How to Give Your Dog a Pedicure

Grooming your dog’s nails is a very important part of maintaining healthy paws. All dogs need their nails trimmed on a regular basis, especially indoor dogs. Nails that grow too long can damage your pup’s feet (as well as your floors!) and cause traction problems. They can also become ingrown of left too long. A dog’s nails should just touch the floor when walking. If the nails are clicking on the floor or snagging in the carpet, it’s time for a pedicure. Most dogs need their nails trimmed once or twice a month. Many people are too intimidated to trim their dog’s nails, but it’s actually a simple procedure that only takes a few minutes, and leaves your dog looking and feeling great!

There are a few things you will need before you start your pedicure. You will need nail clippers, of course. There are few different types of nail clippers for dogs. For puppies or very small dogs, you can use regular human toenail clippers. For small to large dogs there are two main types of clippers: a scissor-like device with blades on each “shear” and a “guillotine-blade” type, which is more common. You should try out both types and see which you find most comfortable and confident in using. Which ever you choose, it is very important to make sure that the blades are sharp. Be sure to read the instructions for the type of clippers you are using, as each type has its own instructions as to which way the clippers should be held. You may want to have a pair of scissors handy, to trim the hair around nails and in between pads. This hair matts easily and will make your pedicure go smoother if trimmed. You can also use dog hair clippers to get to the hair all the way down into your dog’s paws. You may also want a grinding tool, such as Pedipaws, to file your dog’s nails smooth afterwards. Nails can be quite sharp after being clipped, and by using a grinder you can dull them down. Not all dogs will allow you to use a grinder, but walking your dog for a while on concrete is just as affective. For dogs who hate nail clippers, you can also use a grinder instead of clippers to completely file nails. Care must be taken to avoid grinding too short, which will make them bleed. It is also a good idea to have some sort of styptic powder or other blood stopping agent on hand, just in case you cut a nail too short. A non-slip mat can help your dog avoid injury, and you’ll want to have treats to give your dog to reinforce nail-cutting as a positive experience. You can add nail polish that is made specifically for dogs for a finishing touch.

The first step is to place your dog on a raised surface, using a non-slip mat. If your dog is squirmy, it would be a good idea to have someone help hold your dog while you cut its nails. If your dog has excessive hair around its toes or pads, trim it away. Now you can trim the nails. Lift up the dog’s foot and slide the trimmer over the nail. Stay with in the white part of the nail. Squeeze the handle of the trimmer smoothly and firmly. Don’t try to pry the nail off: when the trimmer is used properly, the nail should just pop off. Repeat this for each nail, on each foot. Don’t forget the dewclaws, on the inside of the leg, if your dog has them. These nails never touch the ground and wear down less rapidly than the others.

Take care not to cut past the white part of the nail. If you cut too far, you will cut into the quick, which is very painful to the dog and will cause bleeding. The quick contains nerves and blood vessels that supply the blood to the nail. If your dog has dark nails, it is harder to tell how far to cut. To make it easier, feel each nail. There is a “hook” on the underside of each nail, a slight indentation where the excess nail has grown from the quick. You can feel this by running your fingernail just on the undersides of the dog’s toenails. There is a slight bump you will hit, and beyond the bump is the excess toenail where there is no quick. This is the part you trim off. If you do happen to cut past the quick, and your dog’s nail is bleeding, apply pressure using a styptic powder or pen to stop blood flow for at least one full minute and the bleeding should stop. If you do not have a styptic pen or powder, several household items may be used, such as flour, cornstarch, baby powder, sugar, or cotton. Once the bleeding has stopped, avoid wiping the blood clot off of the tip of the nail or it could start bleeding again.

The next step is optional. If you choose to file your dogs nails, make sure you let the grinder run for a few seconds before using it, to allow your dog time to get used to the sound and look of the device. Hold your dog’s paw firmly in the “hand shake” gesture, separate a nail and hold up the grinding tool sideways. File each nail for a few seconds, rocking the grinder back and forth. Make sure that you do not file for too long, the nails have just been trimmed and are already short. Continue for each nail, on each foot. If your dog does not like grinders, you can just take it for a stroll on concrete to file the sharp edges.

Now for the finishing step: polishing your dog’s nails. First, inspect your dog’s nails for good health before you polish. If your dog has brittle, cracked or split nails, don’t use polish- it may aggravate the condition. Rub a salve on their nails and wait a few weeks. Never use human nail polish on dogs. It contains formaldehyde and other chemicals that are not safe for dogs. The same goes for human nail polish remover. There is a very wide selection of dog friendly nail polish that you can easily find online or in pet stores. It will be easier to do this step if your dog is sleepy, happy, and relaxed before you start. The less they wiggle, the easier it will be. Sit on the floor with your dog in your lap and start painting. Don’t worry of you get some in their fur. You can always use a remover pad to get it off. A nice puppy massage or scratch behind the ears is usually enough to get your pup to hold still long enough to let the polish dry. When the polish starts to chip, simply remove with dog-safe remover pads.

Always give plenty of dog treats while giving a pedicure. Also, praise them for being good. This keeps them happy, comforts them, and turns nail trimming into a positive experience. It may take your dog some time to get used to having their nails cut- most dogs will not like it at first. The more you do it, the less stressful it will be and eventually you will have a nice easy way to bond with your dog. If your dog is extremely upset by your attempts to cut its nails or is growling or trying to bite, you should take it to a professional to avoid further stress to yourself or your dog. A vet or groomer is better equipped to handle this kind of situation.