Cutting dog's nails

How Often Should I Clip My Dog's Claws?

Max. D Gray
By Max. D Gray. Updated: January 24, 2017
How Often Should I Clip My Dog's Claws?

Clipping a dog's claws is not easy, and most people do not know how often dog claws must be clipped. Having a dog as a pet is one of the most comforting life experiences. However, it affects our everyday life because we must take care of them and their hygiene. In this sense, your pet has a lot of health aspects that you need to take care of, clipping their claws being one of the most important ones.

So at oneHOWTO we're answering your questions about how often should I clip my dog's claws so that they can lead a comfortable life, free from nail-related problems.

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Contents

  1. Why should I clip my dog's claws?
  2. How often should I clip my dog claws?
  3. How to clip my dog's claws
  4. Caring for my dog's hygiene

Why should I clip my dog's claws?

From birth, dogs feel their claws growing involuntarily. Cutting them regularly helps them lead their daily lives better, as unsuitably long nails can restrict their movement, especially when you go out with your pet on the street and they come into contact with the ground.

Similarly, claws of an unsuitable length may upset the other dogs that your dog interacts with, so taking care of this aspect of your dog's life is an important responsibility. You should definitely be knowledgeable about how often you should clip your dog claws if you want to raise a healthy dog.

How often should I clip my dog claws?

Dogs are creatures of habit, so the sooner you start clipping their claws the sooner they will accept it as a normal aspect of life. So, it is best that you start this procedure when the dog is a puppy.

It is essential that you consult your veterinarian about the most appropriate nail length for your pet, because the claws' ideal length changes depending on the size and breed of the dog.

Other things your vet will take into consideration when deciding how often you should clip your dog claws are:

  • Your dog's daily activities: Does it go out a lot? On what kind of surfaces? Does it run a lot?
  • Your dog's diet: Certain diets might make your dog's claws grow more rapidly, so how often you should clip your dog claws also depends on how fast they grow.
  • Your dog's state of health.

As a general rule, when your dog's claws touch the floor, it is time to clip them.

How to clip my dog's claws

Once you know how often you should clip your dog claws it's important that you know how to do it. For this, it is best to use short-bladed scissors that won't make your pet panic.

Regarding the type of cut, your veterinarian will recommend you opt for gradually clipping them, trying not to make big cuts and especially avoiding cutting their skin. Clip just a little bit of nail, it will be enough for your dog to walk comfortably.

Caring for my dog's hygiene

Clipping your dog's claws is one of the health care and hygiene procedures that you must maintain throughout their life, from the first day that you share together. Add bathing and washing their ears, cleaning their teeth and coat to cutting their nails.

You must also keep on top of the vaccination schedule for puppies and dogs and visit the vet regularly to protect your pet from unwanted illnesses diseases.

If you want to read similar articles to How Often Should I Clip My Dog's Claws?, we recommend you visit our Pets category.

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How Often Should I Clip My Dog's Claws?