8. How to Clip a Pet's Nails - Kennelwood Pet Resorts

Important Ideas to Keep in Mind: The more comfortable your pet is, the less they will resist you while filing. Consider keeping the pet’s foot as low as you can and still get the nails clipped. If you pull the leg to the side and up too high, it is uncomfortable for the pet. They will try to pull their leg away from you. In a worst-case scenario, this can cause injury to the pet.

Assess your pet before beginning. Do you need someone to hold the pet or is the pet secure enough? Is the pet so excited that they may need to stay on the floor while having their nails clipped? Would it help to have someone hold the pet in a corner of the room? Holding a pet in a corner helps to prevent them from backing up, in some cases. Is the pet known for trying to roll or is this a possibility? Rolling is very dangerous and difficult to work through. Often, when a pet tries to roll while you are clipping the nails, the groom tech should stop the procedure and consider referring the pet to a vet for nail clipping.

Consider what is going on in the area where you will be clipping the nails. Is there a lot of noise? Are there a lot of other dogs moving around in the area? Are the groomers next to you working with difficult pets? Do you have enough room to safely move around and restrain your pet on the table? If there is a lot of activity, you need to consider the effect of Trigger Stacking? Trigger Stacking means that several small stimuli that a dog feels, that may not ordinarily cause a reaction, but happen at the same time or back-to-back. All this stimulation causes a reaction in the pet that might seem excessive or unexpected if the handler is only considering the immediate stimulus and not all the others that have occurred. For instance, a pet barking nearby, maintenance working in the area, another dog on a nearby table being squirmy, having just struggled with your pet for brushing, grabbing the nail clippers, and finally picking up the foot on your dog, might cause a reaction. To the handler, it seems the pet just reacted to picking up the foot. If this happens, look around and see if any of the triggers can be reduced or eliminated before trying again.

Special Note: Some pets react poorly to nail clipping and behave much better with nail filing (see separate “How To” instructions). However, nail filing is often an additional charge for the client. Performing this service without charging for it may cause the client to expect nails to be shorter and rounder on later visits without an additional charge. Communication with the client about what is best for the pet, and any additional charges that may apply to provide that higher level of service, often remedies the situation.

Equipment: For large dogs, we recommend the Miller’s Forge orange handled dog nail clippers. Your nail clipper should resemble a short-nosed scissors. Do not use a guillotine type nail clippers. There are difficult to use and can cause you to trim the nail incorrectly. For medium sized dogs, use a smaller version of the Miller’s Forge clippers. You will also need cat nail clippers for a small dog or for cats.

Finally, we are ready to begin.

