The Importance Of Picking The Best Dog Nail Clippers
The clattering of paws on your floor as your dog rushes to the door to meet you when you get home from work might be a comforting sound for you, but it might not be an enjoyable experience for your dog. The clattering means that your dog is due for a nail trimming session.
Clipping nails can be an anxiety-laden experience for many dogs and it may even cause aggressive or fearful behaviour. If your dog is whimpering, covering, snarling, growling or displaying any other unusual behaviour, it means that it’s afraid or uncomfortable.
If you’re in a hurry and you want to know our top pick for the best dog nail clipper, here it is:
- PROFESSIONAL GRADE, PREMIUM QUALITY - Don’t fret yourself with sub-par products. Used by...
- SUPER EASY TO USE - Even if it’s your first time trimming your dog’s nails, our dog nail...
- DESIGNED FOR SAFETY FIRST - Worried about over-cutting? No need to feel nervous! Nail trimming...
However, a dog’s claws need to be well groomed and trimmed to maintain good health and hygiene. The first step is making sure your dog is comfortable and relaxed during the process. The second step is getting your hands on a pair of safe and dog-friendly clippers to make the trim comfortable and accident-free.
If your dog has sensitive paws you will need to hold and touch its paws frequently to help your dog get used to the sensation. Otherwise, it won’t let you go near its paws with a clipper.
Another way to calm down your dog before a trim is to divert its attention using a treat. You can offer treats to keep your dog occupied as you trim its nails. Something like peanut butter that can be consumed without a lot of movement is an ideal diversion.
There are a lot of things to keep in mind when trimming your dog’s nails. A dog’s nails should not contact the ground when it’s standing on a firm and level surface. However, it shouldn’t be too short as to not give it the traction necessary to climb hills or inclined surfaces.
It should be cut just enough to retain functionality without causing the dog any pain. In fact, clipping the nail too close can injure the vein in the nail bed and cause infections.
The Structure of a Dog’s Nail
To figure out the right length, you will first need to know how a dog’s nails are structured. Your dog’s nails consist of two parts—the quick and the shell.
The quick runs through the core of your dog’s nail. It is the living pink part that contains nerves and blood vessels. The quick supplies blood to the nail and since it contains nerve endings the quick is very sensitive. The shell is the hard outer material that protects the quick. It is longer than the quick.
If you let your dog’s nail get too long or you got a rescue dog whose nails haven’t been trimmed in a while, you will need to go easy on the trims. The longer you let the nail grow the longer the quick gets. So if you trim back a lot you may end up cutting the quick.
If you are a beginner, it is better to go to a professional to groom your dog’s nails. You can even learn how to do it from a professional if you haven’t done it before. But just in case you cut a nail too short, don’t beat yourself up over it.
While it can cause a lot of discomfort for your dog, you just need to ensure that it gets the proper care. Try to stop the bleeding using clotting sticks or styptic powder. If the bleeding does not stop in a few minutes take our dog to the vet’s office and get it looked at by a professional.
You may think that you don’t really need to cut your dog’s nails for cosmetic reasons. However, many problems can affect your dog if you do not groom its nails properly.
Unkempt long nails can initially cause a lot of pain to your dog and it may even result in musculoskeletal issues. Long nails affect your dog’s posture and can result in a lot of problems including:
- Pain while walking
- Splayed feet
- Reduced traction
- Deformed feet
- Injured tendons
- Broken nails
Once you’ve ensured that your dog isn’t anxious or scared of getting its nails clipped you need to get your hands on the right tools to trim safely. We’ve put together a list of the best dog toenail clippers on the market to make your choice a whole lot easier.
If you suspect your dog has a broken nail, please see our article first on how to attend to this serious problem right away!
Our Reviews
It can be confusing to figure out which nail clipper is the best for you, so we’ve gone ahead and done the difficult work of looking at all of them. Here are our picks for the best dog nail clippers in the UK:
1. Thunderpaws Professional-Grade Dog Nail Clippers
- PROFESSIONAL GRADE, PREMIUM QUALITY - Don’t fret yourself with sub-par products. Used by...
- SUPER EASY TO USE - Even if it’s your first time trimming your dog’s nails, our dog nail...
- DESIGNED FOR SAFETY FIRST - Worried about over-cutting? No need to feel nervous! Nail trimming...
The Thunderpaws Professional-Grade Dog Nail Clippers is used by veterinarians and professional groomers to trim back nails. This well-designed clipper made using high-quality materials is the perfect companion to help you groom your dog’s paws right at home and save you big on bills.
The high-quality stainless steel blades ensure that you get a clean and smooth cut in one go. The non-slip rubber handles with spring action ensure that the trimmer is easy to handle even on tough nails.
While trimming and cutting your dog’s nails is important to keep your furry friend healthy and pain-free, it is equally important that you do not trim off too much and cause your dog pain. The protective guard on this particular model helps prevent over-trimming.
