Caleb Foster
Cutting your dog's nails can be a stressful experience for both you and your dog. Long nails can cause pain and injury to your dog, so it's important to trim them regularly. The process can be made easier by first making sure your dog is comfortable with the feel of the clippers. This can be achieved by massaging your dog's paw and toes, and giving praise and treats when they react positively. When cutting, it's important to only cut the tip of the nail to avoid cutting into the quick, which will bleed and cause pain.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to cut a Shitzu's toenails | Pick up a paw and place your thumb on the pad of a toe and your forefinger on the top of the toe on the skin above the nail. Push your thumb slightly up and backward on the pad, while pushing your forefinger forward. This extends the nail. Clip only the tip of the nail, straight across. |
| How to make your dog comfortable with nail cutting | Lightly touch and massage the shoulder and work your way down to a paw. Begin massaging the paw and toes. Be sure to touch the nails while talking in a soothing, soft voice. Apply slight pressure to the nails and watch for your dog’s reaction. If they react positively, reward them with a treat. |
| How to avoid hurting your dog | Avoid clipping past the curve of the nail or you risk hitting the quick (the pink area of the nail that contains blood vessels). A nick there will be painful and will bleed. For dogs with dark nails, watch for a chalky white ring. |
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What You'll Learn
Make your dog comfortable
Making your dog comfortable during nail trimming is important. If your dog is new to trimming, laying them down on their side is the best position. You can also let the dog sit on your lap or hold it in your arms. If your dog has long hair, ensure that it is kept away from the grinding tool so it doesn't get caught.
It is important to keep your dog calm and relaxed. If your dog is uncomfortable, you can distract it by having someone else pet it, talk to it, or feed it treats. You should also stay calm, as your dog will pick up on your energy. If your dog is fearful of the clippers, you can try to desensitize it by letting it investigate the clippers when they are lying on the floor. You can then open and close them so it can hear the noise, and reward the dog with praise and treats. You can also try to pair the nail trimming with one or more things your dog loves, so it associates the procedure with good things. For example, you can let your dog lick peanut butter off a silicone wall mat while you trim its nails.
If your dog is still too stressed, you can try over-the-counter sedatives to calm it down. These include mild antihistamine sedatives like Benadryl, melatonin supplements, and natural sedatives like herbs (California poppy, chamomile, rosemary, or valerian).
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Expose the nail
Exposing the nail is an important step in the nail-trimming process for your Shih Tzu. It is important to expose the nail before trimming to avoid cutting into the quick, which can be painful and cause bleeding.
To expose the nail, gently hold the paw with your thumb and forefinger, and then gently spread the toes apart. This will give you access to the nail and allow you to inspect it before trimming. It is important to be gentle and calm during this process, especially if your Shih Tzu is squirmy or anxious about nail trimming. You can use treats and praise to help your dog associate nail trimming with positive experiences.
If your dog has light-colored nails, you will be able to see the quick, which is the pinkish area at the curve of the nail where the blood supply starts. Avoid this area when trimming, as cutting into it can be painful and cause bleeding. If you accidentally cut into the quick, you can use styptic powder or sticks to stop the bleeding, or apply pressure to the nail with a clean cloth for about five minutes.
Exposing the nail also allows you to inspect the dewclaws, which are the toenails on the inside of the front and back legs. Dewclaws can sometimes be neglected and grow long, curling around and back into the skin, causing pain and discomfort. By exposing the dewclaws and inspecting them, you can ensure that they are not overgrown and in need of trimming.
Overall, exposing the nail is a crucial step in the nail-trimming process for your Shih Tzu. It allows you to avoid cutting into the quick, inspect the dewclaws, and ensure that the trimming experience is safe and comfortable for your dog.
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Clip only the tip
When trimming a Shitzu's toenails, it is important to only clip the tip of the nail. Begin by firmly but gently placing your thumb on the pad of the toe and your forefinger on the top of the toe, above the nail. Push your thumb slightly up and backward on the pad, while pushing your forefinger forward. This will extend the nail.
