How to Trim Your Dog's Nails Safely at Home

You may love the tippy-tap sound of your dog's nails on the kitchen floor, but that sound may mean their nails are too long. While trimming your dog's nails may seem like a simple enough task, it's often one that many pet parents — and their dogs — find intimidating. Because of this, people often put it off, resulting in too-long dog nails that can be painful for your pooch.

Continue reading to learn how you can trim your dog's nails the right way — and why it's too important to ignore.

What Happens if I Don't Cut My Dog's Nails?

It might not seem like a big deal, but letting your dog's nails grow too long can have a negative impact on their health. Neglecting regular nail trimmings for your dog can cause problems, including:¹

• Making it painful for your dog to walk
• Snagging nails on objects, causing pain or panic
• Nails that can grow into the paw pad and cause infection
• The quick growing of the nail, making it impossible to keep nails the right length.
• Arthritis and joint problems from long nails

Unfortunately, many dogs hate getting their nails trimmed. Some react to it with whining and other nervous behaviors that, in turn, make their owners nervous. You might even be afraid of hurting your dog. Either way, it's tempting to think that your pup will be happier if you leave their nails alone. But while they might not enjoy getting their nails trimmed, not doing so will be much worse for them than putting them through a few minutes of anxiety.

Dog Nail Anatomy Explained

One way to avoid making your dog fearful of nail trimming in the first place is to understand dog nail anatomy. Your dog's nails have two parts:²

• The shell is the hard outer part.
• The quick a fleshy part inside the shell filled with nerve endings and blood vessels.

Take care to avoid this part of the nail. Aim to leave 2 to 3 millimeters of shell between the quick and the tip of the nail.³ This is easiest on dogs with light colored nails in which the quick is visible. It's more difficult on dogs with dark nails.

How to Trim a Dog's Nails

Before you trim your dog's nails, you'll need be prepared. Let's look at what you'll need and some tips for how to make the nail-trimming process go as smoothly as possible.

What you'll need to prepare

• Dog nail clippers or grinder. Avoid using clippers made for human nails, which will squeeze your dog's nail and cause discomfort.⁴ Instead, use either guillotine-style clippers or nail scissors made for pets, which are curved to fit the shape of your dog's nails. You could use a Dremel-style nail grinder instead, which will file down the tip of the nail.
• Styptic powder. Dipping your dog's nail into this powder will stop the bleeding if you cut into the quick. You can find it at most pet supply or drug stores, or you can substitute flour or cornstarch instead.
• A helper. If your dog tends to squirm or struggle during their pedicure, an extra set of hands can help hold them still — and dole out treats as you work.
• Dog treats or peanut butter. Treating your dog while trimming their nails will help them form positive associations with the task. This may help make them more cooperative. Try rewarding them after cutting each nail. If you don't have someone to help, try smearing peanut butter on the wall or on a plastic mat and let your dog lick it while you work.
• Good lighting. Seeing clearly where you're cutting will help avoid accidents. Work in a well-lit room or next to a sunny window. If you don't have good lighting, it may help to wear a headlamp while you work.
• A muzzle. If your dog is prone to nipping or biting when they're upset, it's best to have them wear a muzzle for your safety.
• A relaxed dog. Walk or play with your dog beforehand to tire them out and help them burn off nervous energy. This will help make them be more relaxed and compliant. If your dog is still anxious or uncooperative, calming treats, a pheromone collar or diffuser, or a calming supplement like CBD oil can also help them relax.⁵

Get your dog used to nail trimming

If this is your dog or puppy's first time getting their nails trimmed — or if you're trying to help a dog recover from a bad nail cutting experience — you'll need to spend time getting them used to the idea. Follow these steps to work up to nail trimming and desensitize your pup. Allow at least a day for each step:

1. Start by giving your dog or puppy treats and praise as you touch and handle their paws. Do this a few minutes each day until they let you handle them without resistance.⁴
2. Show the clippers or grinder to your pup and let them sniff it. As they do, praise them and give them a treat.⁶
3. The next day, show them the clippers again, and give them a treat as you touch the clippers to each paw.⁶
4. Repeat step three, but squeeze the clippers as you touch them to the paws to accustom your pup to the sound they make. If you're using a grinder, turn it on and let them feel the vibration of the motor.⁶
5. Hold one of the front paws and trim a tiny bit off of one nail, giving treats and praise as you work. Do just one nail a day, moving from the front to the back paws, until you've done all four feet.⁶
6. Repeat step five, but trim two nails each day.⁶
7. Gradually work up to trimming all of the nails in one session.⁶

Position your dog

Some people find it easiest to face the dog and work from the front, gripping each paw head on as they go. But you might have an easier time working from the back. Place the dog either in your lap or between your legs, or on a table in front of you, with their back to you, and hold the paw with the toes facing away. This position can give you a better view of the quick as you make each cut.¹

If your dog is nervous about nail trimmings, or if they have dark nails that make the quick invisible, it might be better to have them lie on their side while you work. This can not only help your dog relax, but it will also allow you a better view of where the nail curves into the quick. If your dog can't relax and hates having their paws or toes handled, you could have them stand on a smooth surface and only trim the tips off each nail so that they're no longer touching the floor.⁴

What's important is to find the position that is most comfortable and effective for both you and your dog.

