Nail clippers for dogs: varieties, features of selection and use

What is the tool for?

From time to time, pets have to trim their nails. The regularity of the procedure depends on a number of conditions:

• For small breeds, the procedure is carried out 1-2 times every two weeks. Miniature dogs rarely walk on their own and spend a lot of time in the arms of their owners. Their claws grow quickly, but do not wear down naturally.
• Large dogs are groomed no more than once a month. At the same time, they carefully observe the animal. As soon as he started gnawing on his paws, you could hear him walking, clicking on the floor, there is no point in postponing the manipulation.

A dog's claws do not always grind down well naturally.

Note! In long-haired breeds, overgrown claws may be hidden. That is why it is recommended to get rid of the hair between the fingers by carefully cutting it.

What happens if you don't shorten your claws?

Untimely treatment of claws can lead to unpleasant consequences:

• It becomes difficult for the animal to walk, and in rare cases, the gait changes.
• The claws grow into the skin, which provokes inflammation. Pus may accumulate in the damaged area. If the situation gets worse, surgery will be required.
• The direction of the fingers changes. As a result, when walking, the load is distributed incorrectly. This not only affects your gait, but can cause joint problems.

The claws wear down when walking during walks. But this is not enough to make the dog comfortable, so you have to help the pet shorten its claws. When cutting, you need to act carefully so as not to damage the soft tissues. Nerve endings are located along the entire length of the claw; they grow with it.

You only need to cut off a small piece of it at a time so that it doesn’t hurt the dog. A nail clipper will help you cope with the task. You cannot use ordinary scissors and clippers from a manicure set, they will only harm the animal.

First aid for injuries

Most dogs are very worried before trimming their nails, even if they have not experienced negative emotions about this before. One option is relaxation medications. As a rule, sedatives are produced from herbs and weaken nervous excitability, all this gives exactly the effect that is required for a cosmetic procedure. Then prepare special powder, powder or wipes with hemostatic properties. If you cut the claw too deeply, several dozen important vessels will be damaged. Quite often, injuries are accompanied by severe bleeding, and this initiates mutual panic for both dog and owner.

It is important to know that under no circumstances should you treat a damaged claw with the following drugs:

• 
  iodine;

• fucorcin;
• hydrogen peroxide;
• dimexide;
• alcohol;
• brilliant green;
• vodka.

If you don’t have special powder or baby powder nearby, then ordinary food flour will do. All kinds of cauterizing and alcohol-containing solutions will only increase the pain!

Another rather difficult injury is claw tearing. Most often, this happens if you squeeze the nail clippers for a long time, and the dog suddenly jerks its paw. The secured claw remains in the clamp, and the soft tissue and skin are torn.

The first thing to remember is that this is very painful for the dog! Get ready for your tailed friend to whine loudly and try to run away. Operate quickly enough and without panicking:

1. Constantly talk to the dog, console him, do everything in order to distract him from what is happening.
2. Intercept the wounded paw with a piece of gauze in the area of ​​the wrist (metatarsus).
3. Tighten and secure the gauze thoroughly, while it is recommended to raise the limb as high as possible. Apply cold to the injured paw - ice, a piece of minced meat, frozen vegetables taken from the freezer. Wrap the compress in cotton cloth and cellophane in advance. Cold can help stop blood flow and moderate the pain to some extent.
4. Carefully examine the wound, and if there are open tissue tears, fill them with novocaine or lidocaine.

Why you need to choose a nail clipper carefully

If a dog nail clipper does not cope with its task, then your pet’s nails will wrinkle and peel. In this case, the tool is not suitable, you need to select another one.

Much depends on the size of the tool and how long it has been in use. Some owners try to cut the nails of small dogs and cats with one nail clipper. But you shouldn't do this. The claws of even dwarf pets are denser and harder. A cat's tool can ruin them. You can try using it on puppies. If the nail becomes wrinkled, buy a suitable tool.

For your information! There are special accessories designed for small dogs.

Over time, the nail clipper becomes dull, the knives are no longer so sharp and also begin to wrinkle the nails. So it's time to update the accessory. You can always sharpen dull blades.

Possible claw diseases

If a dog's nails are poorly cared for, diseases such as:

• Ingrown claw. Overgrown long claws cause the dog significant discomfort, digging into the soft flesh. Over time, the dog begins to limp.
• Felon. Due to an ingrown nail or injury, the nail bed becomes inflamed, the dog first limps, and as the situation worsens, it stops walking.

