Should you trim your dog’s nails?

These days, most dogs spend most of their time indoors, so their nails aren’t worn down naturally – which is why it’s important to keep an eye on their nails to make sure they don’t get too long.  

Overgrown nails can be a health hazard

• Excessively long nails on your dog can cause joint pain and arthritis because they can make the bones in the feet flatten and change the way a dog walks.  
• If you leave the nails to grow, they may cause their toes to splay out and put uncomfortable pressure on their legs and feet.  
• Hard surfaces can push long nails back up into your dog’s nail bed, which can cause infections.  
• If your dog’s nails get too long, they’re more likely to break and this can leave the sensitive ‘quick’ (which contains nerves and blood vessels) open to painful infections.  
• A good rule to follow is that if you can hear your dog’s nails clicking on the floor, it’s time for a trim.

If you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s not a good idea to grab some clippers and do it yourself. If you take too much of the nail, it can cause your dog even more pain. This is one situation that is best left to the professionals. An experienced dog groomer will have the expertise to trim your dog’s nails correctly to make sure their feet stay healthy.  

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