The Best Dog Nail Trimmer To Clip Down Their Claws

Whether it is a Bulldog, Dobermann, or a German Shepherd that you own, all dogs, just like humans, grow nails and sooner or later you are going to have to trim them off. One thing you should note before you start trimming your dog’s nails is that dogs hate having their nails trimmed. However, if left to grow too long, the nails can cause serious problems for your dog, first of which is the probability of your dog’s nails breaking off too low, causing a painful injury that could get infected. Other problems are the nails causing tears on your carpets, scratch marks on your wooden floors, and even on your skin during playtime.

Experts say that if you can hear the click-clack sound of your dog’s nail on the floor as it approaches, then its nails have grown too long and are due for trimming. So, your dog’s nails are not meant to be making contact with the floor! To ensure this, you should give your dog’s nails a trim every two or three weeks.

Importance of Trimming Your Dog’s Nails

Balance and agility

Your dog’s nails growing too long can affect its natural alignment, posture, and skeletal structure at large. It is important to keep its nails trimmed, to help maintain proper balance and agility.

To prevent the quick from growing out long

The “quick” is a core part of a dog’s nail bed that supplies blood, nutrients and aids sensitivity. When the nail is left to grow too long, the quick grows alongside, thus making it almost impossible to cut the dog’s nails because even the slightest of damage on the quick can be very painful for the dog.

To prevent broken nails and other mishaps

Long nails are bound to break eventually, and this can be very painful. Aside from the dangers of broken nails, when your dog’s nails grow too long, it can cause the nail to grow into the paw pad, joint pain, and general inconvenience. All of these, depending on how severe they are, could be costing you a lot of money to fix up at the vet’s.

Types of Dog Nail Trimmers

Guillotine trimmers

These come with a round hole in the middle, into which the nail is inserted. When the handles are squeezed, an internal blade begins to cut the nails.

Nail clippers

These make use of sharp blades to trim off the nail tips. They come in different styles, depending on which one suits your dog best.

Scissors-like trimmers

These are the most common types of dog nail trimmers. They come shaped like scissors or pliers and are very easy to use.

Nail grinders

As the name implies, these are instruments that reduce your dog’s nails by mechanized filing. The sound of the grinder, more often than not, gets a lot of dogs uneasy which can make the process difficult. Also, it produces a lot of heat on the nail bed which causes pain for the dog. Aside from all of these, however, it is an efficient tool and is preferred by some dog-owners.

What to Look Out For in a Dog Nail Trimmer

Here are a few tips on what to look for when purchasing a nail clipper for your canine partner.

Safety guard

Before buying a nail trimmer, be sure to confirm that it has a safety guard that prevents cutting the nails too short and too quickly. It acts as more of a stopper to ensure you don’t go low enough to cause any damage to your dog’s nail bed.

Non-slip handles

When trimming your dog’s nails, you need steady hands and a firm grip to avoid slips, and this is what a sturdy, non-slip handle gives. Sturdy handles are way better than sleek ones because they help give you a firm grip on the trimmer, thereby making the process much cleaner and faster.

Razor sharp blades

Not a lot of dogs have the patience needed to get their nails clipped, and this is why you need a trimmer with blades that are sharp enough to cut through thick nails quickly and efficiently. Also, trimming with a blunt object could prove to be a painful experience for your dog and the last thing you want is for it to associate pain with the trimming process.

Bright LED lights

The purpose of this light is to make visible the bloodline on your dog’s nail so you know exactly where to not cut. This prevents bleeding and pain, which can make the whole process messy.

Built-in nail file

Nail files make the cleanup process easier and give a smoother and finer feel to your dog’s nails when you’re done trimming.

Price Ranges for Dog Nail Trimmers

Inexpensive

$5-15: At this price, you can purchase the basic scissors-like trimmer that possesses all the necessary features.

Mid-range

$15-25: Most of the equipment in this price range are nail grinders that come with LED lights and in-built batteries.

Expensive

$25-50: These are the expensive nail trimmers, and they no doubt come with features that make the nail trimming process easier for you and your canine partner.