Lack of trimming or improper trimming leads to infection of the nails and then the entire paw.

A good nail clipper saves the dog owner from many problems, including the deterioration of the pet’s health. Nail trimming for dogs is safe and necessary. Once purchased, a dog nail clipper or a special guillotine will help your pet avoid paw inflammation and lameness.

How to choose a nail clipper for a dog

Nail clippers designed for dogs are selected based on the size of the pet. Some models are suitable for small breeds, while others are convenient for medium and large dogs.

For miniature pets, you should not choose a tool that is too small. After all, if the owner finds it uncomfortable to hold it in his hand, then the procedure will turn into torture for both him and the pet.

How to choose a nail clipper for dogs, what types of tools exist:

• Guillotine. The claw must be placed in a special hole and the handles squeezed. The blade will move down and cut off the tip. This tool is used for small and medium dogs.
• Secateurs. The handles are held on by a spring. When the claw is cut, they immediately straighten out. Thanks to the limiter, the procedure becomes safe for the pet. The accessory can cope with the thick claws of large dogs.
• Scissors. One blade has a recess made in the shape of an animal's claw. You need to place it between the blades of the device and squeeze the scissors with your hand. Scissors are used for miniature breed dogs and can easily handle their long nails. But there is one drawback: holding the device in your hand is uncomfortable.

Reviews

About two years ago I ordered nail clippers. My friends also ordered the same big one for a Labrador. My dog ​​is no longer afraid of the manicures I give her. The nail cutter cuts like clockwork and does not break the claw. The cut is always straight. The rubber handles are very comfortable, there is a lock and a limiter.

Masha

I now have two dogs - an adult Yorkie and a Chihuahua puppy. She chose the claw cutter herself and held it in her hand. A small dog doesn't need a big nail clipper. For Yorkies I use a guillotine. Then I process it with a file, then the claws turn out more even.

If you accidentally cut a claw until it bleeds, immediately sprinkle it with dry potassium permanganate.

Tasya

We use a nail clipper - a guillotine, as in the picture, from Trixie.
Serves for more than ten years. The dogs are medium-sized - a German Shepherd and a medium-sized mongrel. Alina

Best models

Which nail clipper is best for a dog is usually determined by experience. Each owner chooses a tool that is convenient for himself and that matches the size of the animal. It’s better to ask which nail clipper is purchased more often and choose the one that is average in price. It is advisable to hold the accessory in your hand to understand how it works.

Trixie DeLuxe wire cutters

The nippers look like pruning shears. Thanks to the orange lever, they can be closed and made safe. The accessory is stored in this form. In order not to injure the animal, you need to lower the limiter, then between the blades there will only be room for its claw.

The cutters are made of metal, the handles are plastic but rubberized, which makes the device convenient to use.

Hello Pet 20112L

The tool is a pliers on a spring. They also have a tongue to prevent injury to your pet. There is a clasp for storage. It increases the life of the spring without stretching it. The sharp blade is made of stainless steel. There are cases that after a haircut, unevenness remains on the nails, but this can happen even if the procedure was performed by professionals in a salon.

Hello Pet 20112L is convenient to use; it does not slip out of your hands, even if they are wet. The device is recognized as reliable and durable, and is in great demand among dog owners. But it is considered an expensive instrument.

For the same price you can buy Markethot, a similar electrical device made in Russia. He polishes the animal's claws, doing it quickly and leaving no trace of his work. The set includes 4 attachments, which wear down over time and have to be replaced.

Note! Hello Pet makes guillotine nail clippers. They are suitable for miniature animals, do not leave nicks, and do not wrinkle the claws. The devices operate on a spring and are inexpensive.

TRIOL 181AP

Dog nail clipper Triol is inexpensive. It has plastic handles without additional coating, and there is no limiter to make cutting safe. Otherwise, it is no different from more expensive similar devices. Sharp blades quickly cope with the task. The accessory also has a lock to secure it for safe storage.

Zolux 481101

A small nail clipper is only suitable for puppies and miniature pets. You should not use it if the animal's claws begin to peel. It is most often used for cats. It is made in China from metal and thermoplastic rubber.

Instructions for using a nail clipper

When starting the procedure, it is necessary to keep some kind of hemostatic agent and antiseptic . The first would be substances such as:

• talc;
• baby powder;
• potassium permanganate, etc.

