How to Give Your Dog a Pedicure?

Whether you have a puppy or an older dog, providing them with proper care is essential to their overall health. One thing that many dog owners don’t think about until their pet has a problem is that dogs need regular pedicures as well. If you don’t properly maintain their nails, your dog could end up with painful infections and other ailments. But don’t worry — we’ve got some tips on how you can give your furry friend the best doggy pedicure ever!

Tools You Need for Puppy Pedicure

A pedicure is a great way to bond with your puppy. The best part is that you don’t need expensive equipment; all you need is some grooming supplies, a thick towel, and styptic powder.

Nail clipper

Dog nail clippers are a simple, affordable tool that you can use to trim your dog’s nails. There are different types of nail clippers, including a guillotine-style clipper that cuts through the nail quickly and easily and scissor-style clippers that require more effort on your part but provide a more precise cut.

Nail grinder

Nail grinders are used to grind down long nails into manageable shapes. The process is much like filing your own nails — except you’re doing it for your dog! You can either buy an electric nail grinder or use one that runs on AAA batteries.

Styptic powder

If your dog gets a wound when getting its nails trimmed, the styptic powder might come in handy. The styptic powder contains ingredients like aluminum sulfate and zinc oxide that help stop bleeding from minor cuts and tears in your dog’s skin during grooming sessions.

Dog nail filer

A dog nail filer is used to smooth out the edges of each nail after they’ve been trimmed with scissors or clippers. Before buying, ensure the nail clipper has a coarse side so you can easily remove the unwanted burr without applying too much pressure. Ideally, it should be made of stainless steel material and feature a non-slip handle, making it easy to control and maneuver along the dog’s paw.

Steps to Trim Your Dog’s Nails Properly

Nail trimming is a quick and painless process. But if you don’t know how to do it properly, your dog could end up with sore paws or even painful infections. Follow the below-mentioned instruction for giving your dog a quick pedicure.

Start with a paw bath

Before trimming your dog’s nails, it’s important to give it a warm bath so that the paws are clean and dry. The warm water will also soften the nails and make them easier to clip.

Massage the paws

After giving your furry friend a bath, dry off each foot with a towel. Then massage each paw pad to soften the nails. A pre-nail-trim massage makes it easier for you to clip their nails without a fuss and comforts any over-sensitive areas.

Remove overgrown hair

Some dogs have stray hair on their paws that can get in the way when trimming nails. Nobody wants that. To remove this excess hair, use scissors or clippers to cut it off just above the nail line.

Trim the claws

Using a pair of sharp nail clippers, gently cut off any excess nail that extends past the pink part of their nail bed (this is called “the quick”). Be careful not to clip too much off at once — if you do, it might hurt or cause bleeding.

File claws with a dog nail filer

Once you have trimmed your dog’s nails, it is important to file them down with a dog nail filer immediately. Make sure there aren’t any jagged edges left behind that could cause pain or infection later on.

Apply some moisturizer

When you’re done filing your dog’s nails, apply some moisturizer or petroleum jelly to its paws, so they don’t get too dry. A good moisturizer will also prevent your dog’s nails from becoming brittle and keep them strong and healthy.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to give your dog a pedicure, you can do it anytime, anywhere, without having to make an appointment at the vet’s office. Just make sure to keep a lot of treats with you during the pedicure session — it will make the whole process easier for you and your pooch!