Clipping your Dog's Nails

Pet owners vary in their level of comfort in clipping the nails of their dog, cat, rabbit or bird. But it is necessary to regularly clip nails to help maintain health and comfort.

Nails which are uncared for can affect the animal's ability to move about comfortably, break or tear, or cause the animal to injure itself when scratching.

If you are uncomfortable clipping the animal's nails yourself, your vet or groomer can do this for you.

If you decide to do it yourself, here are a few tips :

• Remember, the nail is a living thing. It has a vein running through it which is visible. Look for the vein and remember to clip in front of it, never on it.
  
• There are two types of nail clippers available: the scissors type (which resembles a traditional scissors) or the guillotine type (which surrounds the whole nail). Both are effective. Choose the one which is most comfortable for you and your pet.
  
• Many animals resist nail clipping. One way to get them accustomed to it at an early age is to handle their paws or feet from a very early age.