We sit opposite the light and hold our paw. Gently press on the pad. The claw extends. It needs to be viewed against the light. Even on dark claws it is possible to recognize a blood vessel; on light claws it is diagnosed by its pinkish tint. This is the edge of the stratum corneum that should not be crossed. Carefully begin to cut the claw at right angles to its surface, cutting a little at a time.

Due to the difficulty of finding the exact border of blood vessels on dark claws, you need to be extremely careful and pause the procedure if a dark dot or a light circle appears in the middle of the section, in which the vessels are visible. There's no need to rush. It is safer to trim 1-2 claws at a time with a nail clipper, taking pauses. At the end, it makes sense to trim the cropped edges with a nail file. If you cut too much and touch a nerve, your pet will experience severe pain and will become wary of having its nails trimmed. In this case, it is necessary to take a break, console the pet, treat it with a treat, and play. After one hour, try to cut it again, only this time more carefully.

For the very first time, it makes sense to go to a salon for four-legged friends or to a veterinarian, watch how a professional operates the nail cutter, and then you can cut the claws yourself.

Tool cost

Dog nail clippers, which resemble regular scissors, can be purchased for as little as 200 rubles.* Devices that act like a guillotine are also considered inexpensive. For example, Hello Cat and Cascade cost less than 300 rubles.

Nail clippers-secateurs are already more expensive, which affects their service life and reliability. Negative reviews are associated only with the cost of the product, but there is no doubt about its quality. So, depending on the manufacturer, on average, accessories have a price from 400 to 800 rubles.

An electric grinder can be purchased for 2 thousand. You will have to spend only 400 rubles on a product from the Russian brand Markethot.

Operation and care

Any instrument, even an inexpensive one, must be used carefully and correctly and requires constant and careful care. There are several simple rules, following which you can save on sharpening, repairs and buying a new one:

• Do not cut dirty wool - dust and dirt particles scratch the surface of the blades and contribute to the rapid dulling of the tool. The same rule applies to wet and damp wool.
• Wool scissors should only be used for wool! They cannot be used to cut claws, paper, fabric, etc.
• After cutting, the scissors must be wiped with a soft cloth (flannel, for example) soaked in special oil. This should be done carefully, without touching the cutting edge.
• The scissors should be stored clean and dry, in a special case, on a flat horizontal surface.
• If it seems to you that the tool needs sharpening, entrust this task to professionals. Incorrectly (read on your own) sharpened scissors, especially thinning scissors, will become completely unsuitable for further use for their intended purpose.
• During the first 10 days after purchasing or sharpening, try to put minimal load on the tool.

Important! Try not to drop the scissors, as a fall can damage the fasteners and completely disable them. Often such breakdowns cannot be repaired. Compliance with these conditions will extend the life of the tool and preserve its performance characteristics for a long time.

How to use

Dog nail clippers should be used as follows:

1. Choose the right moment when the pet feels well, is fed and calm. The owner should not be tired and irritated.
2. Grasp the dog's paw firmly, but do not press too hard. He should not feel pain or threat.
3. Examine the claw. If it is light, the blood vessels inside are clearly visible and should not be touched. In any case, you only need to cut off the very tip.
4. Press down on the scissors.

If after the first cut of the claw the dog gets scared and breaks out, then you will have to postpone the procedure. You need to calm your pet down and regain his goodwill, otherwise next time he will panic even before the haircut begins.

Note! If drops of blood appear, it means the vessel is damaged. She needs to be stopped. It is recommended to use potassium permanganate powder. It is poured onto the wound, and then a sterile dressing is applied on top.

Without a nail clipper, it is impossible to fully care for your pet. You should not experiment and cut with nail scissors. When the claws become wrinkled and peel, the tool is not suitable for the animal. You can pick it up in any store with a wide range of accessories for dogs and cats. It is important that it not only suits the pet and meets safety requirements, but that it is convenient for the owner to use it.

*Prices are current as of February 2022.

*Review of the best according to the editors of expertology.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.

Pets are deprived of a natural environment and the opportunity to grind their claws on their own. As an alternative, they choose the surface of the sofa and other furniture. To avoid property damage and help your pet adjust the length of its claws, you should purchase a special nail clipper. In addition to using the correct cutting angle, care should be taken to select the appropriate model. In the rating below we will look at the best nail clippers from trusted manufacturers.

Instructions for using a nail clipper

When starting the procedure, it is necessary to keep some kind of hemostatic agent and antiseptic nearby each time. The first would be substances such as:

• talc;
• baby powder;
• potassium permanganate, etc.

