Afraid of Drawing Blood When Trimming Your Furry Friend's Nails? A Veterinarian Teaches a "Zero-mistake Trimming Guide"

When was the last time you trimmed your furry friend's nails? Many pet owners often wait until their pet's nails become curved and long, and they start walking strangely, before realizing it's time for a trim. Chen Qin-Tong, a veterinarian at Shuo Lian Animal Hospital, suggests that the best approach is to trim them regularly every one to two weeks. This prevents your pet from feeling discomfort or even pain due to overly long nails.

Chen Qin-Tong explains that overly long nails can cause deformation of the nails and toe joints, affecting normal walking. In more severe cases, the nails can grow inward into the paw pads, leading to suppuration or sepsis, and may even require surgical debridement, causing extreme pain for the pet.

How Much Should You Trim?

When trimming nails, many pet owners don't know how much to cut off. Chen Qin-Tong explains that if the pet's nails are transparent, you can clearly see the red blood vessels inside the nail. When trimming, simply avoid the quick (bloodline) and cut off the white, small portion at the front. However, some pets have black nails, making it impossible to directly see the blood vessel's direction. Therefore, it's recommended to cut only a little bit each time, no more than 1/4 of the nail's length, to avoid accidentally cutting the nerves or blood vessels, which can lead to significant bleeding.

What to Do If Bleeding Occurs

Don't panic if you accidentally cut too much and cause bleeding. Chen Qin-Tong advises to immediately apply pressure with gauze to stop the bleeding, for about 10 to 15 minutes. If the pet is cooperative, you can also apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel to help stop the bleeding. If the bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes, seek veterinary attention as soon as possible.

When bandaging, be careful not to wrap it too tightly or for too long, to avoid affecting blood circulation.

Choosing the Right Nail Clippers

There are many types of nail clippers on the market. How should you choose? Chen Qin-Tong suggests selecting according to the pet's size. For cats or small dogs, smaller scissor-type nail clippers are suitable. For medium and large dogs with harder nails, sturdier plier-type nail clippers are recommended, as they are easier to handle.

Training Your Pet

Many pets run away at the sight of nail clippers. Chen Qin-Tong suggests that owners can start training them from a young age or when they are first adopted, through handshake training or desensitization training, to get them used to having their feet touched. If your pet is particularly afraid of nail trimming, do not forcibly grab them to cut their nails. You can use treats as rewards to create a positive association between nail trimming and a pleasant experience, making the pet think that nail trimming is a happy thing. If you still cannot proceed smoothly, it is recommended to consult a veterinarian to assess whether to use home relaxation aids to help reduce the pet's stress and gradually adapt to the nail trimming process.