some dogs have nails so thick that even heavy scissors are too small. In this case, you may need to clamp each nail several times at different angles so that the nail can fit into the clippers.
Quite often too long and arched fifth claw digs into the paw of the animal. You should also be aware that these pets have longer claws on their front paws than on their hind legs. A person should systematically check the length of his pet's claws.
If the animal has transparent claws, then small blood vessels will be visible inside them. They look like ultra-thin red-pink threads. They can be located to the very end of the claw.
It's best if you pin your hair between your toes first. Use scissors or electric clippers to trim the fur level with your foot and the sides with a pad. Be careful to nick the pad, especially on the puppy.
If you're just starting a routine, lie your dog down on her and sit on the floor. Hold him there for a minute until he relaxes. You may need help with a guide dog and muzzle for a very dominant dog. If you must clip without assistance, put your foot on the neck when you hold the dog. Look at the nails and you'll notice that some whites have a pink vein inside and often a small ledge hanging down. Never pinch pink color It is painful and bleeds profusely.
The owner must pay attention to this before the animal.
It is impossible to cut nails if the vessels reach the very edge, you can cut only the area where they do not exist.
If your pet's nails are opaque and the vessels are not visible, then the area that you will cut must be determined by yourself, taking into account past experience in cutting the claws. Such a case is much more difficult, since the vessels located in the claws grow with them. This must be taken into account for each next cutting, because if you cut your nails the same way as last time, you risk damaging the blood vessel. This, in turn, will lead to bleeding. To avoid such troubles, it is better to leave the claws a little longer than the last time with each subsequent shearing.
On black nails you'll have to guess, but if you cut as much as on white nails, you should get it right. The laundry detergent will stop bleeding if you get too close to the nail. It grinds the nail a little at a time and is harder to cut too close. A dog that is frightened by nail clippers is sometimes better able to tolerate the napping tool.
It's better to make a clip more often and shoot less than trying to do too much at once! In the end, if you agree, he will come to tie good things with nails and feet. Sometimes some Malamutes aren't motivated by food, but playing with a tennis ball or maybe a rayon belly is the key to getting him to enjoy and not be afraid of leg care. Praise him with a happy "good dog" after every nail he allows you to, and soon he may even be enjoying a Hoover-like experience.
Now let's take a closer look at the process of shortening the claws. You will not be able to cut the nails of a cat or a cat alone. You will need an assistant to hold the pet so that it does not escape and interfere with the procedure. The animal is best kept on the table. Place your index finger on the pad of the cat's finger on which you want to trim the claw. The fifth finger is placed over the skin. Then lightly squeeze your hand - and your pet will release its claws. After you have trimmed the nails, file the sharp edges with a nail file. At the end, you need to slightly cut the claw across. Please note that the incision should not go obliquely. It is recommended to cut your pet's nails at intervals of two weeks.
If you are planning on marrying coats at the same time, you can always take a break in between and give each one a treat. Sometimes you can give puppies a treat during trimming as a distraction, but in the end you only want to work after the treatment. Cut at least every 2 weeks. Use a heavy nail cutter or meat grinder. Usually guillotine trimmers are not suitable for most nails. Some dogs seem to prefer a meat grinder, some prefer nail cutters. Hold the nail at the base so as not to bend it. Keep the dew ball steady. Watch your hair along the way. Just cut to the extent that the nail begins to bend. It's better to take off too little and do it more often than too much and make it bleed. Talk to your dog in a happy tone and use generous treats.
- Don't try to rush - it will just frustrate both of you.
- Talk to your dog in a happy tone.
- Get in touch even if you have to fight to get the nail out.
If suddenly during the cutting of the nails the cat bleeds, then you should not panic. Such bleeding can be easily stopped in several ways.
The easiest method is to press the cat's claw into the soap.
But this method does not help in all cases. If the claw continues to bleed, dust it with flour or wrap it in a cloth. If the bleeding is so severe that none of the methods helped, you need to put a pressure bandage on your pet and seek help from a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Short nails are less intrusive to dogs and will keep your wood floors from scratching and your carpets from breaking down. Grooming your dogs for "long nails" can lead to painful ingrown nails, broken nails, infection, uneven gait, and possible skeletal problems. All of these can be avoided by simply learning how to trim your dogs nails. Also, by practicing some good nail trimming care techniques, you can secure your dogs nails without hurting your dog or stressing you or you for that matter.
The need for regular dog nail trimming will be different for all dogs. Nail clipping may not be necessary for dogs that have a lot of activity on hard surfaces, as they wear their nails more than dogs that stay indoors or simply run on grass. If the pawls "nails" become too long, it can tear the toes and prevent the feet from contacting the ground.
All this must be done quickly to avoid possible infection, which, in turn, can cause inflammation. It is worth noting that even without treatment, the blood usually coagulates within 5-10 minutes.
Features and rules of nail clipping in cats. Features and rules of nail clipping in cats.
When you're ready to start trimming your dog's nails, make sure you have the right tools. It is important to use nail clippers designed for pets. Never use human clippers as this may lead to future complications.
