12. Trimming Your Pet’s Nails

Many pets have nails that need to be trimmed, some more frequently than others. If your pets goes in for regular grooming you may not need to trim their nails between these appointments. I personally trim my dogs nails, some of my birds (my Vet does them for my Amazon Parrots). Keeping your pet’s nails trimmed can help them walk more comfortably , less likely to get caught on something & won’t be clicking all over your floor. With birds that are tame & held it makes it more comfortable for your hands, & arms. Cats, Rabbits, guinea pigs & ferrets are not going to poke you with sharp long nails if they are kept manicured. If your pet is not comfortable with you touching their feet, let a professional do it, you don’t want your pet scared & have them lose trust in you(hurts your bond).

Dog nails can be done with a Cordless Dremel tool with sanding discs attached like the one in this link. https://amzn.to/4btPIBP I like the Dremel brand as it has been around a long time & a reliable brand. Cordless is so much easier to work with & dogs not going to get tangled in the cord. Not all dogs are comfortable with a Dremel, so a hand held pair of clippers can be a great option. There are a variety of types & I’ll link a few here. I believe they should feel comfortable in your hand & have a safety guard. I use one like this the most for my dogs: https://amzn.to/3EPUFZb You can also get ones with an LED light to help you see the quick: https://amzn.to/4hO3qle This is another style of clippers for nail trimming https://amzn.to/41ucmXj

When trimming a cats nails I recommend a pair that look more like scissors, like the ones in this link: https://amzn.to/41teRJt When I would trim my cats nail & I was alone I would bundle her up in a blanket, she was comfortable this way, but some cats won’t be. If your cat is not use to getting their feet touched & nail trimmed you may want to leave this to the professionals as a cat bite can be dangerous. It an enzyme they have in their saliva that can get infected if the bite breaks the skin. There are these awesome cat covers for your cats nails that round off the points & they can last up to 6 weeks. People I know that use them find their cats respond quite well after the initial getting used to. https://amzn.to/4berDP8 Or maybe your cat would red in color https://amzn.to/4gUYlGD A scratching post is also a great way to help keep their nails duller.

When cutting a rabbits nails I like these clippers, they are small & easy to handle https://amzn.to/3ERHgQw When cutting a rabbits nails it is easier if you sit & lay the rabbit on their back between your legs facing you. Rabbits do not move much when on their backs & you can safely trim their nails.

Cutting a Guinea pigs nails is similar to cutting a rabbits, I like the same type of nail clippers https://amzn.to/3ERHgQw Note that guinea pigs are bottom heavy to their back ends should always be supported with a hand when picking them up. If not their spine can be injured. So keep this in mind when your trimming their nails, keep their backside (bottom) supported at all times.

Cutting a ferrets nails is easier with two people, but I did it alone quite a bit. They can be held by the scruff (this is not painful for them) by one person & nails trimmed by another. These nail trimmers are small not & great if you’re trimming alone as well as if you have help. https://amzn.to/3XgsVmP

Cutting a bird’s nails is best with two people unless you are experienced & have a small or very tame bird. If your not experienced at this please have an experienced person show you how it ‘s done. A bird is wrapped in a towel & their neck is held so it can not bite the people or move and risk injury. Birds do not breathe from their neck, they breathe from their diaphragm, so DO NOT put pressure on a birds chest. The size of trimmer is going to vary on the size of the bird. I have used a Dremel with my larger birds, of course doing this with two people, one holding & I trimmed/dremeled. If you have a friend with birds who knows how to properly trim nails trade favors & help each other. If not have your Vet do it or if you have a local bird store near you see if they do this. If they do the fee is usually worth it not to stress you or your bird. Best to take your bird when not real cold out, if you have to please wrap up the carrier so no chance of exposure to a draft. Small bird nail clippers link https://amzn.to/4k9i8ou Clippers for medium to larger birds https://amzn.to/4k8Dbrc

I hope you found this helpful, I will be doing more blogs about at home grooming tips. Please subscribe so you don’t miss out when I post more great pet care information. Thanks for reading, Debbie

Please be sure before you start that you have everything you will need. If trimming your dogs nails a stuffed frozen Kong: https://amzn.to/3EPWo0I can be a great distraction while you trim their nails. Fill it the day before with high quality canned dog food, a few dog high quality dog treats or their dog food, & maybe a small amount of: blueberries, carrot pieces, peas or other fruit or veggie your dog likes. Fill it so it is full so they won’t be done before you then freeze it. Please don’t use cheese, most people don’t know dogs are lactose intolerant. They may like dairy, but their intestines & stomachs really don’t. Be sure and have a Styptic powder product in case you nick the quick (blood supply in nail). https://amzn.to/41slYlc or https://amzn.to/439rZES

If trimming nails is new to you then ask a friend who has experience to help you, you can help each other with the pets and this usually helps things to go smoother & easier for all involved. I want to say again this should not be a stressful nail grooming session for you or the pet, fear free or let a professional help you out.