Since the blades on this dog nail cutter are quite sharp you can’t just leave it lying around. The safety lock feature helps you lock and store the trimmer properly. It even comes with a nail file in the handle to smooth over any sharp edges after you’ve clipped the nails.
This professional trimmer is an affordable model that will last you many years.
Advantages:
- Used by professional groomers and veterinarians
- High-quality stainless steel blades
- Ergonomically designed non-slip rubber handles
- Safety guard on blades to prevent over trimming
- Comes with a nail file inside the handle
- Safety lock feature so that you can avoid accidents
Disadvantages:
- May not be as effective on very large dogs
- Some customers could not see the nail properly as the guard and the blades obscured the nail from view
2. Iokheira Dog Nail Clippers
- 🐶Sharp and Durable Curved Blade: The blades of Iokheira dog nail clippers are made of...
- 🐶Convenient Blade Block Design: When you trim your dog's nails, the blade block can prevent the...
- 🐶Ergonomic Non-slip Handles: This dog nail clipper comes with rubber handles is easy to grasp. It...
The Iokheira Dog Nail Clippers are high-grade stainless steel blade clippers used by professionals and have a sharp and durable curved blade. You can trim your pet’s nails easily and quickly. They can be used on medium as well as large dogs since the blade is sharp and cuts precisely.
Since the blades have a removable safety guard attached to prevent over trimming, you can rest assured that you are not hurting your dog while giving a trim. The semicircular indentations on the blades also help improve visibility even with the safety guard in place.
The convenient Blade Block Design lets you prevent the cut nails from splashing while trimming. This ingenious design saves cleaning time.
The rubberized handles are comfortable to grip and the spring-loaded design helps prevent hand fatigue and strain. This makes cutting even the toughest nails an at home job. The built-in nail file stored in the handle helps you smooth any sharp edges after you have trimmed them.
Advantages:
- High-quality polymer handle that offers a good grip on the trimmer
- Sharp blade crafted using high hardness steel
- Blade block to prevent over trimming and hurting your dog
- Safety locker on the handle to ensure that it does not cause any accidental injuries
- Comes with built-in nail file made of quenched steel
- Suitable not just for cats but also for cats, rabbits and birds
Disadvantages:
- It is difficult to unlock the safety locker
- Some customers did not receive the built-in nail file
3. Candure Dog Nail Clippers
- Design: Candure Dog Nails Clippers and Pet Trimmers is Professionally Designed For Claw Cut. It's a...
- Deal: Candure Dog Nail Clippers with Nail File is Ideal For Small , Medium And Large Dogs. This...
- Ergonomic And Easy To Use:Ergonomically designed non-slip handles are strong,lightweight,and...
Candure makes dog nail clippers that are easy-to-use and effective. They not only help trim your dog’s nails but also work effectively on other pets like cats, rabbits and birds.
The protective guard helps to prevent over trimming, ensuring that your dog has a pain-free grooming experience. The safety lock ensures that the sharp blades do not cause any accidents and makes storage easier.
This lightweight and comfortable design can easily fit in your hand. Moreover, the ergonomically designed non-slip handles equipped with spring action of moderate elasticity makes cutting nails easier and reduces the strain on your hand despite the toughness of the nail.
The nail file that you get along with the clipper helps you smooth over any sharp edges created by the trimming.
Advantages:
- The protective guard over the blades helps prevent over trimming
- Easy-to-use lightweight design
- Non-slip spring action handles that are easy to use even on tough nails
- Comes with an additional nail file to add the perfect finishing touch to your trim
- Safety lock feature on handle for ease of storage
Disadvantages:
- The nail file is not strong enough to shape tough nails
- Some customers felt that the blades were not sharp enough for dogs that have very tough nails
4. Laika Professional Dog Nail Clippers and Trimmers
- 🐶Professional Recommends: Laika dog nail clippers are ergonomically designed powerful and...
- 🐱One-time Cuts: Laika dog nail trimmers are made of high quality 3.5mm thick stainless steel...
- 🐶User-friendly Design: Laika pet trimmer is designed to keep you comfortable while grooming your...
The Laika Professional Dog Nail Clippers are recommended by animal trainers, veterinarians, and professional pet groomers. The cute blue trimmers come in an easy-to-use design that is guaranteed to make the experience hassle-free for the dog and yourself.
The handles are non-slip and easy to grip ensuring that you don’t get into any unfortunate and bloody accidents even with a fussy dog. The thick spring makes trimming even tough nails easier.
This model is equipped with a safety stop blade to reduce the risk of cutting nails too short. The nail file hidden in the handle helps add the finishing touch to your grooming session.
The handle also comes with a safety lock for easy storage.
Advantages:
- Equipped with a safety guard to avoid over trimming
- A nail file is hidden in the handle
- Equipped with razor-sharp blades to make cuts easier
- Features sturdy non-slip handles
- Safety lock for easy storage
Disadvantages:
- The removable guards move around a lot when trimming nails
- Some customers with large dogs found the blades were not sharp enough
How to Trim Your Dog’s Nails
Step 1
Pick up the paw gently and hold it steady and firm. Make sure your dog is comfortable and not tense or anxious before you actually start trimming. You can do this by offering a treat.