Using nail clippers on your dog

Follow these steps to trim your dog's nails with clippers or nail scissors.¹

1. Get into your chosen position and take hold of your dog's paw.
2. Move or trim fur that's in the way and obscuring the nail.
3. Choose a nail to start with, and hold the toe between your thumb and forefinger.
4. Gently push forward with your thumb and press into the toe pad with your forefinger to extend the nail.
5. If the quick is visible, cut at a 45-degree angle about 2 millimeters from the quick.
6. If the quick is not visible, trim a sliver at a time until you reach the desired length.
7. Be sure to cut the dewclaws — the claws on a thumb-like appendage on the inside of the front feet.
8. You may finish with a nail grinder to smooth down rough edges.
9. Reward your dog with a treat and tell them how good they are.

Using a nail grinder

You can use a nail grinder as a finishing touch, or you can use it to file down the entire nail tip. Here's how:¹

1. Hair can snag in a nail grinder, so secure both your hair and your dog's hair out of the way before you begin.
2. Take a firm grip near the top of the grinder for good control.
3. Using light to medium pressure, use short strokes to file the nail down a bit at a time.
4. Stop when you see a pink dot — or on dark nails, a black one — in the middle of the tip. You've reached the quick.

What Should You Do if You Cut the Quick?

Cutting into the quick of a dog's nail will cause them pain, which can form negative associations that make them afraid of future nail trimmings. It can also cause bleeding, which pet parents may find alarming.

If you accidentally cut the quick, it's important to stay calm and avoid reacting. If you act upset, your dog will only get more upset. Dropping everything to lavish love and apologies on your pup will only reinforce their view of nail trimming as a bad thing to avoid.

If there's no bleeding or only slight bleeding, give your dog a treat and redirect them into something fun to create a positive association. If bleeding is more pronounced, use styptic powder to stop the bleeding before doing anything else. If you don't have any styptic powder, cornstarch or flour will also work.³

If bleeding persists more than 20 minutes after applying the powder, call your vet.⁷

How Often Should You Trim Your Dog's Nails?

How often your pup will need a nail trim depends largely on their lifestyle. A dog who spends a lot of time walking on sidewalks or other rough surfaces that grind the nails down will need a pedicure less often than a dog who spends most of their time indoors or on soft ground.¹ It's a good idea to examine the nails every couple of weeks to see if they're getting long. But generally, you don't want to go more than a month without a trim.¹

How Much Does It Cost to Trim Your Dog's Nails?

If your dog is a difficult customer when it comes to nail trimming or paw handling, you may need to seek the help of a professional groomer or a vet. Both typically offer nail clipping for an affordable fee. Unlike other grooming services like a bath or a haircut, nail trimming prices don't change with the size or breed of your dog. On average, a professional groomer will charge $10 to $15 to trim a dog's nails, and a vet's office will charge $12 to $30.⁸

If you're nervous about trimming the nails yourself, at your dog's next vet checkup ask your vet to show you how. A one-time nail trimming fee to learn how it's done could add up to significant savings over your pup's lifetime.

Maintaining Dog Nails

Though it may seem like a small thing, maintaining your dog's nails is a vital part of their health and well-being. Even if your dog hates it, the benefits far outweigh the momentary discomfort both you and your dog may feel during the process, and the costs of neglecting it are far worse. Whether you do it yourself or seek the help of a vet or groomer, your dog's health and happiness will be all the thanks you need.

CareCredit Credit Card Financing for Dog Nail Trimming

Taking good care of your pet's well-being from nose to tail is essential. Make sure to stay up to date on their regular checkups at the vet to help keep your pet happy and healthy for a lifetime of love. You can use your CareCredit credit card for pet care throughout the year for routine veterinary services as well as emergencies and surgeries.* Apply today and use our Acceptance Locator to find a veterinarian near you that accepts CareCredit.

CareCredit is there for you and your pet every step of the way; continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your account, find a provider on the go, and easily access the Well U hub for more great articles, podcasts, and videos.

Author Bio

Jean Marie Bauhaus is a freelance writer and novelist with eight years of experience. Her work has appeared on Hill's Pet, Chewy and AKC.org and more.