How to Get your Dog’s Nails Shorter.
Long nails can lead to a multitude of problems. When you allow the nails to grow too long, they become frail and easy to fracture. Since long nails allow the quick to grow along with the nail, it can lead to pain, bleeding and possible infection. In addition, long nails may also cause your dog to walk in an irregular manner which may lead to skeletal problems over time. If your dog’s nails have grown too long, don’t try to cut them short all at once. Instead, ask your vet or groomer for help. Chances are, the nails will need to be cut a little bit at a time to allow the quick to recede.
What is the quick?
A dog’s nails are comprised of the nail, and a soft cuticle rich in blood vessels and nerves which are known as the quick.
When you fail to trim your dog’s nails as frequently as needed, the quick grows along with the nail. In some cases, when the nails are extra-long, the quick may lengthen so much that it reaches the tip. When this happens, you won’t be able to trim much nail without risking cutting through the quick. Don’t try to trim those nails short all at once! Ask to gradually trim the nail and encourage the quick to recede so your dog can start to walk comfortably again.
If your dog’s nails are very long and the quick is very close to the tip of the nail, you may have no choice than to trim the very tip of the nail. After trimming that little bit of nail, generally, within a few days, the quick should have receded enough to allow you to trim off another little bit of nail. Each time you trim that nail, the quick should slowly recede farther and farther up into the nail bed.Your ultimate goal is to have the quick recede so that your dog may have healthier, shorter and stronger nails. The secret to this is to have frequent, gradual nail trims.
Walking on Hard, Abrasive Surfaces
Another helpful way to allow the quick to recede naturally is to let your dog walk on hard, abrasive surfaces. The constant pressure on the ground forces the quick to recede. Start exercising slowly to avoid blisters and abrasions on the paws. Also, if the nails are too long, they may split and crack. Gradual exposure goes a long way. With time, your dog’s paw pads should toughen up, and the nails should grow stronger and stay shorter. How did dogs in the wild live without seeing the groomer to get their nails trimmed? The secret was constant walking, running and playing on hard surfaces.
Another helpful way to allow the quick to recede naturally is to let your dog walk on hard, abrasive surfaces. The constant pressure on the ground forces the quick to recede. Start exercising slowly to avoid blisters and abrasions on the paws. Also, if the nails are too long, they may split and crack. Gradual exposure goes a long way. With time, your dog’s paw pads should toughen up, and the nails should grow stronger and stay shorter. How did dogs in the wild live without seeing the groomer to get their nails trimmed? The secret was constant walking, running and playing on hard surfaces.
What’s the perfect length of your dog’s nails? Ideally, the nails should be short enough so not to touch the ground when the dog is standing on a firm, level surface, but should be long enough to aid the dog when climbing up a hill or to dig.
If you’re wondering how long it takes for the nail to recede, the answer is it depends. Just as humans, a dog’s nails vary from one dog to another. Some dogs have nails that grow faster, thicker and longer than others. It also depends on your dog’s activity levels, age, location, and breed.
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