If your dog is a crimp, have someone hold and comfort him during the trimming. Keep condiments nearby and first aid kits in case you jump up quickly and start bleeding. Once you have these items and your dog is in, you can start trimming the nails.
Some people are afraid to cut their pet's nails for whatever reason. At the same time, damaged furniture, scratched wallpapers and torn curtains will not please anyone. For such people, there are several ways out.
There are many veterinary clinics, salons and pet centers where you can get your pet's nails trimmed.
How to cut dog nails and find a quick one
Watch here a detailed video on how to quickly find and cut nails correctly.
Dog Grooming Equipment for Nail Trimming
You will also need a nail file to smoothen the nails after trimming. Use what is comfortable for you, but make sure you have the right size for your dog. What most owners worry about trimming their dog's nails is quickly cutting short.Rapidly pink fleshy tissue below the nail where the nerves are located and bleeds and cuts severely. By making many small gradual clips to the nail, you will limit your chances of a quick cut. If you don't have that option, you can use cornstarch or even flour.
So qualified personnel will quickly fix the problem. However, it should be noted that the procedure costs money, and the claws grow back very quickly. Therefore, this option is not suitable for everyone. There is a way in which you will spend many times less money - this is the purchase of a claw sharpener.
In the end, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that not all veterinarians recommend cutting the claws of animals. In their opinion, this procedure is quite painful and can be dangerous for cats. If you cut the claws, the depreciation of the animal may change, and this, in turn, is fraught with possible injuries to the bones and internal organs of your pet. In contrast, many cat lovers and breeders with many years of experience claim the opposite. In their opinion, there are cases when this procedure is simply indispensable. However, the choice is always only for the owner of the animal, whether to cut the claws of the pet or not, you decide.
Nail lift - process
It's not that expensive and works very fast. Place your dog in a comfortable position for them during the clip. If it vibrates and wiggles, ask the person holding it to change their grip so they are still holding on to the nail trimming process. It's much easier to see a fast one if your pet has white nails rather than black ones. Trim your nails about one eighth to a quarter of an inch off the quick. If your dog only has one white nail, cut it off first to use as a guide for others.
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Before proceeding with trimming the claws, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the structure of the dog's claw. Inner part claw - pulp - very sensitive. In it is a large number of blood vessels and nerves, so if it is injured, it will be painful for the dog, and the wound will bleed. In addition, such painful manipulation will discourage the dog from cutting its nails for a long time.
Whatever breed your dog is, for the health of the musculoskeletal system, its claws must be kept short. You may ask, what is the connection between the claws and the musculoskeletal system? When a dog has too long claws, it begins to put its paw crooked, in connection with which a mark and cowhide are formed (i.e., the wrong position of the paws), which gives an incorrect load on the joints and ligaments. So the problems of the entire musculoskeletal system imperceptibly begin. The claw should be so short that in a standing position it does not reach the floor by a few millimeters. In the picture you can see how the dog's claw is arranged.
If your retriever has light-coloured nails, it will be easier for you to see the pinkish inner pulp quite easily. But, if the dog has dark-colored claws, it will be much more difficult to determine where the pulp ends. But, no matter what color your retriever's nails are, you need to cut them very carefully, and cut off only a small piece. If you trim your dog's nails regularly, the shape of the nails will change over time. The pulp will recede and the dog's claws will become shorter.
The claws on the dewclaws are set high and do not naturally rub off on the ground, so they need to be trimmed periodically. If the claws on the dewclaws are not cut, then the dog can catch them on something and tear them off. Such an injury will be very painful for the dog, it will be accompanied by profuse bleeding, and, in addition, there is always the possibility of infection of the wound.
How often should nails be trimmed?
If your retriever runs mostly on pavement, then you won't need to cut your nails much, as they will wear out naturally. However, if you mainly walk your dog somewhere in countryside, along the beach or in the park, then nail trimming is a must.
Uncut claws in a dog are potentially dangerous for human skin, especially for children with their delicate skin. They are also dangerous for the dog itself, because when combing, it can scratch itself. The long claws of a dog can damage floors, carpets, furniture, etc. But most importantly, excessively long nails can cause health problems for a dog. They can break off, causing bleeding, and wounds can become infected. Finally, long nails simply prevent the dog from walking normally, and if he walks with such nails long enough, it can cause damage to his bones or skeleton.
One of the signs of excessively long claws in a dog is their loud clicking on the parquet or pavement. Ideally, the dog's claws should not touch the ground when it is standing.
What do you need to prepare for cutting nails?
So, prepare a special nail cutter in advance (they are different types and are sold in pet stores), and in case you accidentally cut the claw too short, a disinfectant (hydrogen peroxide, Hemostatic stick (composition: alum, aluminum sulfate, calcium oxide) or potassium permanganate powder, baby powder) and a cotton pad - for in order to stop the bleeding and treat the damaged area.
How to cut nails
Nail clipping can be done in veterinary clinic, and this is suitable for especially impressionable owners who are afraid of causing pain or discomfort to their pet.
