Few pet parents relish trimming their dog'south nails. So is it okay to skip the clip?

Macro of dachshund paw

Trimming a domestic dog's toenails is i of those catchy tasks that many dog owners would adopt to toss in the too-hard basket. After all, information technology's fiddly, can exist stressful and is likely to put everyone in a bad mood.

And so can you lot get abroad with skipping a clipping? The short answer is no. Trimming your canine companion's nails is a task that mustn't be ignored. Here are a few reasons why you need to take a deep breath and get it washed.

1. Your dog can't trim their nails themselves

As recently as a couple of centuries back, dogs were rarely kept as pets. Canines were workers first and foremost, and considering they were out rounding upwards cattle and guarding flocks of sheep and racing after vermin all day, their nails were worn down naturally and didn't need trimming. These days, however, the bulk of dogs spend most of their time indoors, their just do a leisurely stroll effectually the block each day if they're lucky. Action-induced pedicures are a affair of the past, which means information technology'south upwards to us to keep those nails in check.

ii. Long nails are a wellness hazard for dogs

If your dog's nails go too long, they're more likely to break. This can leave the sensitive quick, which contains fretfulness and claret vessels, open to painful infections. Dewclaws (aka the dog'south "thumbs") can be hazardous, because they never come into contact with the footing, and so don't get worn down, meaning they're prone to catching on things and being torn off. Be sure to take extra care to also maintain these nails too.

3. Unruly nails tin cause hurting for your dog

Excessively long nails tin can crusade joint pain, arthritis and even skeletal harm, because they can make the bones in the anxiety flatten and change the mode a dog walks. Past trimming your canis familiaris's nails, you lot can avoid this.

4. Your furniture will cheers

A few decades ago, everyone had carpet. These days, however, exposed floorboards are all the rage. While they may expect great, they're not compatible with long domestic dog nails. Regular nail clipping will avoid nail divots and scratch marks on wooden floors, not to mention leather sofas, limestone tiles and other soft surfaces.

So, no – you shouldn't skip the prune. Trimming your canis familiaris's nails is extremely important for maintaining their overall health.

Questions you may have about trimming your dog's nails:

Can I cut my dog's nails with human nail clippers?

Homo blast clippers can be used to prune your puppies nails, but it will be much harder to do finer as they grow up. Your adult domestic dog'south nails volition probable need to be cut using a specialised tool. Petbarn has a variety of boom trimmers designed specifically for canis familiaris claws for a safer and easier process.

How often should you cut a dog's nails ?

You should cut your dog'southward nails every month or 2. Yous should check the status of your dog's paws often to run into if at that place are any noticeable issues.

How brusque tin I cut my dogs nails?

Information technology is very important that you do not cut your dog's nails too short. This will cause considerable hurting for your canis familiaris and can result in haemorrhage. Our full guide on how to trim your dog's nails tin be constitute hither.

Where can I get my dog's nails cut?

If you're not confident that you tin can do this job yourself, take your dog in to a Petbarn grooming salon or your local Greencross Vets where the professionals can aid you provide the best care for your pet.