Trimming My Dog's Nails...
By Angel
@Angelee_27 (3460)
United States
June 16, 2011 5:18pm CST
I trimmed my dogs nails earlier today. Everything was going alright until I accidentally clipped too short I think. The poor thing yelped. :( It scared me to death. It wasn't too bad though, I didn't cut all the way down once she yelped. I think I just pinched her.
Luckily, the rest were a bit easier to cut, and it was only on the last nail that I messed up. So, I didn't have to continue cutting after that.
Do you clip your dogs nails yourself, or do you get it done professionally?
I personally think it's better to get it done professionally, but right now, we are having a hard time with money. So I had no choice but to do it myself. They were getting really long, and probably causing her some discomfort.
3 people like this
8 responses
@celestial052506 (2914)
• Philippines
17 Jun 11
Here in the Philippines, we are not doing that to our dogs. Maybe some people do it but usually our dogs are not that pampered. In fact, we are not buying dog food for them. Whatever left overs we have that's for the dogs. We don't take our dogs to the vet either and our dogs are usually outside dogs. Others are in and out dogs, no special treatment whatsoever.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
21 Jun 11
Actually celestial, you don't trim your dogs nails probably because they wear down when they walk a lot on the roads. Some people, like myself, we don't have a good enough road to keep the nails short, and it is not pampering because I remember a few times when I was a kid and my dog who only ran in the backyard, had her nails so long, that they'd get caught and she'd rip it open, sometimes down to the quick and she'd bleed..So it isn't pampering, it is common sense, plus it is hard on their feet to walk on long nails..
@alquizar (480)
• Philippines
17 Jun 11
Before when my dog is still a puppy I usually trimmed his nails.But when he is already a dog it's really hard to trimmed his nails and I am afraid that he might bite me in case he is in pain when I am trying to trimmed it.He had long nails but I am happy to see that he is the one trying to nail file it by using the ground.So I am happy to see that he is in charge already in taking care of his nails;)
@Angelee_27 (3460)
• United States
17 Jun 11
Hello alquizar,
You may want to consider having your dog's nails trimmed by a trained professional (groomer) then, if you do not know how... or are afraid to. :(
It's really important to keep their nails trimmed. If they get too long, they can cause your dog pain. Also, they will snag on things and break off, which really hurts!
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
16 Jun 11
Hi Angelee, I cut my own dogs nails myself. It's not hard to do at all as long as they're not black in color so I can see where the pink is in their nail. That's what hurts them and causes them to bleed. However, if their nails happen to be black, you have to use your best judgement in how much to cut off. It's best to cut below the pink area so they aren't hurt and won't bleed however, we all make mistakes and don't mean to hurt our pets but sometimes we do so the best thing to do is to use flour or corn starch on their nails to help stop the bleeding.
@sam2424 (110)
• United States
21 Jun 11
The exact same thing happened with my dog some time ago. She never cared that I cut them until that happened now she fights tooth and nail till I stop. She fidgets so much it wouldn't be safe to try. She actually got them done about a week ago at the Vet. She put up one hell of a fight with the lady, it was terrible. I felt bad for them both of them. Anyway now there super short and I can tell she can feel the difference. So from now on professional all the way.
@candyfairy21 (2039)
• Philippines
17 Jun 11
I tried but my dog is so fuzzy and it is hard to clip he nails by myself. She can't sit still and she tries to take back her paws, so I have to bring her to the groomers every month to have her nails trimmed and also to shape her butt in a round manner. I do not know how to make her still so I can cut the nails trim the hair on the butt.
@Angelee_27 (3460)
• United States
17 Jun 11
Hi candyfairy21,
Thanks for responding! :-)
Well, if it's too difficult for you to trim your own dog's nails and groom your dog's fur... I think it's good that you take her to the groomers regularly. That shows that you are a good pet owner, and that you are responsible! Some pet owners will let their pets go for months and months without trimming their nails or anything like that. I am pretty sure that is considered animal neglect. When you let your dog's nails grow out too far, it causes them great discomfort. :( Their nails start getting hung on things and breaking... and it hurts!
Some people can do it own their own, and that is good... it will same them some money from not having to go to the groomers regularly. However, if you don't know how... it's important to let someone else to it, whether it be a friend/family member or the groomers, because it has to be done.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
16 Jun 11
Ouchy that had to hurt, but am sure he will be okay. My boyfriends mother cuts the nails off both of her dogs and I remember being there one summer watching her do it. She took a while as she wanted to trim small trims at a time.
I would be too scared to trim them myself as I would be afraid to cause them to bleed and or hurt them. But sounds like you did okay and maybe do them small trims at a time.
@Angelee_27 (3460)
• United States
16 Jun 11
Hi hardworkinggurl,
Thanks for responding.
I agree, I think doing small clips at a time will be best to ensure I don't mess up again. This was actually the first time I personally trimmed a dog's nails. I think I did okay for my first time... but hopefully when I do it in the future I will not mess up at all. :-)
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
17 Jun 11
Hello Angelee,
I don't trim my dog's nail because she doesn't need this operation. Her nails do ware down when we walk on the streets. We use to take long walks - two, maybe three hours a day so her nails don't have time to grow too long.
With my previous dog things were the same. Only when she got old I had to take her to the vet to have her nails trimmed. Because her hips hurt, our walks were shorter and her nails started to grow longer. I was afraid to do this alone because her nails were black and I could have cut too much and hurt her.
@ckciasigurl (2081)
• Italy
17 Jun 11
hi angelee i do cut the nails of my dog every month because i can cut there nails good and nice , i love cutting also there nails because it is like a bonding for me and my dog's.
