Dog Nails: How to cut them

A close-up view of pet grooming focusing on a dog's paw being trimmed with special scissors, highlighting care and precision.

Clipping dog nails can be stressful for you as well as your dog. Good news is that you are not alone and almost every dog and their pet parent is going through the same struggle. We would like to help inform you about dog nails and the best way to clip them. You may still decide to leave this task up to us. We clip dog nails all day long and are experts.

The most important advice we can offer to help you clip dog nails is to be patient and go slow. Stay calm and collected. If you get nervous, so will your furry friend. The better experience both you and your dog have, the easier this process will be in the future. Also, gather good dog nail specific tools. You will need a dog nail clipper, dog nail file, kwikstop and plenty of treats! There are many dog nail gadgets on the market, we have not found any to live up to the hype.

Clipping dog nails may take multiple sessions to get under control

Both you and your dog need to be in a comfortable position on the floor. If possible, a quiet place away from other people and pets would be preferable. A clutter free well lit environment is also best. Make sure to push back any fur so that you have a clear view of the entire dog nail.

Start with very small cuts at a 45 degree angle. In many dogs, a small white dot will appear when you are getting close the the kwik. We would be more than happy to show you what to look for if you would like to stop by the salon. Always try to avoid cutting the kwik. If you do accidentally cut the dog nail kwik, apply kwikstop and pressure until the bleeding subsides. Keep a watchful eye on any damaged dog nails for at lease a few days. Consult your veterinarian at the first sign of irritation. If your dog’s nails are over grown, it may take a few sessions to get them back under control. If any dog nails split or splinter, use the nail file to tidy up any rough edges. If any nail splits beyond the kwik, you may have to see your veterinarian to have that nail removed.

We charge between $5 and $10 to cut your dog’s nails on a walk in basis or this service is included in our grooming process. We are here to help if you need us.

Pet Accessories

eXtreme Dog Fence doesn’t just sell electric dog fence products. They have a wide variety of pet fence wire, pet doors, and pet accessories.

Scroll to Top