How to Cut Your Pet’s Nails at Home (Including Tips for Nervous Pets)

Does the idea of trimming your pet’s nails make you nervous? If so, you’re not alone! However, I’ve got some good news – Nail trimming is a relatively easy task if done correctly. Let’s break it down and look at how to cut your pet’s nails at home safely and effectively.

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Pet nail trimming may sound like a fun spa trip, but this is much more than a bit of pampering. Overgrown nails can lead to significant pain and discomfort for your pet, making it incredibly important to stay on top of nail care.

Nail care is an IMPORTANT part of our pet’s overall health and hygiene!

For many pet owners, proper nail care has been as easy as a trip to a veterinarian or trusted groomer. However, with the current situation in our world, these services may not be available.

In many areas around the globe, groomers have been forced to close their jobs as they are not deemed an ‘essential service’ while veterinarians are required to limit their care to emergency situations. Unfortunately, a routine nail trimming doesn’t qualify…

Don’t forget to check out Part 1 of my Grooming at Home series ‘Groom Your Pets at Home (With Little to No Regrets)’ where we discuss proper bathing and brushing.

Stay tuned for Part 3: Ear Cleaning and Part 4: Dental Care.

Make sure to sign up for my mailing list so that you don’t miss them!

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If you’re reading this post, you’ve likely taken to the Internet in search of some guidance.

So, let’s get to it…

How to Cut Your Pet’s Nails at Home Safely and Effectively

Step 1: Gather the Necessary Supplies

Trying to wrangle your pet can be hard enough work when trimming their nails, you don’t need to add the stress of trying to find supplies in the moment.

Before you get started, take the time to gather up everything that you may need in advance. This includes not only the nail trimmer itself but also treats, styptic powder, and a towel, if necessary, to help you safely restrain a squirmy pet.

There are different types of pet nail trimmers on the market. Personally, I prefer a scissors-style trimmer like this Coastal Safari Professional Nail Trimmer for our medium to large-sized dogs.

Others may prefer a guillotine-style trimmer like this Coastal Safari Guillotine Nail Trimmer.

If you are cutting the nails of a small dog or a cat, you will want a smaller nail trimmer like the Coastal Lil Pals Nail Trimmer. Smaller still, the Living World Small Animal Nail Trimmer is designed for pets like rabbits and guinea pigs.

You will need to sharpen or replace your nail trimmers regularly to avoid them getting dull, making the process more uncomfortable for your pet.

Keep your pet’s favourite treats close at hand. This will help to make the whole process a positive one, easing their anxiety.

This could range from a healthy homemade treat like our Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats right down to a simple spoon full of peanut butter. The key is to stick with something that your pet knows and loves.

The Importance of Styptic Powder

Within a pet’s nail is a blood vessel referred to as the ‘quick’. If you cut a nail too short it will bleed, which is the result of cutting into this blood vessel.

To avoid cutting the quick, or ‘quicking’, cut back your pet’s nails in several small cuts.

Light-coloured nails will often allow you to see the quick through the nail, making it easier to avoid. In darker-coloured nails, watch for a gray to pink oval or ring at the cut surface of the nail. This is the point when you need to stop cutting as that is the quick coming to the surface.

Regardless of how careful you are, accidents happen. Styptic powder is a substance used by many veterinarians and professional groomers as it will both stop the bleeding and act as an antiseptic. You simply apply a small amount of the powder directly to the wound.

Styptic powder is easy to purchase online. With just a couple of clicks, you can have a product like Coastal Styptic Powder delivered straight to your door!

If you are in a hurry to cut your pet’s nails and don’t have styptic powder available, you can use cornstarch as a substitute.

Simply sprinkle some cornstarch onto a paper towel or in a small container and hold it against the nail. The combination of cornstarch with some pressure will help the blood to clot, effectively stopping the bleeding.

Other alternatives that you may have around your home include both flour and baking soda.

Step 2: Calm Your Pet

Before you start trimming your pet’s nails, take some time to calm your pet.

Your pet may be nervous or anxious, which is normal! Especially if you have never cut your pet’s nails at home in the past.

Allow him/her to see the tool before you start using it. This will give them a chance to get used to it before you are coming at them tool in hand.

REMEMBER: Your pet will feed off your energy. If you are overly nervous and anxious, this will rub off on your pet. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that you’ve got this!

