Does your dog make a clicking sound when he walks across the floor? If so, Fido may need a pawdicure! A local Frisco, TX vet discusses taking care of your canine buddy’s claws in this article.

Why Claw Trims Are Important

Fido probably won’t care how his nails look. So why are nail trims important? For one thing, if your furry friend’s claws are too long, he could snag them on something, which can cause painful tears. Walking on long claws is also very uncomfortable for Man’s Best Friend. Fido may change his gait to compensate, which can be very bad for his bones and joints. Last but not least, overgrown nails also make it harder for your pup to gain traction on slippery surfaces.

Making the Cut

If you plan to cut your canine friend’s claws yourself, you’ll need to invest in a good pair of nail clippers. You may want to get ones with sensors on them: these will indicate exactly where to snip. Of course, regular clippers will also work. Start by making thin cuts, and carefully inspecting each clipping. When you start seeing a pale oval appear, don’t cut any further. Of course, you can also call us to set up a quick nail trim appointment for your furry pal.

Oops! Now What?

You may have heard that if you cut Fido’s nails too short, you’ll hurt your pup. You do want to take care not to cut into the quick, which is where your canine pal’s nerves and blood vessels end. Accidents do happen, however, so we recommend keeping a styptic pen or powder on hand. This should stop any bleeding quickly. If it doesn’t, call your vet right away.

Tips and Tricks

Consider teaching Fido to Gimme Paw. This can help desensitize your pet to having his paws handled. When Fido gives you his furry foot, play with his toes and claws, and run the clippers over them, then let him go and give him a treat. Frequent, small trims are better than occasional big cuts, but you don’t have to do all of your dog’s nails at once. Just do one paw at a time, and keep rotating. Always finish your four-legged pal’s manicure sessions with a yummy treat. Do you need to schedule a pawdicure? Call us, your local Frisco, TX animal hospital, today! We’re here to help!