Overgrown Chihuahua claws not only cause discomfort to the pet, but can also tear upholstery, clothing, or scratch the floor covering.
And the loud clicking of claws at night, when the dog goes to drink water and then returns to the room, can make few of the owners happy.
In order to avoid this, it is necessary to carefully care for the Mexican dog's claws and shorten them in time.
But how can this be done correctly without causing pain or frightening the pet?
Do I need to trim my nails and at what age?
Due to their small weight, the claws of representatives of the Chihuahua breed wear down very poorly, even if you walk with your pet on the asphalt for a long time. Therefore, almost all Chihuahua owners sooner or later have to think about shortening their pet’s claws.
Why do they need to be trimmed?:
- Overgrown nails tend to curl inward and can eventually grow into the pads of the paws, causing extreme pain to your pet. And in the most severe cases, claws that have grown into the pads even become the reason that the dog cannot walk on its own.
- Overgrown nails may become cracked. Often because of this, when a Chihuahua clings to something with such a claw, it breaks at the crack, which also causes pain to the dog. And if the claw breaks at the base, this can cause severe bleeding or even suppuration.
- If the claws are not shortened in time, the animal will not be able to place its paw straight: the toes will begin to turn out, causing the joints and ligaments to become deformed.
- Long claws cause a shift in the center of gravity: the Chihuahua may not maintain balance and fall, resulting in serious injury.
- If your pet's nails are overgrown, he can get seriously injured by them or injure his owner. And if we are talking about suckling puppies, then scratch the mother with them.
- Having caught its long claws on the upholstery of furniture or the owner's clothing, a playful Chihuahua can tear them or, at a minimum, make puffs in the fabric.
CAREFULLY!
Ungroomed overgrown claws are a serious fault and are severely penalized at shows.
Based on this, it should be recognized that shortening the claws is a very important procedure for caring for a Chihuahua. The first time Chihuahua puppies get their hair cut is at the breeder's house when the babies start scratching the bitch with it while feeding.
Also read about mating Chihuahuas.
Subsequently, this procedure is repeated approximately once every two weeks until the puppies are completely weaned from their mother.
In a new home, the baby's claws are trimmed for the first time when he begins to click with them when walking on the floor..
Considering that few responsible breeders sell puppies with overgrown claws, approximately this will be about a week or two after acquiring a friend.
Expert opinion
Kozhevin Semyon Kirillovich
Expert dog handler.
“The frequency of nail trimming for Chihuahuas depends on the age of the dog. Puppies need to trim their nails twice a month, but for adult animals it is enough to do this once every 3-4 weeks. The speed at which claws grow, which varies for all animals, also matters. Therefore, if your pet’s claws grow slowly, then the frequency of trimming them should be 5-6 weeks.”
Also read about whether you need to brush your Chihuahua's teeth.
While trimming the dog's nails, the dog began to bleed
Cutting your nails can easily result in a cut, so buy a hemostatic agent (Statin powder, Show Tech, Capramin) in advance. Apply it to the wound and press for a moment with a cotton swab.
If there is no hemostatic agent, use powder, flour, corn starch. When the bleeding stops, treat with an alcohol-containing preparation - iodine or brilliant green to avoid inflammation. A gauze bandage will not stick, so buy a cloth-based bandage. Before bandaging the paw, apply a medicated bandage to it.
How often should the procedure be performed?
The average period after which a Chihuahua's nails need to be trimmed is 2 weeks for puppies and 1 month for adult dogs, but it is also necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of the pet.
When deciding whether it's time to trim the claws or not, you need to remember that the edge of the claw should be in the same plane as the pad of the paw when the Chihuahua is standing on a flat surface.
Another criterion that it’s time to shorten your dog’s claws is their characteristic knocking sound on the floor while running or walking.
Useful tips
In winter, snow accumulates on the fur between the pads, which is why a dog of small breeds can slip and even scratch its paws until they bleed. The fur between the pads can also become matted, which can make the dog uncomfortable while walking. Hair clipping is the best way to prevent fungal infections that occur in conditions of high humidity.
The best time to trim nails is when your pet has just returned from a walk or has eaten and is feeling sleepy. In this state, he will not resist much.
The most important thing to do before trimming nails is to make sure that the dog is in a good mood and not stressed. If the dog has never had its nails trimmed before, on the day of the scheduled procedure you should sit next to it several times and, clicking the nail clipper, talk to it affectionately. The animal must understand that this tool does not pose any danger.
Remember: the procedure for trimming nails should be associated with positive, not negative emotions for the dog. To make nail trimming enjoyable for your pet, stock up on his favorite treat before the procedure. And don’t forget to praise and pet your dog in between.
What tools are required?
To trim your pet's claws, you need to prepare a special device for shortening them, called a nail clipper.
Nail clippers can look like wire cutters: two blades attached to two handles connected to each other.
There are also guillotine-type nail clippers, which are most preferable for small breed dogs.
You will also need a nail file, which can be purchased at a pet store along with nail clippers . It will be needed in order to eliminate possible irregularities remaining on the cut of the claw.
In addition to the tools, you will also need a treat or toy to distract your pet and to reward him after the procedure is completed.
Well, just in case, you also need to keep a hemostatic pencil on hand, or something that can replace it: for example, hydrogen peroxide or potassium permanganate powder.
Under no circumstances should ordinary scissors be used to shorten a Chihuahua’s claws: they will compress the claw and can split it..
What to do if you get a cut
To provide first aid, you need to have a first aid kit on hand filled with:
- bandages;
- cotton pads;
- special hemostatic powder or talc;
- Streptocide tablets or other antiseptic;
- gauze;
- healing ointment with an antiseptic effect.