Dog Nail Clipping

Gather any tools that you will need for nail clipping before you begin. Needed tools may include nail clippers, quick stop to stop bleeding if you make a mistake, electric clippers to trim the fur on the paw pads, and baby wipes.
Properly restrain your pet on the table with a groomer’s noose and any other restraints or people that you have decided are necessary for this pet.
Prepare to pick up one of the pet’s rear feet (front feet can cause more of a reaction with the pet). Touch the pet at the hip first. Run your hand down the leg to the foot before picking it up. This warns the pet that you will be handling the leg, and it decreases the chance of the pet reacting if the foot is pulled from underneath with no advance warning.
Check how your pet balances and stands with the foot lifted. Do you need to put your knee under the pet’s belly to support them? If this puts you off balance because the pet is squirming, do you need someone to hold the pet? A helper can put a hand or arm under the pet’s belly.
Lift the foot so that their leg is aligned with the body and do not crank the joint to the side and up high. Incorrect posture can cause injury to the pet’s leg.
Look at the pet’s foot and see if any hair is around the area of the nails. If so, ensure that all hair is pulled back and away from the nail so that you can better see the nails. Some pets will bite at the clippers. Be prepared for this reaction and ensure that your pet is properly restrained before beginning.
Isolate one nail that you wish to start with and hold that nail or paw pad between your fingers. This will provide stability so that when you close the clippers around the nail, you will be able to get a clean cut.
Each nail has an internal blood supply. If you cut or into this area, it will bleed and be painful for the pet. It is also sensitive just before you get to this area. This is like our own nails; they are sensitive when you break one very short. Determining where the quick is located can be easy on light colored nails. You can usually see the red blood supply if you look at the nail from the side. Dogs with dark colored nails are more difficult to determine where to cut. Clip a little off the nail if you are feeling unsure, then look at the cut end of the nail. If the end of the nail has a white coloring if you are far from the quick. You can trim a little more off and look at the end of the nail again. When the cut or end becomes dark in color, you are getting close and should stop. Also look at the natural arch of the nail. It is usually best to stop near the peak of the curve of the nail.
If the nail bleeds, get some Quick Stop powder and hold it to the quick at the end of the nail to help the blood clot. Hold pressure and powder on the cut end until bleeding stops. This may take several minutes, especially if the pet’s blood pressure is high due to stress (do not use Quick Stop on skin). This is a common error with groomers. It is only to be used on nails. Get medical attention if pressure with a clean cloth does not stop bleeding of the skin.
Finish all nails on the rear foot.
Check if the pet has dew claws, which are a 5^th claw higher up on the inside of the leg. Some pets even have two dew claws. Sometimes dew claws are just attached by skin only and move freely. Be especially careful when trimming these nails, but they do need to be well trimmed as they are the most likely nails to catch and tear while the pet is playing.
Move to the other side of the pet and begin on the nails of the next foot. You need to physically move around the pet and not pull the leg under and through the other. Twisting of the leg can cause injury. Remember to keep the pet’s leg in line with the body.
Move to a front leg. Before beginning, ensure that the pet is restrained from biting at the clippers and is calm while you lift the leg.
Touch the pet at the shoulder first. Run your hand down the leg to the foot before picking it up. This warns the pet that you will be handling the leg, and it decreases the chance of the pet reacting if the foot is pulled from underneath with no advance warning.
You may trim the nails with the foot remaining upright or you may fold the paw so that the pad is facing upward. Either method works and depends on the preference of the groomer. Just ensure that the pet is comfortable with whichever way you choose.
Front feet are more likely to have attached dew claws. Gently trim there, but trim well to prevent these nails from tearing while to pet is playing at home.
Once the nails have all been trimmed, the fur between the paw pads needs to be clipped off. Clipping the fur between the paw pads helps keep the pet clean while playing outside and provides them better traction when walking on slick indoor floors.
A #10 blade is usually used to trim the hair between the toes. Higher numbered blades give a shorter trim, but the use of these blades is for experienced groomers only. Inspect your clippers for any broken teeth on the blade. If any teeth are missing from the metal blade, the pet’s pad can be cut.
Pick up each foot following the above procedure. Begin by gently running the clipper over the flat surface of the paw pad while holding the toes closed. Do not trim the hair on the top of the foot. Once the hair has been removed from the bottom of the foot, gently separate the toes by using one finger and pulling back on one of the outside toenails. This “opens up” the paw pad. Scoop down into the pad and up the other side to trim between the toes with the clipper. Next, use one finger to pull back on the other outside toenail of this foot. Repeat the scooping movement with the clipper (if the pet is squirmy, consider skipping scooping out the pads to prevent injury). Also consider skipping this step if the hair is very short. If there are matts between the toes and you are not sure how to proceed, get the help of someone more experienced. Some pets have red, irritated feet from licking caused by allergies. Skip scooping the hair out of the paw pads if this is the case.
If you cannot get the mats out of a paw pad, get a stylist or someone more experienced to help. Make sure you check the pads well. If mats are left in the paw pad, it will cause irritation.
If you have had to remove large mats from the paw pad, notify the owner at pick up because the pet may have a little irritation to the area after the groom. A little corn starch can be added to soothe the skin.
Move around to the other side of the dog and continue until all four feet are completed.
Give your pet a pat for being a good dog. If the pet is allowed to have treats, you can use one to reward them. Sometimes using treats while clipping helps, but often it makes the procedure more difficult due to the pet squirming to get the treats. If this is the case, but you want to reward the pet, use a treat when you are all done.
If your pet is not getting a bath next, give your pet a spray of Sadie & Willow Cologne Spray if the owner’s instructions allow for this and decorate them with a bow or bandana.
Celebrate with your pet! You are both done!

