Constant attention about the pet is the key to its good health and excellent appearance. One of the important care procedures is to cut the nails. It prevents breakage of the claw plates, which causes the dog pain. Many dog breeders prefer to go to a veterinary clinic, but this procedure can be easily handled at home.
How to cut dog claws at home
Well-groomed claws can grow into the skin and cause severe pain to the pet. Damage to the skin carries a danger, since infection can easily get into the resulting wounds and cause an inflammatory process.
Long claws become less durable, quickly break and split. This greatly affects the gait of the dog, often leads to deformation of bones and joints, the result - lameness will appear, problems with the spine will begin. In addition, with its long claws, the dog can easily injure the owner, spoil the interior.
The most dangerous consequences of long nail plates are curvature of the spine, as they prevent the dog from correctly placing its paw and blood poisoning.
Before cutting the claws of the dog, you should familiarize yourself with the structure of the nail plate, so as not to accidentally damage the blood vessels and cause serious injury. It is better to buy haircut tools at the pet store - ordinary scissors will not work. The procedure must be performed with an assistant so that one fixes the dog and the other makes a haircut.
For the haircut procedure, it is necessary to prepare:
• claw cutter;
• nail file;
• hydrogen peroxide;
• treat.
It is better to have a haircut when the dog is tired and is in a relaxed state. She will resist less and will not break out of her hands.
1. Choose a place with good lighting, lay the dog on either side and lock it.
2. Be sure to stroke and talk quietly, then the dog will behave calmly.
3. During the clipping of the claws, give the dog something tasty, this will distract the pet.
Before you trim the nails of the dog, especially if you are doing this for the first time, you need to calm down first.
First you need to determine exactly where the beginning of the living tissue of the claw is located, in which there are blood vessels and small nerve endings.
If the animal has lighter and more transparent nail plates, this makes the task easier. The living tissue of the claw has a pink, or light red hue, will look like a tube going to the center and ending near the top of the nail.
If the dog has dark nail plates, then it will be difficult to examine the inside, so trimming the claw is recommended in small parts to minimize the risk of damaging living tissue.
Do not cut the claws in large pieces, otherwise it is likely to damage small blood vessels and cause severe pain to the pet, thereby discourage the desire to continue the procedure further. Try not to touch the spaces between the fingers on the foot, as many pets feel tickling at this point and can twitch unintentionally.
1. Located comfortably in front of the pet, securely take the dog's paw in his hands and hold it with maximum care.
2. Carefully move your fingers under the pads of the foot, and with your thumb, fix the claw that needs to be cut.
3. Trim the curved section of the claw, leaving the straight part untouched. Be careful not to touch the blood tissue. It is necessary to cut from top to bottom to prevent delamination of the claw plate.
4. If, after trimming, the edges are not even, they should be turned using a regular nail file.
You can not start cutting from the sides and you must try not to leave sharp corners, cutting perpendicular to the claw. If you suddenly touch live tissue, give the dog a treat and treat the wound with hydrogen peroxide.
If the dog begins to break out, give it a break for a while and continue the procedure further.
Wound treatment
If claw blood tissue is accidentally damaged and it begins to bleed, do not let the dog escape and run away. Affectionate words will calm the dog, and stroking will help reduce pain.
Immediately treat the wound with peroxide, wipe and sprinkle with hemostatic powder, if it is not there, ordinary starch, or streptocide, is suitable. Hold the foot and press the cotton swab with the product to the wound until the blood stops completely.
Do not let the dog run for 10-20 minutes to prevent possible damage to the injured claw and its contamination. Try to comfort the pet so that it stays calm and does not break out. Do not forget to encourage him for patience with a delicious treat.
How often to trim
The regularity of the dog’s clipping is carried out as necessary and depends on its age, but this is done no less than:
• for a puppy - 1 time per week;
• for young people - once every two weeks;
• for an adult - 1 time per month.
A characteristic sign that a pet needs to cut its claws is its strong “clatter” while walking on the surface.
Tips
• To keep the living tissue of the nail plate constantly retreating, you should regularly cut the claws.
• Do not cut the claw if the hair interferes with its view.
• If the dog is too active, give her a sedative before the procedure.
• If the wounded claw continues to bleed for a long time, consult your veterinarian for help.
Remember, if you are afraid and tune in to the process for a long time, the dog will feel your insecurity, and this will negatively affect her behavior during shearing.
Knowing how to trim a dog’s nails correctly and grooming them regularly, you will provide not only her freedom of movement, but also a cheerful mood. And although clipping is one of the unpleasant and troublesome procedures, it helps to significantly improve the quality of life of a beloved pet and avoid unpleasant consequences.
