Regular attention to your dog’s nails is really important.  If your dog walks mainly on grass you may find that the nails grow too long leading to potential nail damage, pain, and infection.  When a dog’s nails become too long, we may have to cut the nails gradually over a period of weeks or even months.  This is because the blood vessel, the quick, that feeds the nail grows with the nail and to cut the claw short would mean cutting into the quick which would be very painful and would bleed.  By cutting the nail a little each week or so allows the quick to recede until we are able to cut the nail to the required length. 

 

The nails if left too long can splay to the side causing pain to the dog especially when walking.

 

The dew claws, the claws on the inside of the leg, do not naturally wear down with walking and we have had many occasions when the nail has pierced the skin and has continued to grow into the pad. When the nail is cut it can leave a nasty hole in the pad that then requires veterinary attention and usually a course of anti-biotics.  Can you imagine the pain a dog is put through as the nail firstly penetrates the pad and then continues to grow?

 

We are very happy to advise you on what is best for your pet. You may want to consider a Pawdicure for a holistic treatment.

​