We begin this week’s “RUFF TAILS” featuring a beautiful Yorkshire Terrier named Gizmo.
“One of my favourite activities is going boating on my mom’s sister-in-law’s boat.”
“My 2nd favourite is cuddling up to the fireplace.
Thank you to my family for taking such great care of me. I have the best life!!!”
Welcome to Doggie Dialogue:
Trimming your dog’s nails is a great idea to include in your canine’s regular grooming routine.
Most dogs will need their nails trimmed every month.
When your dog is standing, the nails should barely touch the ground. Once they get too long and hit the ground, it will actually spread your dog’s toes out causing discomfort for your canine.
When your dog’s nails get too long, you will hear them clicking on the floor, or any hard surface.
The nails should not protrude over the pad. Long nails will make it difficult for your dog to have a good grip, as they walk on hardwood, tile, or linoleum. Long nails also get hung up on things, can scratch you, and/or be torn off.
Untrimmed nails can curl and grow into your dog’s paw pad resulting in infection.
This tends to happen especially to the dewclaws. (Dewclaws are the first nail on the front and rear feet of your dog.)
We personally run our dogs on the concrete on a regular basis throughout the spring/summer months, therefore they have their nails trimmed every 3 months, at this time of the year. During the winter months Paul takes the dogs monthly to “Gone with the Dogs” in Courtice, for their nail trim. (please see our website for their contact info)
If you or a professional groomer have accidently cut your dog’s nail too short, this is referred to as “quicking” the nail.
This happens when you cut the blood vessel called the “quick”. This will happen more often with a “squirmy” dog during their nail trimming session, or with dog’s that have black nails.
The “quick” can bleed quite a lot when cut, therefore we recommend always keep something on hand to stop the bleeding. We recommend to apply pressure with both hands, place a clean, dry cloth or bandage on the wound maintaining a firm continuous pressure until bleeding stops.
Some first aid kits for dogs will have a product in the kit called “Clot It”.
This is a veterinary blood stopping powder, that can be beneficial as well.
Comments