Dog Nail Trimming

If you have ever noticed your dog walking a little slower, takes tentative steps, or if biting at their paws more often than usual, it's a sign they're having discomfort in their walk due to overgrown nails. Overgrown nails can give dogs a few issues other than displeasure in walking. They can become easily caught on object and debris around the home or while outside, leading to a torn nail or even debris stuck up between the skin and nail. This can be painful for your pet and even lead to infection. The best treatment and prevention for this is keeping your dogs nails trimmed to an optimal length. Groomers know this well but it is best to only trim the nail to the point before the curvature of the nail as to avoid nicking the quick (the fleshy, blood vessel filled portion inside the nail) which can cause bleeding and is painful for your pet if cut. Keeping the  nails regularly trimmed stimulates the quick to stay shorter within the nail, allowing for the nail as a whole to stay shorter. Should you let your dogs nails grow out too long, the quick will adjust itself to fit the length of your dog’s nail, making it easier for them to hurt themselves if their nails were to catch on anything. Keeping your dogs nails at a comfortable shorter length helps them move freely, avoids unexpected scratches to you and your pet, and prevents infections or bleeding from broken nails. 

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