Doggies are high maintenance animals. If you adopted a pet dog, you signed up for a lot of responsibilities to ensure that your dog stays healthy – both physically and mentally. Though dogs are a lot of work, they are equally joyous company, and once you have the love and bond with your dog, all the effort you need to put in seems worth it.
There are several aspects to taking care of a dog’s well-being; walking them regularly and giving them sufficient playtime is one while ensuring regular grooming and cleaning is another. Alongside, you have to give him the best possible diet and provide mental stimulation so that your dog stays mentally fit and healthy too. There is, however, one aspect that you might not have considered; a dog’s paws and nails.
That’s right. Dogs need regular pawdicures too!
Why Do Dogs Need Pedicures?
We bet you’ve never thought much about trimming your dog’s nails unless it was scratching you or harming your sofas in some way. Dog nails can get very long and sharp and can playfully shred your sofas and rugs to pieces if left unchecked.
But did you know that vets recommend regular nail trimmings and pedicures for dogs for the dog’s own comfort and health? You must be wondering how unkempt and overgrown nails can become a health hazard in any way, so let us educate you further. The following are the consequences of overgrown nails in dogs
Discomfort and Pain
Your dog walks across and plays on all types of surfaces. From the hard asphalt outside to the wooden floors inside, the dog is used to treading on all such surfaces. When a dog’s nails are overgrown and touching the ground, the impact is felt in his nails too. Each step pushes at his nails and nailbed, causing considerable pain and discomfort to your dog. Too much stress can even cause the nail to break off, hurting your dog even further.
Makes Him Averse to Walking and Playing
When walking and running is causing him so much pain, what dog would be excited about playing? He might show hesitation and resistance to going outside on his daily walks and might not be in the mood to play. The lack of exercise and regular walks, as we are all aware, is not good for his physical or mental health at all. It might even cause behavioral problems in your dog because the poor chap can’t express his pain and can’t communicate to you the need to cut his nails in any other way.
Realigns Joints
Your dog might try to shift his weight across his body so that the overgrown nails don’t have to bear the brunt of it. Though it might alleviate his pain momentarily, it can turn into an even graver problem if it continues. It can permanently realign the joint in his foreleg, which would affect his posture and his lifestyle entirely. The realigned joints also give the foot a very splayed look.
No responsible dog parent would want their beloved pet to go through so much pain. To save him from it, you must always make sure that your dog’s nails are the right length by giving him regular pawdicures!
How To Cut Your Dog’s Nails?
If you are a new dog parent, you must understand the rules of cutting a dog’s nails. If you do anything wrong, you might end up hurting your dog and causing him stress.
- Inspect his paws and nails to see if he needs a trim just yet. If your dog’s nails touch the ground when he walks, and if you’re able to hear your pup coming to you by the sound of his fingernails tapping on the floor, then it definitely is time for a nail trim.
- Make sure he is comfortable with getting his paws touched. Gradually make him understand that you mean him no harm and only attempt to cut his nails when he trusts you.
- Buy specific nail trimmers or cutters for pets and keep these separate from your own. The size of your nail cutters or scissors must be according to the size of your dog’s paw. Big dogs have larger and harder nails, while smaller ones have delicately small ones.
- The most important thing you must remember when cutting your dog’s nails yourself is to never go too far, or you might end up nipping his ‘quick.’ Cats and dogs alike have a bunch of nerve endings in their nails. This is mostly visible through the nail and is pinkish in color. Make sure that you keep your distance from the quick and only cut the nails. If you end up cutting the quick, you will hurt your dog immensely. There will be a lot of blood and yelps, and you might need to rush to a hospital to get him some pain treatment.
We don’t mean to scare you, but if that is too overwhelming for you just yet, it might be best if you let professionals handle it for you.
Take Him to a Professional
If trimming his nails yourself is too scary and unnerving to you, you can always take him to a professional who can do the job for you. You have to be very careful when trimming your dog’s nails, and if you feel like you can’t manage it on your own, you can always take him to a groomer. Twissted Whiskers Pet Spa has dog groomers who trim your dog’s nails, massage his paw pads, and indulge him on his luxury spa date. They will give him a pawdicure that he will never forget! Not only would your dog stay healthy, stress-free, and comfortable, he would also thoroughly enjoy his time being groomed by people who understand what a dog needs.
Get a pawdicure appointment for your dog and leave him in our trusted hands while you go and pamper yourself a bit too!
