Routine nail trims not only keep your dog’s paws looking great, but also comfortable and healthy. While a dog’s nails will naturally file down from walking, running, and playing outdoors, it’s very important to maintain them regularly. Trimming your pup’s nails can feel like quite the undertaking – It can be hard to have them sit still for long enough, it’s easy to trim their nails too short, and there are various methods for trimming your dog’s nails, which can make it challenging to know which is best to use. Keep reading to learn how to tell it’s time to trim your dog’s nails, the necessary tools for an at-home pedicure, plus how to make the process as pain (and stress) free as possible.

The importance of trimming your dog’s nails: Comfort

Trimming your dog’s nails regularly will help ensure they are comfortable and don’t suffer from nail bed issues. When nails get too long, they can curl under their paw pads, making it painful to walk, run, and play. Your dog must then adapt to the discomfort, which means they may walk or move differently, and can cause them discomfort in their arms, legs, hips, and back. Regularly grooming your dog’s nails also helps ensure healthy hand and foot structure. As we just mentioned, overgrown nails can cause them to walk awkwardly, but overgrown nails can affect the bones, muscles, joints, and other tissues in their front and back paws and legs.

When To Trim Your Dog’s Nails

There is no simple answer to how often you should trim a dog’s nails - It depends because each dog wears down their nails differently. Some dogs wear their nails down naturally to an ideal length because of walks, but others might need trims once every month or so.

One way to determine if your dog needs a paw-dicure is to extend their toes and assess the length of the nails in relation to the bottom of their foot. To do so, place your thumb on top of your dog’s paw and your other fingers on the large pad on the underside. Gently squeeze your fingers together, which will cause the toes to extend. With the toes in this position, check to see if the tips of the toenails are level with or go beyond the underside of their paw. If they’re grown past their paw, your pupper’s nails need to be trimmed. Another rule of thumb our groomer Sarah recommends as an easy tell-all is if you can hear your dog’s nails clicking on the floor, it’s time for a trim. To be especially certain about whether your dog’s nails are too long, consult with your veterinarian, vet tech, or groomer.

Be aware that dogs with chronically overgrown nails may also develop lengthy quicks – that pink-to-red-colored, blood-filled cavity that runs down the center of the toenail. To combat the overgrowth, trim small amounts away over a couple weeks to allow the quick to recede.

* It’s easy to hit the quick, especially with overgrown nails, which can be a painful experience and memory for your dog. It’s important to not cut them short all at once. Instead, ask your vet or groomer for help.

 The Tools You’ll Need to Trim Your Dog’s Nails

You don’t need a ton of tools to clip your dog’s nails at home. Before you start, gather up the following:

• High-quality pair of dog nail trimmers. A pair we recommend is the Safari Professional Nail Trimmer. It comes in two sizes, small and large, to make the appropriate fit depending on your dog’s paw size.

• Dremel nail grinder. Have you ever cut into your dog’s quick? If so, it’s probably something you (and your dog) won’t forget. With a dremel, you don’t have to worry about that - It’s easy to tell how much you’re trimming at a time so you can be worry-free about accidentally cutting nails too short. Our professional groomer’s use the Hardell Dremel.

• Styptic powder (such as Kwik-Stop) to stop bleeding if you nick the quick, which is the blood vessel that supplies blood to the claw.

Nail Trimming Tips to Keep in Mind

• If the nails are brittle, cutting may splinter the nail. In these cases, a dremel “trim” (or nail grind) may be necessary, or you can file the nail in a sweeping motion starting from the back of the nail, following the curve to the tip.

• Trim a small amount on a regular basis instead of removing large portions less regularly.

• Invest in a good pair of nail trimmers in an appropriate size for your dog. They can last a lifetime!

• There are dogs who, no matter what, struggle so much that four people are needed to accomplish the nail trims — three to restrain the wiggle beast and one to trim the nails (and these are dogs who are often perfectly mannered in every other situation). In such cases, talk with your vet, professional groomer or trainer about how to make nail trims less stressful and more successful.