We sit opposite the light and hold our paw. Gently press on the pad. The claw extends. It needs to be viewed against the light. Even on dark claws it is possible to recognize a blood vessel; on light claws it is diagnosed by its pinkish tint. This is the edge of the stratum corneum that should not be crossed. Carefully begin to cut the claw at right angles to its surface, cutting a little at a time.

Due to the difficulty of finding the exact border of blood vessels on dark claws, you need to be extremely careful and pause the procedure if a dark dot or a light circle appears in the middle of the section, in which the vessels are visible. There's no need to rush. It is safer to trim 1-2 claws at a time with a nail clipper, taking pauses. At the end, it makes sense to trim the cropped edges with a nail file. If you cut too much and touch a nerve, your pet will experience severe pain and will become wary of having its nails trimmed. In this case, it is necessary to take a break, console the pet, treat it with a treat, and play. After one hour, try to cut it again, only this time more carefully.

For the very first time, it makes sense to go to a salon for four-legged friends or to a veterinarian, watch how a professional operates the nail cutter, and then you can cut the claws yourself.

Rating of the best nail clippers

Alternative options

If you don’t have the right tool at hand, you can use nail clippers or regular scissors with sharp blades. Before the procedure, instruments must be disinfected with alcohol or chlorhexidine.

I trim my cat's claws with my own tweezers; I didn't buy a nail clipper separately.

Alexander Chichaev

https://www.petshop.ru/forum/?PAGE_NAME=read&FID=30&TID=2346&buf_fid=31&PAGEN_1=2

In the future, it is still recommended to purchase special tools for removing the stratum corneum, since cutting will need to be done regularly and repeatedly.

How not to cut your nails

Nails should not be trimmed with nail scissors intended for human use. A person's nail plate is much thinner than a cat's, so this tool is ineffective here. At best, it will simply break; at worst, it will damage the claw, which will lead to further delamination.

The best mechanical nail clippers

Hello Pet 20112L

The tool is included in our rating of the best nail clippers for having the largest number of positive reviews and ease of use. Its size is 4.70 x 16.50 cm. High-quality heat-resistant steel ensures Hello Pet 20112L long service life.

Users report no breakdowns even after several years of regular use. The Hello Pet nail clipper is considered the best option for trimming the nails of small dogs and puppies. It provides a quick and safe procedure, does not chew or crush claws. The price of the product is 469 rubles.

Advantages

• quality steel;
• sharp blades;
• reliable spring mechanism;
• does not leave nicks;
• rubberized comfortable handles.

Flaws

TRIOL 181AP

Product size – 130 x 40 x 13 mm. The nail clipper is made of high quality metal and plastic. Stainless steel makes the product long lasting. The tool cuts the animal’s claws so quickly and efficiently that it often does not have time to begin to resist. The model is ideal for small stubborn dogs and puppies.

Rubberized handles with finger grooves make it easy and precise to hold the nail clipper. It was chosen by experts for our convenient blade design, which provides a good overview of the working area. The price for a universal model varies around 220-350 rubles.

First aid for injuries

Most dogs are very worried before trimming their nails , even if they have not experienced negative emotions about this before. One option is relaxation medications. As a rule, sedatives are produced from herbs and weaken nervous excitability, all this gives exactly the effect that is required for a cosmetic procedure. Then prepare special powder, powder or wipes with hemostatic properties. If you cut the claw too deeply, several dozen important vessels will be damaged. Quite often, injuries are accompanied by severe bleeding, and this initiates mutual panic for both dog and owner.

It is important to know that under no circumstances should you treat a damaged claw with the following drugs:

• 
  iodine;

• fucorcin;
• hydrogen peroxide;
• dimexide;
• alcohol;
• brilliant green;
• vodka.

If you don’t have special powder or baby powder nearby, then ordinary food flour will do. All kinds of cauterizing and alcohol-containing solutions will only increase the pain!

Another rather difficult injury is claw tearing . Most often, this happens if you squeeze the nail clippers for a long time, and the dog suddenly jerks its paw. The secured claw remains in the clamp, and the soft tissue and skin are torn.

The first thing to remember is that this is very painful for the dog! Get ready for your tailed friend to whine loudly and try to run away. Operate quickly enough and without panicking:

1. Constantly talk to the dog, console him, do everything in order to distract him from what is happening.
2. Intercept the wounded paw with a piece of gauze in the area of ​​the wrist (metatarsus).
3. Tighten and secure the gauze thoroughly, while it is recommended to raise the limb as high as possible. Apply cold to the injured paw - ice, a piece of minced meat, frozen vegetables taken from the freezer. Wrap the compress in cotton cloth and cellophane in advance. Cold can help stop blood flow and moderate the pain to some extent.
4. Carefully examine the wound, and if there are open tissue tears, fill them with novocaine or lidocaine.

