An essential part of pet grooming is the trimming of your pet’s nails. If you live in a house with wooden floors, the click, click, click of your pet’s nails when they walk on that floor can drive you crazy.
Not only is it irritating for the members of your family, it is an indication that your animal’s nails need to be cut. This is important because long nails can cause pain to your animal’s feet and they can be used as a weapon whether on purpose or by accident. The nails can also cause damage to furniture or carpet.
Pet grooming experts use special precautions when clipping the nails of a dog or cat. The nail trimmers must be able to securely go over the diameter of the nail and not angled at all.
To try this task at home, one must know where to cut and how deep down the nail to clip. The trick is to locate the cuticle and not to cut into it. There is a vein that runs part way up the nail starting at the base. Within this vein there are blood vessels and nerve endings.
If you should happen to cut into this vein, the nail will begin to bleed and there will certainly be pain involved. If your pet shows any sign of pain stop, what you’re doing and comfort the animal..
Most animals do not like pet grooming and the ordeal of nail trimming can be a very a stressful time for them. The best method is to sit down beside your dog or cat, and began to brush their coat.
Once they are calm and comfortable place their paw into your hand. Do not show them the clippers at first, but massage their feet like you would if you were playing with them. Gently put the nail into the opening of the nail trimmers and slowly but firmly clip the nail.
Professional pet groomers are a little more experienced and they clip the nails at a faster rate than the novice. Take your time and be aware of how your pet reacts to having their nails clipped.
If you do happen to cut the blood vessel in the center the nail, grab a clean cloth or sanitary paper towel to put pressure on the nail until the bleeding stops. If you are cutting the nails inside of your house the animal may track blood upon your carpet or floor.
The pet grooming expert uses different tactics when it comes to trimming nails. They will sometimes restrain your dog using straps or placing them into a small enclosed area. Here they can pull the dogs paw through a hole in the containment box and clip at will. This method it’s very stressful upon the animal, and sometimes your animal might be better served by you clipping their nails at home.
Nail clipping for some animals is a horrible experience. Your pet may try to bite you or try to get away from you, putting both the owner and the animal at serious injury.
If you in any way feel nervous about clipping nails, it is better not to even attempt it. Let a pet grooming expert clip your animal nails or have it done the next time you visit the veterinarian.