Step 2
Hold the paw firmly and ensure that your dog’s fur is out of the way and the nails are visible properly.
Step 3
To extend the nail, use your forefinger and thumb. Push the nail forward using your forefinger and push the pad backwards using your thumb to expose the nail fully.
Step 4
Clip the nail in small bits by placing a tiny bit in the nail clipper. Always make sure you cut straight across the nail. This is to ensure that you don’t cut through the quick and leave your dog in pain. (Image source: Pinterest)
Step 5
Snip as close to the curve of the nail but avoid cutting the curve as you may hit the quick. If you do hit the quick, don’t panic. Try to stop the bleeding using a clotting powder and clean up the paw using a wet cloth.
Step 6
Make sure you don’t forget to trim down the dewclaws as well. Since they don’t come into contact with the ground as often as the other claws they might even need to be trimmed more often. (Image source: Facebook)
Step 7
In case you accidentally clip too far on the nail, your dog may experiencing some bleeding. If you can, try wrapping up your dog’s paw and nail in a clean or sterile piece of gauze, or a clean towel. Apply pressure to the toe affected, and check after five minutes, then after ten. If it has stopped bleeding, you can then move onto step three.
However, if the nail or toe is still bleeding at this point, you may need to cauterise the wound. You can do so with silver nitrate (in the form of sticks), with cauterising powder, or even with flour. If you are unsure of what to do or the bleeding does not stop, please call the vet immediately.
Final Verdict
Trimming your dog’s nails is important for aesthetic as well as health reasons. Professional-grade dog nail clippers like the one’s from Thunderpaws do a pretty good and swift job of trimming your dog’s nails. This makes it a comfortable experience for you as well as our dog.
Many dogs can be fussy and uncooperative when you try to groom the nails, however, with a little bit of practice and the right tools you can stop rushing to the vet or a professional groomer every time your dog needs a cut.
You no longer have to spend tonnes of money on trips to the Vet when you can clip your dog’s nails from the comfort of your homes. If you want to buy our choice for the best dog nail clippers uk, you can do so below:
- PROFESSIONAL GRADE, PREMIUM QUALITY - Don’t fret yourself with sub-par products. Used by...
- SUPER EASY TO USE - Even if it’s your first time trimming your dog’s nails, our dog nail...
- DESIGNED FOR SAFETY FIRST - Worried about over-cutting? No need to feel nervous! Nail trimming...
FAQs
Do I Have to Trim My Dog’s Nails?
While many people think that cutting a dog’s nails is only done for cosmetic reasons this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Nails that have grown too long can cause a lot of discomfort and health issues in your furry friend.
Dogs in the wild traversed rough terrains that automatically wore down their claws to the perfect length. However, domesticated dogs need a helping hand from their owners to avoid discomfort and pain.
So yes, you do have to trim your dog’s nails and not just for aesthetic reasons.
How Often Should I Cut My Dog’s Nails?
Your dog’s nails should not make a clattering sound on the floor when it’s walking around the house. Depending on the breed and lifestyle the rate of nail growth can vary.
Just ensure that your dog’s nails don’t touch the floor when it’s standing on a level surface and you’re good to go.
How Do I Trim the Nails of a Dog with Sensitive Paws?
The first thing you have to ensure before trimming your dog’s nails is that your dog is not sensitive or scared.
You can touch and hold your dog’s paws from the time you get it so that it doesn’t feel anxious or uncomfortable when you touch its paws. You can also distract it using a treat and trim the nails while your dog is enjoying its snack.
How Far Do I Have to Trim Back My Dog’s Nails?
This depends on the positioning of the quick. If you’ve let the nails grow too long the chances are that the quick has gotten quite long as well. So you might need to trim it back little by little before you reach the ideal length.
Ideally, you should have stopped cutting right before you got to the quick. If your dog has light nails you can use a flashlight to determine the position of the quick. However, if your dog has dark nails, you should trim it back little by little to avoid hurting your dog.
Can I use a dog nail grinder instead of a nail trimmer?
While both dog nail grinders and nail trimmers serve the same purpose of keeping your dog’s nails short, many dog owners find themselves wondering which is better. The honest answer is that it depends on both the dog and the owner. Grinders work by slowly grinding down the nail, making them ideal for dogs who are anxious or resistant to having their nails trimmed. In addition, grinders allow you to have more control over the length of the nail, which can be helpful if you are concerned about trimming too close to the quick. However, it is important to note that grinders can be noisy and may take some time to get your dog used to. Grinders can also be difficult to control, and it is very easy to accidentally take off too much nail.
Nail trimmers, on the other hand, are much simpler to use and provide a greater degree of control. They are also relatively quiet and very quick! If you decide to use a grinder, start with short sessions and gradually increase the length of time you spend grinding your dog’s nails.
Related Articles: