Nail clippers for dogs: varieties, features of choice and use

Each conscious owner should monitor the condition of the dog's claws. Some people prefer to go to a veterinary clinic or a groomer, however, this is not always convenient. The procedure must be carried out regularly from the first appearance of the pet in the house. On average, claws need to be cut once every 2-3 weeks. Choosing the right tool will allow you to carry out the procedure quickly and safely.

A nail clipper is needed to remove overgrown claws. Tools differ in design.

Work surface presented in the form of a circle, the hole in which the claw is placed. When you press the handles, the blade comes out, which produces a cut. The cutting blade must always be sharpened. Otherwise, the claw will not be cut off, but squeezed.

The tool is more convenient due to the limiter on the working part. Pressure (compression) control is provided by a spring system. For safe storage, a handle lock is provided.

Visually similar to the usual stationery scissors, but one blade has a recess for the claw. Not the most ergonomic version of the handles makes this type of claw cutter less attractive.

Reminiscent of a grinder with a round nozzle. Claws grind gently, which minimizes the risk of damage. The best models are those with a limiter in the form of a drum, which allows to protect the skin on the paw. Among the shortcomings of the trimmer is noted noise, the formation of dust and a specific smell. The machine is powered by the mains, therefore use it on the road will not work.

It is strictly forbidden to cut the claws of dogs with any household tools. This is directly related to the special density and structure of the claw. Do not use claws that are designed for cats. Using the wrong tool is fraught with injuries, delamination of the claws, bleeding.

Recommendations for choosing a clipper.

• Guillotine claws are suitable for cutting soft claws, which are usually found in representatives of small and medium breeds or in puppies.
• Secateurs can cut a claw of any thickness. Great for large dogs.
• The scissors are uncomfortable to hold in your hand, because of which you can inadvertently injure a dog or harm the claw itself. Best suited for emergency cutting of long but thin claws.
• It is important to choose the optimal size. The nail clipper should be 16–18 cm for large dogs, 14–16 cm for medium-sized dogs, and 8–11 cm for small ones.
• Electric claw point - trimmer - suitable for cutting claws of any thickness. It is better to accustom an animal from childhood, so that subsequently it does not scare it with noise and smell. The tool allows you to round off the cut line as much as possible, the dog will not scratch the owners or furniture.
• A quality product leaves a smooth and even cut. The slightest flaws signal that the claw material is of poor quality or the blades are not sharpened properly.
• The best option is a tool with rubberized handles. So you can control the situation during the procedure as much as possible.

When choosing, it is worth giving preference to well-known companies. The cheapest tool will help to save 1 time, however, it will not last long and can cause damage to the nail blade or more serious injuries.

Typical secateurs with rubberized handles sit comfortably in your hand and give a good result. The material is high-quality, the blades do not blunt even with prolonged regular use.

Stainless steel blades do an excellent job with the thick claws of large breeds. The tool is convenient to use thanks to ergonomic handles.

Designed for dogs of small breeds. The guillotine is safe to use because it does not allow the nail to be placed further than the limiter. Recommended for people who are just starting to practice the procedure.

Reasonable cost combined with high quality blades. The handle and lock are made of plastic and have rubber pads.

Before the procedure, the owner must calm down, otherwise the pet will feel fear and behave nervously. If the animal is still afraid, then carry out the procedure as accurately as possible several times, however, do not cut the claws. Such training is needed so that the dog understands the course of the procedure and feels more confident. Over time, use a claw cutter on a pencil or some object to demonstrate a special sound to the pet. Cut 1 claw after 5–7 preparatory procedures.

Accompany the preparation process rewards and goodies. The goal is for the dog to understand as much as possible the course of the procedure and its safety.

Rules for the use of guillotine and secateurs.

• Sterilize the nail clippers with alcohol or vodka. You need to disinfect both hands or gloves. Dog paws should also be washed and dried.
• If possible, you can cut the claws immediately after bathing. At this time, they are as soft and supple as possible.
• Take a close look at the pet's claws. If they are light, then the pulp (tissue with blood vessels) will be easy to see. It’s important not to touch it when cropping. The slice should be 1.5-2 mm from the edge of the pulp.
• If the dog has black claws, then need to cut 0.5 mm. You need to finish the procedure as soon as a pink dot or a spot that looks like a wet spot is seen in the middle of the claw.
• Start cutting the claws from the front paws. The dog should stand on the floor or a special non-slip table.
• With your left hand, press the fingertip so that the claw extends.
• With a quick movement, make a cut at an angle of 45 ° towards the inside of the foot by 1 mm.
• Continue to cut 0.5 mm until you reach the pulp at the desired distance.

You can not cut the claw immediately to the pulp in one motion. Too much risk of injury. If you touch live tissue, the animal will be hurt. If the dog jerks at that moment, then there is a risk of completely tearing out the claw.

Principle of use trimmer slightly different from cutting tools. It is not necessary to cut the claws, they are simply filed. Grinders have several nozzles in a set, which are made of grinding stone.

Cutting the claws is easy, however, the carelessness of the owner or the nervousness of the dog can lead to unpleasant consequences. It is better to play it safe before starting the procedure. If the pet is quite active or impressionable, it is recommended that you first give a calming drug. Funds must be bought at a veterinary pharmacy. Herbal preparations slightly weaken the excitability of the nervous system.

Near the place of the procedure, put powder, a napkin or powder to stop bleeding. With a little carelessness, damage to the pulp is accompanied by hemorrhage from dozens of important vessels. Severe bleeding from trauma can frighten the dog, therefore, the calm and compassion of the owner play a key role. It is strictly forbidden to use such means:

• iodine;
• peroxide;
• fucorcin;
• vodka;
• greens;
• alcohol;
• dimexide.

If at hand there is no special powder or baby powder, then it is better to use regular food flour. Various products that cauterize or contain alcohol will intensify the pain several times. Before the first claw trimming procedure, you should consult your veterinarian and find out which remedy is best to use. Do not take medications without a doctor's prescription.

As a result of improper procedure, you can undermine the dog's claw. Usually this is due to the fact that the owner squeezes the instrument for a long time, and the dog pulls its paw at that moment. The skin and soft tissues on the finger are torn, and the claw itself remains in the claw cutter. It is important to understand that at this moment the animal is experiencing wild pain. The dog will begin to whine strongly and try to run away, and an aggressive reaction is possible.

In such a situation, it is important to respond quickly and not create panic. If necessary, you should ask someone from your home to call a veterinarian at home or prepare everything for a trip to the clinic. In parallel, it is worthwhile to provide urgent help with such an algorithm.

• Start talking calmly and soothingly to your pet. Make every effort to distract the dog from pain and injury.
• With a cut of sterile gauze, tie an injured paw on the wrist, this place is called the metatarsus. This kind of tourniquet will help calm the bleeding.
• Tighten and lock the gauze bandage. Try to raise your paw as high as possible. Put something cool, such as ice or products from the freezer. Pre-wrap the appropriate item in a cotton cloth and a plastic bag. Cold will slightly reduce pain and reduce bleeding.
• Once the blood has subsided slightly, a visual assessment of the situation is necessary. If open soft tissue breaks are visible, pour novocaine or lidocaine there.Manipulation will reduce pain as much as possible.

The nuances of choosing a claw cutter for dogs are described in the video below.