How To Clip your Dog Safely And Easily!

Posted by | Posted on 12:44 AM

By Cliff Stone

Very few people see clipping their dogs as an art form. Instead, they just tackle certain areas, such as scraggly fur on the feet, to keep their dogs from tacking in mud. In an effort to get rid of undesirable hair, however, many owners forget that clipping their dogs can actually cause damage.

When you choose to clip your dog's coat, it's important to keep breed in mind. Longer hair breeds can suffer if you clip them wrongly. Dust accumulates in the coat, and skin diseases may result. In addition, parasites may more freely breed in coats that haven't been cared for correctly.

You should also be sure to keep your pet's nails trimmed to avoid pain in walking and breakage. An overly long mail will have a tendency to turn to the side, and may even grow to puncture the skin. Dogs with too long nails will also easily catch them on things, causing breakage and splitting.

Injuries are common during the process of clipping a dog's nails - the inside of the nail may bleed when cut. Since the quick of the mail is the source of blood and the location of nerves, it's what keeps the nail healthy and growing. This area is located well back in the nail, but if the nail's been cut too short or splinters, the quick may be exposed. This sensitive area will then be quite painful.

You must always use the right clippers for your dog's nails and hair - make sure they're sharp and meant for animals. Human tools won't work here. You can find quality tools at your local pet supply store.

If you live in an area where it gets cold in winter, don't clip your dog's coat during the chilly part of the year. The coat helps protect your dog, and cipping it can increase stress on the animal. Remember that dogs get frostbite the same way you do.

Never cut your pet's hair too short in the summer, either. Otherwise, you could expose her skin to the harmful rays of the sun. Dogs' fur keeps them cooler in the summer as well as warm in the winter. A slight cut will be fine, but make sure you leave enough fur to protect your dog.

If your dog is sick or otherwise unhealthy, avoid clipping him. That's because it can cause more stress. Only clip a sick dog to remove broken nails or dirty fur that can't be cleaned.

Walking your dog on concrete daily can help keep him or her healthy. This will help you wear down the nail on a gradual basis and will keep them even. That way, you and your dog don't have to go through the clipping process.

Of course, to get the best results, you'll want to find a professional groomer who knows the correct way to clip particular breeds.

About the Author:

Comments (0)