Tips for Trimming Your Dog’s Nails at Home

Trimming your dog’s nails is an important part of dog grooming. When a dog’s nails are trimmed, it is a sign of your dog’s good hygiene and health. If you are uncomfortable trimming your dog’s nails at home, our veterinarians at Animal Hospital of Lynnwood are happy to assist you. We have gathered a few tips to use if you would like to try trimming your dog’s nails at home.

Comfort is Essential

The most important tip for trimming nails at home is to make sure you and your dog are comfortable. It may take your dog a few tries to get used to the process, so make sure you are patient and maintain a positive attitude. Be gentle and don’t forget to provide praise and treats as a reward. Be sure to invest in safe, durable dog-friendly clippers. Some tips for trimming your pet’s nails at home include:

• Introduce the clippers to your dog and let him sniff the clipper
• For a few days before you plan to clip your dog’s nails, frequently touch and hold your dog’s paws to get him used to his paws being handled
• For a few days before clipping, touch the nail clippers lightly on each paw
• A day or two before actually trimming gently touch the clippers to each paw and squeeze them, so your dog can hear the sound
• Touch the clippers to your dog’s paws and then attempt to trim only one nail
• After you accomplish trimming one nail, the next day, trim two nails and then continue increasing for a couple of days until all of the nails are trimmed

After you do each step, be sure to give your dog plenty of praise and a treat. The more comfortable you are, the more comfortable your dog will be, so remember to stay calm throughout the process.

Get Your Dog’s Nails Trimmed in Lynnwood, WA

Trimmed nails aren’t only for cosmetic purposes, they are also important for your dog’s health. If you aren’t comfortable trimming nails at home, don’t hesitate to speak with our veterinarians at Animal Hospital of Lynnwood about providing assistance. Call our team today at (425) 771-6300 or reach us through our website by using our online contact form.