With some dogs, the claws grow faster than they wear off again. If they have become too long, we have to act. Either you have the claws cut by the vet or you cut them yourself. Since it is not an easy task and you may be cutting the claws of your four-legged friends for the first time, you will find a few tips below.
Why do your dog's claws have to be cut at all?
Too long claws can lead to pain and misalignments of the forefoot. This affects the entire musculoskeletal system and can even lead to postural deformities.
Dogs also tend to bite off the claws themselves or get tangled up with the claws somewhere, which can cause them to tear out. This, in turn, can lead to heavy bleeding and inflammation.
Even if the dog runs a lot on the hard ground and the claws rub off well, it usually still has "wolf claws" which sit a little higher on the inside. These do not touch the ground at all when running and have to be checked and cut regularly, as they like to grow into the meat and thus cause pain and inflammation.
What utensils you need to cut your claws:
If the claws are not too long, a good nail file is sufficient.
Special claw tongs or claw scissors are well suited for shortening longer claws. They have around cutting surface, whereby the same pressure is exerted from all sides and the claws are cut off cleanly.
Please do not use human nail scissors for your dogs, as they would only squeeze your dog's claws, which can lead to injury.
Cutting the claws:
The dog's claw is made of horn and is supplied with blood almost to the tip. With light claws you can see the blood vessels well, with dark claws you can make them visible with a flashlight. If you are still inexperienced and have a long-haired dog, first bathe your dog's feet and cut the coat back on the paws with rounded scissors so that the claws are easily accessible. It's best to add a second person to distract or calm the dog.
Put on the claw scissors and cut the claw only step by step in millimeter steps. Be careful not to cut into "life" (blood vessels). Always cut straight and do not squeeze the claw, this could cause pain to your dog. Otherwise, bleeding could occur.
After the first cut, you check the appearance of the cut surface. If everything looks well keratinized and life is still a few millimeters away, you can cut off a piece. But if the appearance changes, then you shouldn't shorten this claw any further and dedicate yourself to the next claw. Continue like this until all claws are cut. If your dog gets restless, interrupt the procedure quietly and complete it at a later time when your dog has calmed down again.
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