Accidental damage to living tissue leads to severe bleeding and pain. The animal must be calmed and the wound site treated with powder.
Important! Attempting to use iodine or alcohol-containing solutions will cause a burn and increase the pain. Next time the animal will not let you approach him with a nail clipper.
Streptocide or liquid solutions (without alcohol) can be used as an antiseptic. The wound is cleaned with the drug and a bandage is applied. After a few hours, it is changed, and instead of an antiseptic, a healing ointment is used.
Important! If during the procedure the dog begins to tear from his hands and there is a tear in the tissue near the claws, then the wound is wrapped in gauze and ice is applied to the problem area. Immediately after completing first aid, the animal is taken to the veterinarian - it is impossible to cope with the consequences without his intervention
Basic Rules
To ensure that nail trimming does not turn into a battle with a pet who does not want to sit still and panics at the sight of a nail cutter, you need to accustom your puppy to this procedure from a very early age, and preferably at home.
It is very important not to do anything that could frighten the baby or cause him pain.
Chihuahuas should not associate nail trimming with discomfort or, especially, pain..
However, the same applies to dogs of all ages: if during this procedure you even once rudely shout at an adult dog or cause him pain, then next time he will not so easily agree to trim his nails.
Before you move on to trimming your long-haired Chihuahua's nails, you'll need to trim the hair between the toe pads.
And, of course, the paws must be clean.
At the same time, you need to check: are there any cracks, wounds or splinters on the paw pads ? If there are any, then all lesions on the skin are treated with an antiseptic, and thorns or burrs are removed.
Where is the best place to trim nails? Many Chihuahua owners prefer to do this by sitting or laying the dog on their lap. But in this case, you should remember that you need to hold your pet tightly enough so that, if it suddenly twitches, it does not fall to the floor and get injured.
This is probably why other Chihuahua owners trim their dogs' nails on the floor.
IMPORTANT!
It is not recommended to place the Chihuahua on a table or other high surface during this procedure, from which the dog could easily fall or jump off on purpose.
If the dog is very nimble and restless, then you can wrap it in a towel or other dense fabric, leaving only its paw and nose outside..
In some cases, it may also be advisable to call on a family member to help hold the dog in place.
If you are not sure that you can handle nail trimming yourself, you can contact a professional groomer. This especially makes sense if you have a long-haired Chihuahua - these dogs require a haircut from time to time.
Additional care - dog pedicure
Dogs' nails need to be cared for throughout the pet's life. This is not about worshiping glamorous fashion, but about a vital necessity. Domestic dogs are losing many of the advantages that nature originally endowed them with many centuries ago:
- The way of life is such that there is no need to get food for yourself and use your own claws - which means they are not trained and not sharpened enough.
- Nutrition includes many components characteristic of an urban environment (in nature, such “additives” simply would not exist in dog food).
As a result, dogs' claws become loose, and their structure is often disturbed—proper care will solve the problem. Pedicure accessories will provide the nail plate with an even edge and a smooth surface. You can learn how to do a pedicure yourself, but you shouldn’t forget about professional services.
What you need to have in your arsenal:
- hemostatic powder and hygienic material (cotton pads, clean paper towels or napkins);
- a special file for dogs;
- electric polishing tool - grinder.
When using a grinder, the risk of injury is minimal
Using an electric grinder, you can adjust your claws all year round. Then they do not have time to grow, which means there is no need for a haircut.
An untrained dog is irritated by the vibration and characteristic sound of the device. But this can also be solved. One or two procedures, and the pet will resign itself, making sure there is no reason to worry.
How to cut your hair correctly?
Having prepared everything you need and taking the Chihuahua on your lap or sitting it on the sofa, you need to lay it down or sit it down so that both it and the owner are comfortable.
Then, lightly squeezing the pad of your fingers, you need to set the cutting part of the nail clipper approximately 2 mm from the level of the pulp, so that they are on the non-living part of the claw.
You need to cut confidently and quickly, and the cut itself should be made at an angle of 45 degrees . In this case, you cannot unfold the nail clipper or move it.
It is easier to trim light-colored claws, since the living part is clearly visible in them. But dark claws will have to be trimmed in several stages, cutting off 2 mm and carefully examining the cut after each trimming.
If a dark dot appears on it, then it’s time to stop and move on to another claw.
You can also illuminate dark claws with a flashlight: in this case, the pulp can be seen.
After cutting, the claws need to be trimmed with a file to smooth their edges and remove roughness.
If the pulp was damaged when trimming the claw, then you need to stop the bleeding by sprinkling potassium permanganate on the wound or using another pre-prepared hemostatic agent.
After this, the procedure must be stopped immediately, and the dog, if it is frightened, must be calmed down.
During nail trimming, the owner and assistants must be calm and act decisively and boldly, but in no case rudely.
You cannot shout at the Chihuahua or otherwise scare it. It is best if one of the assistants talks to the pet and distracts it during the procedure.
Well, after all the claws have been trimmed to the required length, you definitely need to reward the dog for its patience with a treat or game.
Trimming process step by step
prepare the nail clipper, disinfect it with alcohol or cologne;
provide a calm environment in the room so that the dog does not feel anxious;
sit comfortably on the sofa, floor, mattress, or chair, legs slightly apart;
place the Chihuahua on its back, head to knees;
fix the dog in this position by moving its legs;
take the paw with one hand and lightly press on the pad so that the toes move apart and the claws extend as far as possible;
with the other hand, cut off the claw to a distance safe for the pulp;
repeat the steps with each toe on the paw;
if necessary, take a break, treat the “sufferer” with a treat, and praise;
after the break, continue trimming the remaining paws;
at the end, treat him with a treat and praise him;
repeat every 2 weeks.
