How to clip your dog’s nails

Overview

• Always make sure your dog is relaxed and comfortable before you cut their nails.
• Only use special dog nail clippers, not scissors or human clippers.
• Give your dog treats during and after clipping to make it a positive experience.
• If you struggle to clip your dog’s nails at home, ask your vet for advice.

Step by step guide to clipping your dog’s nails

Step 1 – Wait until your dog is relaxed

• If your dog is relaxed, clipping their nails will be easier for you and a more positive experience for them.

Step 2 – Preparation

• Always use a pair of dog nail clippers. Never use scissors or human nail clippers - they aren’t designed for dog claws, so are likely to squash them and cause them to split.
• Hold your dog’s paw in a position that is comfortable for them, but also easy for you to see their nails. You might need someone to help you if your dog is wiggly!

Step 3 – Look for the quick

• The quick is the part inside the claw that contains blood vessels and nerves. It’s red or pink so it’s usually easy to see in light-coloured claws.
• This part of the nail will bleed and be painful if it is cut.
• You should cut a few millimetres away from the quick.

Step 4 – Continue with the other nails

• Continue to clip the other nails, not forgetting the dew claws.
• If a nail bleeds, don’t panic - you can dip it in cornflour to help it clot or hold some cotton wool on it until it stops bleeding.

Step 5 – Give your dog a treat

• Treats will help your dog find nail clipping a positive experience.

If your dog gets stressed at any point, you should stop, give them a treat and try again another time. If you are struggling to clip your dog’s nails at home, speak to your vet for advice.

FAQs

Published: August 2022