Little Neck An
imal
Hospital
Toe Nail Care/Torn nails
Regular care must be given to most dogs' toenails. In nature, the nails were used to allow better traction and surefootedness. The nails are of a very strong construction. In our world, pets do not need to be athletes, but the toughness of the nails remains. If use does not naturally file down the nails, we must assist. In dogs, the rear feet are used to propel the dog. This motion helps keep the rear nails shorter than the nails of the forefeet.
Too long of nails prevent pets from walking normally on their feet, because the nails are in the way. This causes muscular and skeletal pain for animals. This can over time lead to increasing amounts of arthritis. A pet should be able to stand on a solid floor and not have his nails touch the ground. Frequently geriatric or otherwise housebound pets will have nails that overgrow.
If nails become too long, they can easily catch causing a torn nail and possibly fracture of the bone inside the nail. Torn or fractured nails may bleed profusely. They are painful. Treatment may require deep sedation or anesthesia to allow removal of any tissue that is not firmly attached, in addition to stopping the bleeding.
Veterinary hospitals and professional groomers do a lot of toenail trimming for dogs whose families can't manage the task. Provided your dog isn't unduly stressed by going in to have this done, it's a fine alternative to doing it yourself at home. Certainly you need to have a professional do it if your dog might bite you out of fear. Be sure to alert the pros to this possibility so they can take precautions.
It's nice to be able to do this task at home, though, not only to save money but also so that you can trim the nails more often. Shorter nails can be important for therapy dogs, any dog around a person with frail skin, and show dogs. Excessively long toenails will actually deform a dog's feet. The nails are getting too long when you can hear them click on a smooth floor.
Why Dogs Get Upset
It's no mystery why dogs often fear toenail trimming. At best, it must feel strange. There is a nerve and a blood vessel in the nail. We can't see exactly where that nerve ends. The blood vessel, often called the quick, may not come down as far as the nerve does. Surely there are differences between one dog and another, too.
So, for all we know, it may sometimes hurt the dog when we cut the nail, even if we haven't cut into the quick. Hard as you may try, if you do a decent job of shortening the nails, it's likely that you will nick the quick at least once in a great while. Even if you don't hit blood, you may cause pain to the nerve.
Realizing this, many people opt to not even try to trim dog toenails, but to leave it to people who get a lot of practice. Professionals at veterinary hospitals and grooming shops also have skilled assistance they can call on when needed, surfaces designed for working on dogs, restraint devices, and well-maintained toenail grooming tools.
Getting Started
Toenail trimming is not the first action you want to perform with a dog new to your home, except perhaps a sleepy young puppy. Before you approach toenail trimming on your own, have your veterinarian show you how.
Watching the veterinarian or tech perform the task will also let you know if your dog already has issues about toenail trimming. Even if the dog seems fine with it, consider waiting until you've had the dog at least a few weeks and have had time to get used to each other before you try toenail trimming on your own.
In the meantime, you can use veterinary or professional grooming services for the job. Take your dog only to the best groomer you can possibly find. This person plays a massive role in the dog's response to handling by humans. You want these experiences to help your dog's ability to tolerate handling, not cause new problems.
From the first day, handle the dog's feet and toes in gentle, positive ways. Associate treats and other nice things with this handling. Buy a good toenail-trimming implement-or a variety of them-and let the dog get used to the sight, smell and sound, without actually trimming any nails. If you have other dogs who are relaxed about toenail trimming, let the new dog watch you work on them. Include rounds of treats in these sessions for all the dogs.
The Tools
Some dogs have definite preferences about the tools used on their nails. A 6-inch (or longer) Bastard File you can get at a hardware store works with a lot of dogs. If your dog is small, use a really good human nail file instead. If your dog reacts badly to trimming with another implement, the file method can help rehabilitate the dog's ability to tolerate toenail trimming. It's slower and more work for you, but less stress all the way around, and of course your dog is worth it! It's not an expensive tool, either.
A guillotine-style trimmer is commonly used on nails. This device cuts from only one direction, with a blade that can be replaced. The ability to change the blade is a plus. The fact that it cuts from only one side makes this tool more difficult to hold steady and cut exactly where you want to cut the nail. Dogs often object to this tool.
The scissor-type nail trimmer comes in sizes for large dogs as well as small ones. They need replacement from time to time because the curve of the blades precludes effective sharpening. They grip the nail securely and do a good job of cutting, but some dogs hate them.
A rotary grinder works as a compromise for some dogs and handlers, faster to use than a file, but less upsetting to many dogs than the cutting tools. If you opt to try this tool, the rechargeable versions are quieter and tend to be better accepted by the dogs than the corded ones.
The manufacturer does not recommend that a rotary tool be used on a dog's nails because of the risk of catching it in the dog's hair. So if you opt to try this method, realize it's at your own risk. Some people reduce this risk by slipping the dog's leg into an old nylon stocking and pushing the toes through for grinding.
The risk is also somewhat less with the rechargeable tools because they are lower-powered and easier to control. If you try a rotary tool, keep your thumb where it can reach the off switch at all times. Professional groomers routinely use rotary grinding tools, resulting in nails with no sharp edges.
The Process
If you have a helper, that person should only gently steady the dog. Heavy restraint will make a dog fight to get free. A better way for the other person to help is to keep the dog busy by feeding tiny treats while you work on the nails.
Don't get angry at the dog, and don't pity the dog. Either of these emotions from you simply makes it more stressful for your canine friend. Be matter-of-fact, cheerful, patient, and mildly firm. It's fine to stop for a bear hug now and then if the dog is stressed. Not a pity party, mind you, but a hearty hug.
Switch to the filing method if your dog is stressing out about nail trimming and you want to continue at home rather than simply having a professional take care of the nails. You may need to file the nails for several months before the dog is ready to accept another tool. Some people just keep filing indefinitely.
Like the grinder, filing results in smooth edges to the nails, and is often used after trimming with a cutting tool, anyway. There is a removable handle made for the 6-inch Bastard File, and a metal brush to clean the toenail dust out of the grooves and keep the file functioning well.
So now you know how to manage your dog's toenails with a minimum of stress. An ideal schedule is to do them once a week. If you always include plenty of tiny treats in the process, you will soon find that your dog volunteers to come for a pedicure!
Date Published: 3/31/2003 11:05:00 AM
Kathy Diamond Davis is the author of the book Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others. Should the training articles available here or elsewhere not be effective, contact your veterinarian. Veterinarians not specializing in behavior can eliminate medical causes of behavior problems. If no medical cause is found, your veterinarian can refer you to a colleague who specializes in behavior or a local behaviorist.
Copyright 2003 - 2008 by Kathy Diamond Davis. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
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