The best electric nail clippers

QuickFinder Deluxe

This model is ideal for grooming large breed dogs. Specially designed sensors instantly detect where the dead and where the living part of the claw is. For this function, the trimmer was included in our rating of the best nail clippers. Three bright LEDs on the handle will tell the pet owner the location of blood vessels in the claw tissue.

Each of the colors has its own meaning: red - it is dangerous to cut, yellow - with caution, green - you can cut without fear. Thick rubberized handles allow you to comfortably hold the device in your hand. You can buy the tool for 3,400 rubles.

Advantages

• presence of touch sensors;
• durable cutting part;
• color indication;
• Suitable for large dogs.

Flaws

Codos CP-3400

The device is an indispensable item for both professional groomers and ordinary pet owners. The advantage of this model is its high power and long operation without a network (3 hours). For these characteristics, we selected the grinder in the rating of the best nail clippers.

A full battery charge can be achieved in just 2 hours. The device nozzle has two types of holes. Thanks to this, the pet owner can treat the claws in different ways without injuring them. The price of the professional model is 2350 rubles.

Advantages

• 3 hours of work without network;
• light weight – 114 g;
• stylish design;
• long wire (2 m);
• battery type – Ni-Cd;
• rotary motor.

Flaws

Markethot 440759

This model was selected by our experts as one of the best nail clippers for its incredible convenience. We think it's best for those new to nail trimming. The nail clipper effectively cuts down claws without causing nicks. Customer reviews indicate that frequent use does not deteriorate the sharpness of the blades.

If you are afraid of injuring the animal, you can use weak batteries. In this case, the device will operate at low power and will definitely not cut anyone. It is recommended to grind down very long claws gradually - with breaks. This will help avoid overheating. The minimum cost of the product is 430 rubles.

Criterias of choice

There are several criteria for choosing a quality nail clipper. Pay attention to:

• blade - it must be sharpened so that the claw is cut and not compressed or peeled. A good nail clipper will have a blade that will leave an even and smooth cut. There should be no burrs on the cutting edges of the blade;
• handles - they must be strong and reliable. Choose models with rubber gaskets on metal handles. This way your fingers won't slip;
• Size – based not only on the size of the dog, but also on the size of your hand. The nail clipper should be comfortable to hold. A model that is too small will be inconvenient to use.

It’s good if the pet store allows you to try the chosen model in action. Take your pet with you and check how the tool cuts. If the claw is cut and not split, the steel is of high quality and well sharpened.

Why do you need to do a cat manicure?

Cats' claws invariably grow, and they need to be tidied up - trimmed using a special nail clipper. Overgrown claws can cause discomfort to the animal or cause injury.

In nature, cats walk on hard surfaces or wear down their claws on trees and other convenient objects. At home, animals are deprived of this opportunity and cannot do without human help. Therefore, from time to time they need the so-called cat “manicure”.

Overgrown claws can become ingrown or cause discomfort when walking. The cat may also get caught in a carpet loop or some piece of furniture, which will lead to a finger injury and medical intervention.

When their claws grow long enough, cats begin to grind them down themselves. In the best case – on a scratching post, in the worst – on wallpaper or furniture. Timely manicure is the key to the cat’s health and the integrity of the owner’s sofa.

Price issue

The cost of a dog nail clipper depends on many parameters. The price is affected by the material, type and size of the tool. The most budget models will cost 200-300 rubles, more expensive ones – 600-700 rubles, and prices for large pruners reach 1000-1500 rubles. The grinder can be found on sale at a price of about 1000 rubles.

When choosing a nail clipper, do not skimp. Trust well-known manufacturers with reliable products. Such a nail clipper will serve your pet for many years, and during use it will not injure him, because the blade will be of high quality. With cheap nail clippers, the cutting part will quickly become dull, and you will have to change the tool. Otherwise, the dog's claws will not be cut, but will flake off. High-quality steel will not rust quickly.

The other extreme is to take expensive professional tools that groomers use for home use. It is enough to choose a high-quality nail clipper from a reputable manufacturer in the middle price segment. A large selection of models for small and large dogs is available in online stores. If you buy at a pet store, then ask the seller to recommend the most popular model.