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Why you shouldn’t cut your dog’s nails?

Cutting your dog’s nails regularly is an important part of grooming and keeping them healthy. However, there are some risks associated with cutting dog nails that many owners don’t realize. Doing it incorrectly can cause pain, infection and permanent damage. That’s why it’s essential to understand the dangers before deciding to trim your dog’s nails yourself.

The Role of Nails

A dog’s nails serve several important purposes:

  • Protection – Nails protect the sensitive toe pads from getting hurt when walking on rough surfaces.
  • Traction – Nails give dogs better traction when running and changing direction quickly.
  • Balance – By gripping the ground, nails help stabilize the foot and leg joints when landing from a jump.
  • Digging – Dogs use their nails to dig and scratch, which is an innate behavior.

Trimming the nails too short interferes with all these functions. Overly short nails expose the quick (blood vessel inside the nail), making it vulnerable to injury and infection.

Risks of Cutting Dog Nails

Some of the dangers of improper nail trimming include:

Hitting the Quick

The quic leaves a dog vulnerable to:

  • Bleeding – Cutting the quick causes bleeding, which can be hard to stop. It’s painful and the blood loss may require a vet visit.
  • Infection – An exposed quick is prone to getting infected, especially if the dog walks outside.
  • Nail Regrowth Issues – Damaging the quick can disrupt nail growth, leading to thickened/deformed nails.

Cutting Nails Too Short

Trimming off too much of the nail:

  • Causes Pain – It hurts when the trimmed nails expose sensitive tissue.
  • Impacts Traction – Overly short nails give less traction, increasing slipping on smooth floors.
  • Affects Joints – Without nails gripping the ground, more stress transfers to leg joints when walking or landing from heights.

Causing Foot Injury

Incorrect nail trimming can directly hurt the foot:

  • Nicks and Cuts – Clippers can slip and slice the skin, creating a painful cut.
  • Crushed Nail – The clippers can splinter or crush the nail, rather than making a clean cut.
  • Damaged Toe Pads – Cutting into the quick leaves it exposed; toe pads provide protection.

Introducing Infection

If proper sterilization isn’t followed, nail trims can infect the area:

  • Unclean Clippers – Bacteria and fungus on dirty clippers enters through cuts and cracks.
  • Exposure to Germs – A nail bed injury provides an entry point for germs and dirt when walking.
  • Prolonged Bleeding – Continued bleeding makes it easier for bacteria to enter and propagate.

Proper Dog Nail Trimming Technique

Cutting a dog’s nails safely isn’t hard with the right technique:

  1. Gather the proper tools – Sharp, sturdy clippers sized for dogs and styptic powder/bandages in case of bleeding.
  2. Have someone assist you by gently holding the dog still and keeping them calm.
  3. Extend the nail and determine where the quick starts by looking at the nail’s cross-section.
  4. Position the clippers at a 45 degree angle and make a single, confident slicing motion a few millimeters before the quick.
  5. Trim just the sharp tip while avoiding cutting into the quick or making the nails too short.
  6. Go slowly and pause between nails to ensure there’s no bleeding before continuing.
  7. Use styptic powder and bandages to stop any minor bleeding if you nick the quick.

The above steps minimize the chances of injury when cutting your dog’s nails. Being extra cautious around the quick is key – only trim small amounts at a time.

Signs Your Dog’s Nails Are Too Short

Watch for these clues that indicate the nails were trimmed too aggressively:

  • Visible Quick – The pinkish quick is exposed at the nail tip. This will bleed and be painful.
  • Bleeding – Look for any sign of bleeding at the nails, indicating the quick was cut.
  • Sensitivity – The dog may lick, bite or shake the paw, suggesting discomfort.
  • Elevated Paw – Reluctance to put full weight on the paw signals pain.
  • Nail Flaking – The nails feel brittle and crack/flake easily when too short.
  • Change in Gait – Altered movement suggests stress on joints from lack of nail traction.

At the first sign of any of the above, stop trimming and contact your vet if bleeding or other injury occurred.

When to Seek a Vet After Cutting Nails

Professional medical attention is recommended if:

  • Bleeding doesn’t stop after 10-15 minutes of pressure with styptic products.
  • There are signs of a nail bed infection – redness, swelling, oozing, foul odor.
  • The nail is partially detached or crushed, causing intense pain.
  • Your dog is limping and licking the paw constantly after a nail trim.
  • You notice any abnormal nail/paw symptoms following a trimming injury.

Vets can cauterize and bandage significant nail bed lacerations. They may prescribe antibiotics if infection develops. Severe nail injuries may require partial amputation in rare cases.

Best Ways to Manage Dog Nails

To keep your dog’s nails a healthy length without endangering them, try these pro tips:

More Frequent Gentle Trims

Trimming just the sharp tips every 1-2 weeks prevents overgrowth and long quick development.

File Nails Instead of Cutting

Using a nail file often is safer as there’s no risk of lacerations or crushing injuries.

Walk on Hard Surfaces

Concrete sidewalks help wear down nails through friction better than grass or dirt.

Use Nail Grinders

Electric rotary tools gently grind nails down with less quick injury risk.

Try Vinyl Nail Caps

These plastic caps glue onto nails to blunt the sharp points (vet application required).

Have Vets Do It

Make nail trimming part of your regular veterinary visits so a trained pro does it.

Talk to Your Vet First

Before attempting to trim your dog’s nails, have a veterinarian show you proper technique based on your dog’s specific needs. Every dog’s nails and temperament are different. What’s safe on one dog could injure another.

Let your vet know if your dog has any pre-existing paw/nail problems or sensitivities. They can suggest adjustments or alternatives to trimming if your dog seems distressed or has health issues.

The Safest Solution – Don’t Cut!

Because of the legitimate risks, many vets advise owners avoid cutting dogs’ nails altogether. The occasional vet trim is enough for most dogs.

For in-between visits, use a nail file often or walk them where nails get naturally worn down. Protect those paws and stick to gentle filing!

Conclusion

Trimming your dog’s nails seems like a simple grooming task but comes with hidden hazards. Causing bleeding, pain, infection or permanent damage is all too easy without proper technique. The safest approach is leaving nail cutting to veterinary professionals whenever possible. They have the right tools, training and experience.

If you must trim your dog’s nails at home, be extremely careful. Only cut very small amounts. Stop at the slightest sign of discomfort or bleeding. Pay close attention to nail health after. Dogs rely on their nails, so preserving paw health should be the top priority.