Now, clip only the tip of the nail, cutting straight across. Be sure to include the dewclaws, located on the inner side of the paw. Avoid clipping past the curve of the nail, as this could cause pain and bleeding. If your dog has dark nails, look out for a chalky white ring. If your dog has long hair, make sure to keep it back from the clippers so it doesn't get caught.
It is important to trim your dog's nails regularly. If you do not, it can cause them pain and, in rare cases, irreversible damage. Unhealthy nails can also be a reflection of other health issues. Toenails should be trimmed every few weeks or as needed. The best time to trim them is immediately after bathing or showering, as the nails will be softer and easier to cut. If this is not possible, soak the nails in lukewarm water for a few minutes to soften them.
When trimming your dog's nails, be sure to use the proper tools. Use a nail clipper designed for toenails, as these are made to cut through thicker nails. Avoid using scissors or fingernail clippers, as they may not provide a clean cut. Keep your clippers clean and disinfected to prevent infection.
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Avoid the quick
Trimming a dog's nails can be a stressful experience for both the dog and the owner, especially when trying to avoid the quick. The quick is the pink area of the nail that contains nerves and blood vessels. Cutting the quick causes pain and bleeding, and it can expose the nerve to infection.
To avoid cutting the quick, you must first learn how a dog's nails work. A dog's nail consists of a living pink quick at the centre, surrounded by a protective pulp, which helps spread nutrients to keep the nail healthy. Over time, the nail grows out, and the pulp turns into more nail, with more pulp growing from the quick. Your goal with trimming is to cut back the nail enough to keep your dog's feet healthy, but not so much that it damages the quick.
To test sensitivity, you can give the nail you're about to trim a slight squeeze on the sides of the nail, right where you're about to cut. Since the nail portion has no nerves, your dog shouldn't react, so you can feel confident that you can safely trim that bit of nail. If, on the other hand, your dog pulls their paw away when you squeeze, it means you've put pressure on a nerve, and you would likely hit the quick if you were to clip at that point.
If you see a target or bullseye-shaped spot in the centre of the pulp, that's the quick. You're just on the verge of cutting too deep and should leave that nail alone. Trimming all the way to the quick is too deep and can be painful for your dog. If you don't trim enough, the nail will grow out, and the quick will grow with it. Then, the next time you trim your dog's nails, the quick will stick out further, and you won't be able to trim as much. This can lead to longer or even overgrown nails.
Regular nail maintenance is essential. Unhealthy nails can cause pain, and in rare instances, trigger irreversible damage to the dog. Regular nail trimming will cause the quick to recede from the end.
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Reward your dog
Rewarding your dog with treats and praise is a key part of the process of trimming their nails. It is important to begin dog training early in life, so that they can learn to relax when their nails are trimmed. Rewarding your dog with treats and praise when they are young puppies will help them to not develop a fear of the clippers.
You can start by letting your puppy sniff the nail clipper and rewarding them with a treat and praise. On the next day, touch the nail clipper lightly on each paw and again, reward with a treat and praise. On the third day, touch the nail clipper to each paw and squeeze the clipper so the puppy hears the sound, then reward them. On the fourth day, touch the nail clipper to your puppy's feet again and reward them. On the fifth day, try trimming off just the very tip from one front paw nail and reward them with a treat.
It is important to note that you should not trim too much off at first so as to avoid exposing the quick. The quick is the pink area of the nail that contains blood vessels. Cutting this area will be painful for your dog and will cause bleeding.
You can also reward your dog with praise and a treat after trimming each nail. It is not necessary to complete all four paws in a single session. You can aim to trim one or two nails followed by a break.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended that you trim your Shitzu's nails at least once a month.
It is best to start trimming your Shitzu's nails when they are young. You can train them by restraining them gently, talking to them calmly, and holding their toes firmly without cutting their nails. Once they are used to this, you can introduce nail clippers and trim the very tip of the nail.
Most Shitzu owners prefer guillotine-style clippers. To use these, place the toenail inside the metal loop, align the upper and lower blades with the area to cut, and squeeze the clipper handles.