Related: ‘11 Must-Have Apps for Pet Parents in 2020‘

Step 3: Get a Firm Grip on Your Pet’s Paw

This may be easier said than done, especially if your pet is squirmy or excitable.

In order to safely cut your pet’s nails, you need to have control of their paw. This means both seeing the nail (judging where to cut) as well as preventing the paw from moving while you are actively trimming.

This is where the towel mentioned in Step 1 may come in handy. Our sweet Jinx cat is NOT a fan of having her nails cut. However, if I cocoon her in a towel first, only pulling out the paw that I am working on, she is much calmer.

You will need to carefully brush any long hair back out of the way to ensure that you have a clear view of the nail.

Step 4: Time to Trim

Place a small portion of the nail in the trimmer. NOT the whole nail – Small cuts to avoid the quick.

The clipper should be placed parallel to the end of your pet’s nail, not the pet’s paw. The nails curve as they leave the paw meaning that placing the cutter parallel to your pet’s paw will take far more nail, increasing the risk of cutting the quick. This is generally a 45-degree angle to the paw itself.

You only want to cut the tip of the nail, not back past the nail’s curve.

Make sure to reward your pet throughout the process with praise and the occasional treat. This will help him/her to see nail trimming as a positive experience, meaning it will be less frightening next time.

Don’t forget the dewclaw located on the inside of your dog or cat’s paw.

Step 5: Repeat Regularly and Watch for Signs

How often you need to cut your pet’s nails will vary. Some pets will need their nails trimmed every 3-4 weeks while others can last a couple of months between trimmings.

As a pet owner, you will have to watch for signs that it is time.

The easiest and most obvious sign for many is the ‘clicking’ sound that occurs when your pet’s nails are hitting the ground. When their nails are the proper length, they will not actually make contact with the surface when your pet is walking.

Dogs that are regularly running or walking outdoors may actually wear down their nails, meaning that it needs to be done less often. A good reason to get out and take your pup for a walk daily!

Another way to see if it is time is to simply check your pet’s nail length.

Have the animal stand with their foot flat on the ground and look at where the nail rests in comparison to the ground. You should be able to pass a piece of paper between the nail and the ground. If not, it’s time for a trim!

Using A Nail Grinder

Some pets and their owners are more comfortable with the concept of a nail grinder rather than actually cutting their pet’s nails.

This is a tool that will slowly grind or file your pet’s nails away.

While the slower process will reduce your risk of accidentally cutting the quick of the nail, some animals will be impatient with how long this will take. Others will be uncomfortable with the noise or the vibration that comes from the grinder.

The only way to know if this is a good choice for you and your pet is through trial and error.

Purchase a high-quality nail grinder like this Conair Pro Dog Nail Grinder and don’t rush the process. The steps below will help to work your pet up to using the grinder like a pro!

Tips for Dealing With a Nervous Pet

If your pet is overly nervous during this process, you may want to take a step back and work up to the actual nail trim. This will give your pet a chance to get used to the nail clippers or grinder gradually at his/her own pace.

On the first day, simply leave your tools out for the pet to smell and investigate. Praise them near the tools so that they can see that they aren’t frightening.

When you see that your pet is comfortable with the presence of your tools, slowly and gently pick the tool up and touch it to your pet’s paws before rewarding them with praise and/or a treat.

You can then progress to squeezing the trimmers or turning on the grinder during this process so that he/she can get used to the sounds and the vibration of the grinder.

Remember: This is gradual, allow your pet to guide how quickly you move through this process!

As you reach the point of actually cutting your pet’s nails, don’t do all his/her nails at once. Instead, just do one or two and stop when you can see that he/she is getting uncomfortable. Gradually work this up over time.

Related: ‘12 Easy Ways to Save Money on Pet Food‘

Visual Learner? Check Out These Videos!

I know that there are some of you out there that prefer to learn by watching rather than reading the steps.

If you’re a visual learner, check out these videos from LakesVeterinaryHospital on YouTube. The first video is for smaller dogs, while the second video is for larger dogs.

Additional Tips and Tricks

• Always work in a well-lit room. If you can’t find a well-lit space, wearing a headlamp can make this process easier.
• A general rule of thumb: If you need glasses to read, you need glasses to trim your pet’s nails as well.
• Don’t squeeze your pet’s toes while trimming. This is incredibly uncomfortable for them and will only cause them to squirm more.

Have you cut your pet’s nails at home before? If so, do you have any tips or tricks to share?

Feel free to leave your advice in the comment section!