How to Tell If Your Dog’s Nails Are Too Long?
First, you need to know how to tell if your dog’s nails are too long. Normal nail length should not touch the ground. If your dog’s nails make a crisp and pleasant sound when walking on tiles or floors at home, it’s time to trim them.
The frequency of nail trimming depends on the rate of nail growth, typically every 2-3 weeks. Dogs that engage in more outdoor activities will naturally wear down their nails, so the trimming frequency will be lower.
Dogs that prefer staying indoors will require more frequent nail trimming.
Here are 5 things to keep in mind when trimming your dog’s nails
Get Your Dog Used to Having Their Paws Handled: Get your dog accustomed to the feeling of having their paws handled. Play with their paws when there’s no nail trimming involved. Over time, your dog will become less apprehensive.
Prepare Treats: Have treats ready for your dog while trimming. Give them a treat after each nail is trimmed to create a positive association with the process.
Gradual Trimming for Sensitive Dogs: If your dog is sensitive or fearful, you can trim only 1-2 nails per day and reward with treats. Take a week to complete all nail trimming.
Handling Bleeding: If you accidentally cause bleeding during nail trimming, don’t worry. You can use specialised styptic powder or cornstarch to stop the bleeding. Alternatively, dip a cotton ball in hydrogen peroxide, which has an anti-inflammatory effect and won’t scatter blood into your dog’s eyes.
Smoothing Edges: After trimming, if you find the nail edges to be sharp, you can use a nail file to round them off for added comfort.