Maintaining our dog's nails
It seems trivial, but our dogs' nails are more important than they appear. Taking care of them is an obligation for the dog owner, since they can hinder our dog's walking and well-being in the long run. In this sense, taking care of nails is easier than you think. You just have to know how to do it. On the other hand, if you are not comfortable doing it, grooming and animal health specialists can do it for you.
Long claws are a nuisance
Long nails are a hindrance to a dog's quality of life because they can interfere with movement, balance and posture. They can also break or crack, which can lead to pain and infection. Also, just like ingrown toenails in humans, dogs can suffer from nails that penetrate the paw pads. These are also very painful.
The dog's nails, which come into contact with the ground with every stride or when he is standing still, can lead to chronic problems. This is because the tip of the claw exerts an upward force on the ground, changing the angle of the phalanx to which it is attached. If the position of this phalanx is modified, the one before it will have to adapt, as well as the previous one. It is a domino effect that follows.
Finally, the whole leg is modified. The retracted phalanxes put excessive strain on the joints, which can cause blockages and pain forming a whole compensatory chain on the whole body!
Therefore, whether the claws are too long or damaged, they are likely to hinder the animal's movements. In either case, the maintenance of these claws is essential.
Perfect claws!
Ideally, we will do regular maintenance of the nails every 4 to 6 weeks depending on their lifestyle. For example, a dog living in an apartment that rarely walks on sidewalks and that is used to moving on carpets will see its nails wear out much more slowly than a dog that lives actively outside and moves on hard surfaces. So for our house dog, we will have to trim his nails every four weeks.
Normally, when your dog is standing, his claws should be touching the surface of the ground at the most, so that they play a role when running. This is because during running, the claws grip the ground, which provides better propulsion like spikes in soccer and track and field.
Getting your dog used to it
Our dog will respond better to any handling if we get him used to it from a young age. As a puppy, his nails should be trimmed very little, which makes them less sharp. It is also recommended to manipulate and massage the paws of our puppy daily. This way, he will be more easily touched and cared for as an adult. A dog that is familiar with these gestures will participate much more easily in his nail trimming than one whose paws and toes are never handled.
If, for example, you have adopted an older dog that has not been used to it, you can ask for help from someone close to you. Ideally, someone who lives in the same house and whom the dog is in regular contact with. This person will be able to hold our dog and distract him with treats while we trim his nails. If our dog growls, shows its teeth or tries to bite, it is recommended that a muzzle be used as a precaution. If our dog is sensitive and we catch a nerve in one of his claws causing a sharp pain, he will have a natural and impulsive reaction of perhaps biting us.
Read, but especially watch the two videos at the bottom of the page of Globalvet which give good tips to hold and distract your dog standing and sitting during nail trimming.
Technique and tools
The type of tool chosen for nail trimming is essential. Using our human nail clippers is not recommended as they are not strong enough to handle our dog's nails. Veterinarians, pet stores and some pet retailers sell nail clippers specifically designed for dog nail care.
Care should be taken not to cut the part that includes the living part (see image at www.chien.com) that is very distinguishable on light nails. For dark nails, thin sections should be cut at a time. If you look at the black claw section from the front, you will see a light coloration appear.
This is a particularly sensitive blood vessel and nerve. Cutting them causes a small hemorrhage and can lead to an infection (see picture on the right).
In case of bleeding you can apply a dry compress on the tip of the nail for 5 minutes. On the other hand, if you are not sure that you can take care of your dog's nails properly, it would be best to have them cut by an animal health technician or a good professional groomer.
