Clickity, click, click.
If you live with a dog in your home–especially if you have hard floors–you’re probably familiar with that tell-tale sound that it’s time for your dog to get a pedicure. Do you trim your dog’s nails yourself, leave it to the professionals, or leave them alone?
There are several factors at play when determining how and how often to trim your dog’s nails, but a general guideline is, when you can hear your dog’s claws on hard floors, then it’s time for a “pawdicure.”
How Often Should You Trim Your Dog’s Nails?
Every Foot is Different
Every breed of dog’s feet vary slightly. Some dogs have longer toes, which seem to have faster-growing and longer nails (think: greyhounds), while some dogs have short, stubby mitts on their feet (like labs), which tend to require less nail maintenance. Another factor to consider is how active and on what surfaces your dog spends most of their time.
Very active dogs who often run on pavement can file their own nails down but less active pooches sometimes need more routine nail trimming. Also, dogs who spend most of their time indoors don’t typically wear down their nails like a dog who spends a lot of time outdoors.
Stay on Top of Dog Nail Care
There are many reasons to stay on top of your dog’s nails. For instance, long nails can make it more difficult to grip hard floors when walking (especially for senior pets), so this can result in painful falls and less confidence when navigating the house. Also, long nails can get hung on carpet fibers and such, resulting in torn off nails (ouch!). Another issue is that if left unattended, a dog’s nails can grow so long that they curl under and embed into the paw pad, requiring an expensive vet visit, and possibly surgery to repair.
Keeping Dog Nails in Tip Top Shape
So, how do you make sure that your dog’s nails stay comfortably short? You have a couple of options: you can either attempt to carefully trim your dog’s nails at home (which might require special tools and a YouTube video for instructions), or you can head to your vet’s office or a groomer to have your pet’s nails professionally trimmed. This service typically costs between $10 and $25, but many people feel as though it’s completely worth the expense.
No matter what your “rule of thumb,” is in regards to addressing your dog’s nails, it’s important to keep his comfort and safety in mind first and foremost. While your pooch might not appreciate a pedicure as much as we do, a few minutes of annoyance will make him feel much better in the long run. Pinkie promise!
Find more dog care tips below
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