Review The Book! More » Download A Sample Chapter! Buy The Book! Go »

Ask Annie Q&A

Ask Annie a question!





Donna from Dodge City, KS asks:How often should I trim my dog's nails?

Generally, when the nail has grown more than three millimeters (that's about 1/8 inch for you Americans) or so beyond the quick. That sounds easy, right? Yes, I know that toenail trimming sometimes becomes a three-ring circus with the ultimate winner being your dog. Most dogs do not like having their nails trimmed, so ideally you start them off as little pups on your lap and just clip off the tips with nail clippers. If the problem is already established and your cute pup has grown into the Incredible Hulk, you need to take stronger measures. First, get a good quality pair of clippers that are specially designed for dogs. Next, enlist a good friend-or one who is unsuspecting of what is to come.


Lift the dog onto a table if possible and adopt a "can do" frame of mind. Remember, attitude is everything. If your beastie sniffs out weakness he will not hesitate to take command for you. Also remember....safety first. If you suspect your dog may bite you, buy a muzzle. It not only protects you, but releases calming endorphins in your pet.


Start at the front end. If you have a friend they must hold Fido securely. This means using an arm to lean over the dog's neck to prevent him from raising his head and body, while using the other hand to pull the leg forward. Hold behind the elbow to prevent the dog from pulling his leg back. Now, get on with it! Be the boss. Cut to about one millimeter from the quick. Any lower and you will nick the quick, the dog will bleed and you next attempt will be harder. On dark nails it may be difficult to see the quick so just take a little off at a time. If the nails are already long the quick will have grown forward too, so you will have to take a small amount off, wait two weeks or so, then do it again until the quick grows back.


Don't forget the dewclaw, which is towards the back of the paw. This tends to get overlooked and frequently curls around and grows into the flesh. Ouch!

Frequent toenail trims not only save your flesh, furniture and floors but helps maintain the dog's correct posture. Chronically long toenails can lead to bad foot stance and arthritis. It is important in older dogs in particular.  You may find that you cannot do this procedure even with help at home. That is when you go to your friendly veterinarian's office. We know that if we see a dog at the office just for a toenail trim we are probably not dealing with one that enjoys the experience. In fact, it can be one of the most potentially dangerous parts of the job, with a high bite and scratch risk. It is not unusual for three or four staff members to be required for restraint while the dog, in a convincing attempt to show its displeasure, is emptying its anal glands and bowel in a last ditch effort to avoid the procedure. Now that you know this, are you still going to complain about the $12 charge? I hope not!


You can reduce the frequency of trimmings with plenty of walking on cement or hard ground.

« Return to the Ask Annie Q & A


There are currently no comments for this entry.

Add your comment.





NOTE: Comments are moderated and will not display until approved.