Cat Nail Clipping

Cat nail clipping always requires two people. Cats should always be considered higher risk. A cat bite to a human nearly always requires medical attention or the bite area will get infected. Cats are harder to hold onto if they decide to decline their service and leave the area. Cats are not used to the type of handling needed to groom them and are likely to escalate quickly into erratic behavior.
Cats must always wear a cat muzzle or an Elizabethan collar while being groomed. Many styles of cat muzzles also hide the cat’s eyes. This helps decrease reactivity in some cases. It may make it worse in others. If the cat reacts badly to a muzzle, use two E collars with a smaller one inside of a larger one. Two collars help to prevent the collar from slipping out of position. Using E collars helps to prevent injury to the groomer but also allows the cat to see.
Consider holding your cat in a towel like a burrito (see separate instructions for a burrito hold). This helps to hold the cat still and prevent injury to you and the cat.
Gather any tools that you will need for nail clipping before you begin. Needed tools may include nail clippers, quick stop to stop bleeding if you make a mistake, and electric clippers to trim the fur on the paw pads.
It’s time to bring out your cat. Look at how the cat is behaving before reaching into an enclosure. You may need special cat gloves or a towel to get your cat safely onto the table.
Properly restrain your pet on the table with a muzzle, a towel, and any other restraints or people that you have decided are necessary for this pet.
Check if your cat has claws on all four feet or only two. Some cats have had the front claws surgically removed (there is no half price discount for pets with less nails to trim). This is a procedure that requires your special skill and expertise. The charge is for your time and safe restraint of the pet.
Begin with clipping rear feet.
Isolate one nail that you wish to start with and hold that nail or paw pad between your fingers. Apply a fair amount of pressure. Unlike dogs, cats have retractable claws. You must apply pressure above and below the paw pad to see the entire nail.
Each nail has an internal blood supply. If you cut or into this area, it will bleed and be painful for the pet. It is also sensitive just before you get to this area. This is like our own nails; they are sensitive when you break one very short. Determining where the quick is located can be easy on light colored nails. You can usually see the red blood supply if you look at the nail from the side. Rarely, cats have dark colored nails, and it is more difficult to determine where to cut on these nails. Clip a little off the nail if you are feeling unsure, then look at the cut end of the nail. If the end of the nail has a white coloring if you are far from the quick. You can trim a little more off and look at the end of the nail again. When the cut or end becomes dark in color, you are getting close and should stop. Also look at the natural arch of the nail. It is usually best to stop near the peak of the curve of the nail.
If the nail bleeds, get some Quick Stop powder and hold it to the quick at the end of the nail to help the blood clot. Hold pressure and powder on the cut end until bleeding stops. This may take several minutes, especially if the pet’s blood pressure is high due to stress (do not use Quick Stop on skin). This is a common error with groomers. It is only to be used on nails. Get medical attention if pressure with a clean cloth does not stop bleeding of the skin.
Finish all nails on the rear foot.
Check if the pet has dew claws, which are a 5^th claw higher up on the inside of the leg. Some pets even have two dew claws (these are called Hemingway cats or polydactyl cats). Sometimes dew claws are just attached by skin only and move freely. Be especially careful when trimming these nails, but they do need to be well trimmed as they are the most likely nails to catch and tear while the pet is playing.
Move to the other rear foot. Follow steps 8-13.
Move to a front leg. Before beginning, ensure that the pet is restrained from biting at the clippers and is calm while you lift the leg and put pressure on the paw pad.
Front feet are more likely to have attached dew claws. Gently trim there, but trim well to prevent these nails from tearing while to pet is playing at home.
Once the nails have all been trimmed, the fur between that extends beyond the surface of the paw pad is often clipped off. Clipping the fur of the paw pads helps keep the pet clean while using the litter box and provides them better traction when walking on slick indoor floors.
Ask the client at check in if they want the hair trimmed on the bottom of the cat’s paw pads. If you are not sure, don’t trim the paw pads. If the owner wants the hair trimmed on the paw pads, use a #10 blade. Higher numbered blades give a shorter trim, but the use of these blades is for experienced groomers only. Inspect your clippers for any broken teeth on the blade. If any teeth are missing from the metal blade, the pet’s pad can be cut.
Pick up each foot following the above procedure. Begin by gently running the clipper over the flat surface of the paw pad. Do not trim the hair on the top of the foot. Do not trim the hair between the toes on a cat like you would do on a dog.
Continue until all four feet are completed.
Give your pet an ear scratch for being a good cat.
If your pet is not getting a bath next, you may decide to use a little Sadie & Willow Cologne Spray. Do not spray cats with heavy cologne. Cats lick themselves to self-groom and cologne can be irritating to cats, especially in a multi-cat household. If you decide to use cologne, spritz cologne on your hand and touch the cat between the shoulder blades for a light application.
In most cases, do not use a bow or bandanna. Cats can get hung up on these things in the home and have difficulty getting their neck out of it in an emergency.
Celebrate with your pet! You are both done!

Nail Trimming

8. How to Clip a Pet’s Nails