How to Take Care of Your German Shepherd Nails
Caring for your German Shepherd entails a lot of different aspects. You have to make sure they are groomed and that they are well fed. One of the ways that you can keep them better groomed is to make sure their nails are short. Depending on how active your German Shepherd is and where he lives, you will need to cut your dog’s nails either quite frequently or rarely. Long walks on cement or a sidewalk can help to wear down the nails so that you will not have to cut them. On the other hand, if your dog is running around in the grass, you will most likely have to trim the nails more frequently. A lot of a dog’s pain receptors are in its feet, particularly its nails. Dogs have a blood vessel in the nail called the quick and if you cut that, it can cause the animal a lot of pain and a lot of blood. Keep the nails trim, but be sure that you don’t cut too far down to cut the quick blood vessel. This can take some practice and care. There are three different ways you can cut your dog’s nails. First, there are guillotine cutters that slice the nail. They clamp it on the top and slice from the bottom, producing a clean cut. These nails can be somewhat painful on the animal because it can squeeze the quick, producing a somewhat uncomfortable feeling. The next method is the filing method. A nail file is a possibility, but it can take a long time and your animal is unlikely to sit there the entire time. Finally, there are Dremel tools. These tools are drills that can grind down the nail to the desired length, but it can be painful if not done correctly. The grinders can get very hot while spinning at high speeds. You should make sure to test it on something with a similar consistency of a dog’s nail first. If you feel the substance is too hot after you grind on it, you should not apply this grinder to your dog’s nails. The best way to cut your dog’s nails when he is a puppy is to have someone hold the dog while you cut so the dog doesn’t make a quick movement and have you accidentally cut their quick. As they grow older and realize that your nail cutting doesn’t hurt them, they will be more likely to sit still during the cutting time. Make sure you don’t cut the quick or even too close to the quick. If you get too close, pressure from walking will squeeze the quick and cause pain for your dog. Be sure to give your dog a reward for sitting still and being good after the nail cutting experience is over. More Articles on German Shepherd Care: | 