Are you paying someone else to clip your dog's nails? If paying a dog groomer is taking a bite out of your budget, why not trim your pooch's nails at home?
"At five to ten bucks a pop, paying a groomer to clip a dog's nails can really add up," says Pet Pro Luciano Aguilar. "Especially if you do it as often as you should. But clipping your dog's nails at home is a lot easier than you think!"
Luciano is using a good pair of dog nail trimmers.
"Keeping a dog's nails short will not only keeps his paws healthy, but it will also prevent him from scratching floors, furniture, and people," says Luciano.
There are two types of nail clippers: Guillotine and scissors.
"I prefer scissors, because I feel I have more control, but you may find you like the guillotine style better. When you clip your dog's nails, you want to sit on the floor and cradle your dog," says Luciano.
Lift a paw and grab his toe firmly between your thumb and index finger and cut the nail at a 45-degree angle.
"That way his nail will be flush with the floor," says Luciano. "You want to make sure to avoid cutting the quick, which is a vein that runs through the nail."
If your dog's nails are clear, the quick is easy to see. If your dogs nails aren't clear, then just cut a small amount off the tip weekly to make sure you don't cut too close to the quick -- just as you would trim your own nails.
Luciano says, "If you accidentally cut the quick, he's going to start to bleed, so you want to have some styptic powder on hand to help stop the bleeding."
Many people are afraid to clip their dog's nails at home because they're worried about hurting their dog. But take your time and with a little practice, you'll see just how easy it is.
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