Why Do My Dog’s Nails Need Regular Trimming?

When a dog’s nails become too long they interfere with the dog’s gait and as the nails continue to grow, walking will become awkward and painful.
Untrimmed nails can also split resulting in a great deal of pain, bleeding, and a trip to the veterinarian’s office.In severe cases a dog’s nails can curl under and grow into the pad of the dog’s paw causing a very serious and painful infection.These types of ingrown nail problems are most common on the dewclaws. The dewclaws are the nails located on the inside of the paw.These nails don’t touch the ground, so they don’t wear down as fast as the others as your dog walks on rough surfaces. Trimming your dog’s nails regularly will easily prevent these problems.

How Do I Know When the Nails Need to be Trimmed?

When your dog’s nails are beginning to curve is one indication that your dog’s nails need a trim.
And if you hear a clicking or tapping sound as your dog walks across a bare floor it’s also time for a nail trimming.
It is best not to wait that long – once or twice a month is usually a good rule of thumb for dog nail trimming.
If you let your dog’s nails grow too long then it could take some time to get them back to a healthy length again. Regularly trimming the tips of your dog’s nails is the best approach.
Some dogs walk and run on rough surfaces and are able to wear down their nails, but most dogs will need some help.
You will get to know how fast your dog’s nails grow if you routinely inspect your pet’s nails. Even if you don’t actually trim them each time, regular inspection will help assure that your dog’s feet stay healthy. So, make nail inspection and dog nail trimming an important part of your dog’s routine grooming.