Grind Your Dog's Nails

Why clippers are bad

Okay, maybe I'm over reacting. Clippers are not "bad". They serve their purpose but there is something about their use you need to be aware of so you can make better informed decisions on your dog's nail care. We are all taught to avoid the "quick" of a dog's nail. The quick being the nerve that lies inside each dog's nail that bleeds when it is nicked or cut. But did you know that even when used properly (i.e. you successfully avoid hitting the "quick") you could be causing your dog unnecessary pain? This is because most clippers work with a pinching or squeezing motion that causes the sharp edges to cut the nail. When this action is taken, you inevitably pinch the nerve inside the nail by the simple squeezing motion alone.

Making sure your clippers are as sharp as possible and are of good quality is vital if you have decided to use them. But to avoid the risk of causing your dog pain at those times you're expecting him to trustingly place his tender paws in your hands, why not use a nail grinder instead?

What is a nail grinder?

A nail grinder is a hand held power tool a bit larger than a big fat pen with a sanding band on the tip that moves at high speeds in a circular motion. Simply stated, it's basically a mini-sander made specifically for sanding your dog's nails. Some varieties have various speed selections; some are just on or off settings. Most are noisy but dogs can become used to that with proper desensitizing training (such as having it turned on while petting your dog, but not using it until they are comfortable).

Making your purchase

There are many good types of grinders out there. You can even choose between corded or cordless. The one that sits inside my own personal grooming box is a corded Oster brand nail grinder set as well as a cordless Dremel set. I prefer the corded variety due simply because of the increase in grinding power you just won't get with most grinders; not any I've used anyhow. Cordless varieties certainly have their advantages, however. One big advantage being that they are portable enough to take to dog shows, while traveling on vacation or even just to be able to do this necessary job when you do not have access to electricity for whatever reason.

You can purchase your new grinder from just about any well stocked pet supply store or catalog or even from a variety of on-line vendors. Do your homework in price comparisons; it will pay off in the end. Also be sure to purchase extra sanding bands to keep on hand.

Basic nail grinding instructions

Never start this job unless your dog's nails are clean and dry. If you have a dog that lives outdoors, I would also suggest an early morning pedicure as colder temps will cause the blood in the dog's quick of their nail to recede further back. I also make sure my dog has a chance to urinate before we begin in case they get nervous. Gather all your materials; the grinder, a blood stop powder or similar product, hemorrhoid cream (we will get into why later) and a soft cotton cloth. If you have a dog with black nails, a black permanent marker may be desired after we are done (again, I'll explain later). If your pet has long hair around the paws, you will want to avoid getting those hairs caught in the oscillating action of the grinder at all costs. Luckily for you, this isn't hard. For my Cavalier King Charles girl, I simply place a thin woven weave type dishcloth over her paw and stick her little nails up through it. The hair is behind the cloth allowing you free and safe access to just the nail.

Now that we are all ready with our clean dog and handy tools; let's begin, shall we? You may wish to enlist a partner to hold your furry friend for you. If your dog is large, I would suggest straddling or standing along side him "blacksmith style" for the sake of your dog's comfort. Grasp the first paw in your hands. For nervous dogs, I find grinding the back feet first is a wise move. Dogs tend to be jumpier over their front paws care than the rears. By the time you get to the front two feet, they should be calm.

Turn your nail grinder on and grind your dog's nails to the desired length. With white nails this is an easier task as you can see the pink colored quick area. For dogs with dark nails, it isn't so easy but there is a different gauge for you to use; the white center. If you see a white filled center look to the nail bed, STOP. This is what the quick looks like before you draw blood. Use your cotton cloth to wipe the powder off the nail if you can't see what you're looking for.

Now take advantage of one of the best features of the nail grinder… smooth out the nails to where they look rounded on the tips. This not only looks nicer but it will protect your dog from potentially painful snags as well as snags to your furniture or even your legs.

*If your dog's nails weren't able to be grinded to proper shortness due to the quick being too close to the end (usually due to going too long between pedicures), a trick that I like to use is applying a generous dab of hemorrhoid cream to the ends of the dog's nail. This causes the quick to recede faster than normal enabling you to go back and grind your dog's nails again quicker than you would have normally been able to. (I do my dog's nails every 4 weeks at a maximum but can get away with every 1-2 wks when hemorrhoid cream is used.

For those owners who have dog's with black nails, this is the time to bring out the black magic marker. The grinder, no doubt, has given your dog an attractive rounded edge but they aren't black and shiny anymore. They are now dull just as any surface that had been freshly sanded. A quick go over with a black magic marker and they look as good as new. (show dog handlers trick) Of course you may opt to paint your dog's nails with any of a variety of colors offered in doggie nail polish that is available nowadays. Fun!

There, that's wasn't at all painful, was it? Now give Fido a well deserved treat and don't forget to wash your glasses if you wear them. That isn't a fog of nail dust in your room you're seeing, it's the buildup of nail powder kicked up onto your lenses.