But first, let's see if it's really that scary. You should start trimming your nails from the earliest puppyhood, even before the first walks. While the puppy is in the apartment, his claws cannot grind on hard ground on their own. In summer, the dog can do without this procedure, provided that it is very mobile and grinds its claws on the asphalt. But in winter this, as a rule, does not happen, and once every 2 weeks the claws need to be shortened.
If you haven't trained your dog since puppyhood to give you their paws confidentially, without such prior training, your dog may begin to resist clipping and make it as difficult as possible!
Thus, if your retriever has never had his nails trimmed before, then you should start slowly and gradually. Try to be relaxed and cheerful during the grooming procedure, otherwise your stress will be transferred to the dog and he will start to resist.
It is best to cut your dog's nails on a high surface, and to keep his paws from slipping, put a rug. It would be nice if someone held your dog by the head and talked to him during the haircut. You can also cut on the floor.
If the dog is not standing still, then hug him around the neck, so you can fix his front paw in your hand. You can also try holding her by kneeling and holding her close to you. Since this is a submissive position for the dog, he will stand still so you can trim his nails. You can also try to divert the attention of the dog from the haircut - give him a bone or some kind of treat.
Before you begin, read the nail clipper manufacturer's instructions. Practice to get an idea of what angle they cut so as not to damage the dog's claws. Examine your dog's nails carefully to determine where the pulp ends and how much of the nail needs to be cut off. If the pulp of the claw is visible, then cut off the claw no closer than 2 mm from its end. After that, calmly take the dog's paw and carefully trim its claw. The cut should be made in one neat movement, without jerking or twitching.
If your dog's nails are black and you're not sure where to cut, then cut only the small piece. Then carefully inspect the claw, if the end of the cut is dry and flaky, then this means that the claw can be trimmed a little more. But, if a dark gray / black circle or an oval of the young layer of the claw is visible in the center of the cut, then it is no longer possible to cut it.
All dogs have different nails, so some may need to cut more nails than others. In addition, the length of the claws on different fingers of the dog can be the same different.
In the first diagram - the way everyone usually cuts their claws ...
Here there is a risk of cutting off the live part of the claw or being very close to it (there will be no blood yet, but there will be discomfort!).
In the image below, taken from the Silvento website, you can see the nail clipper.
First, the nail cutter is in position 1 - approximately 45 degrees from the nail. The part of the nail is cut off, indicated by the number 1. Then the second movement - part 2 is cut off. In the same first figure-scheme on the right, a cut claw is already drawn (top view) ... We complete the trimming of the claws, cutting off parts 3 and 4 (very delicately!)
When the dog understands that now there will never be any unpleasant sensations, he will allow you to cut his nails calmly.
At first, you can take the dog in your arms every day and imitate a haircut - touch the nail with a nail clipper, but do not cut it ...
Then, when the dog gets used to this procedure, sometimes start cutting for real ... It's better to cut less than to hurt ... Otherwise, it will take a long time to gain trust again!
What to do if you have injured your dog?
The worst thing that can happen during dog nail clipping is bleeding. It usually occurs if during the procedure you cut the claw too short and hit the nail bed. It grows along with the claw, starting from its middle, and is permeated with a network of blood vessels, damage to which is quite painful and leads to bleeding.
If you do injure your pet, do not panic. Nothing terrible happened. For such a case in home first aid kit should always be one of the means listed below:
- Potassium permanganate powder
- Hemostatic pencil (composition: alum, aluminum sulfate, calcium oxide)
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Baby powder
- Talc
If drops of blood appeared on the paw. Treat the wound with iodine, alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, and then apply dry potassium permanganate or talcum powder to the cotton and press it against the wound for 20-30 seconds. If your dog starts whining and lashing out, calm him down. affectionate words but be sure to treat the wound! After the procedure, treat your tailed friend with some treat. Try to avoid contact of the dog with water on this day.
Do not trim your dog's nails just before the show. The cut may cause a slight lameness, in which case the dog will not be allowed to participate. It is better to do a dog manicure 2-3 days before the event. The paws will remain well-groomed, but the cuts will not interfere in any way. Both a novice dog breeder and an experienced person can injure a dog. But still, be careful.
If such oversights are made regularly, then the dog may flatly refuse nail trimming procedures. Be careful and attentive, then your pet's paws will be beautiful, and the mood will be good.
If the bleeding continues for more than 5 minutes, then it is advisable to take the dog to the veterinarian for professional medical attention. Remember that regular clipping of your dog's nails will make the pulp shorter over time, so trimming the nails will be safer.
If you're still not sure if you can trim your retriever's nails for the first time, ask a professional groomer, your breeder or veterinarian to show you step by step how to do it. This way you can repeat exactly as they show you.
To prevent nail clipping from turning into military action, teach your puppy from the first days of the house to manipulate the claws. Every day, take it in your arms or sit next to it, and just drive the nail clipper along the paw. When you need to trim your nails, for each trimmed claw, give a treat, and in just a couple of sessions, your puppy will rush to cut his nails!
