Clipping a dog's nails can be a real challenge for many owners.
Using traditional dog nail clippers can be especially problematic.
Running through the nail is a nerve and vein called the “quick.”
Nicking or cutting this sensitive band of tissue is very painful for the dog –
and messy for the owner, as blood often continues oozing from the cut
nail for what seems like an eternity. (Keeping a styptic-powder product
(such as Kwik-Stop) on hand can help promote clotting and shorten the
misery.
What do you do if you cut into the quick? The following article explains what to have on hand and some of the alternatives to Styptic powder What To Do If You Cut the Nail Quick of Your Dog – Top Dog Tips
If a dog’s feet have been neglected for months (or even years) at a time, it
might take months to shorten those nails to a healthy, pain-free length.
But if you keep at this regularly, it should get easier for the dog to
exercise. And the more he/she moves, the more the nails will come into
contact with the ground in a way that will help wear the nails down and
help the quicks to recede.
The Digger Dog Nail File is a unique scratch board for dog nail trimming. Designed specifically for a dog's more problematic front nails - these grow faster and get less worn-down during movement - the Digger Dog Nail File is a great alternative to dog nail clippers, dog nail grinders and regular dog nail files.
An Australian Invention, the Digger Dog Nail File is the first of its kind in the world and is Made in Australia. It is available on Amazon.com and on www.diggerdognailfile.com.
Here is an article by Jae Thomas, posted in the American Whole Dog Journal. The Digger Dog Nail File was voted runner-up in Best Dog Scratch Pad.
The Best Dog Scratch Pads for Fear-Free Nail Trims - Whole Dog Journal (whole-dog-journal.com)
The Digger Dog Nail File has a special treat drawer which gets opened by the owner, following the dog's scratching / digging action on the special abrasive surface. This way, the dog uses its natural instinct to dig, gets a food reward and files its own front nails - all without stress!
Some dogs have a more dominant paw, so the nails on one paw may get more filed down than the nails on the other paw. If the dog uses one paw only, it can also file down the nails on that paw to the point where they start to bleed, because the quick has been exposed by the shortened nails. Even though this is a much more gradual process (as compared to using dog nail clippers) and the dog often stops using that paw once it feels the quick, it is still important to know how to prevent or minimize this happening.
One easy strategy is to put a doggie boot onto the dominant paw, before using the Digger Dog Nail File with your dog. This way, the dog will be encouraged to use the other paw to file down those nails. Once this little trick is implemented, your dog can continue to happily file down its front nails without any stress to him/her OR to you, the owner.
