Wiggles has long hair, but not a double-coat.
Sherai McCracken, who is training to become a groomer at Hidden Valley Animal Hospital and Grooming Salon, said the first thing she learned was how to trim dogs’ nails. They taught her this first, most likely, because it is intimidating for the novice.
Keeping nails shorter is not simply a cosmetic procedure. Longer nails can present health problems. McCracken said that nails that become too long can affect the way a dog walks. Also, dogs can catch a longer nail on objects that tear it off, causing bleeding and pain.
McCracken offered some tips for trimming nails, including the fact that it becomes easier the more you do it. Black nails can be trickier than light nails. The quick, which is a bundle of nerves and sensitive, is pale pink on light-colored nails. With black nails, McCracken said to begin trimming a little at a time until you see a small, darker spot in the middle of the nail.
“To me (the spot) looks shiny,” she said. “That’s the quick.”
Clippers with a guard on the backside to stop the nail from sliding forward are available for purchase. Grinders are a newer tool on the market. According to The Ultimate Dog Lover, a book by veterinarian Marty Becker, columnist Gina Spadafori and animal rescue volunteer Carol Kline, the grinder might make grooming nails more pleasant for the dog and its owner.
“Many professional groomers and in-the-know dog owners now grind nails with few complaints from their canine charges,” the trio wrote in their book.
Their recommendation is slow introduction to the grinder. Over separate sessions, show the grinder to the dog, turn the grinder on, and get closer to the dog’s nail while the grinder is on until touching the dog’s nail. The owner should follow each session with praise and treats, the authors wrote.
Generally, every four to six weeks is the right amount of time for keeping a dog’s nails at a good length. Some dog’s nails may need extra care if they have become overgrown. For example, the rate of growth in older dogs may increase when they slow down on their digging and/or walking habits.
McCracken said a procedure called “tipping” will coax the quick to recede, and the dog’s nails will respond by becoming shorter. She said to clip the very tip off on a weekly basis. The grinder can be used a similar way, according to The Ultimate Dog Lover.
Accidents happen to even experienced groomers, and a severed quick will bleed, sometimes quite a lot. McCracken said to have styptic powder on hand to stop the bleeding if this should happen.
Molly has short hair, but it is still important to brush her on a regular basis.
Dogs benefit from brushing, even those with shorter hair. Obviously, owners of long-hair dogs will need to be more vigilant to keep matting and tangles to a minimum. And breeds with double-coats require brushing both coats.
“With double-coated breeds, the undercoat keeps growing and becomes like wearing a winter coat in the summertime,” McCracken said.
Jasper, a double-coated Pomeranian, needs special attention when getting brushed.
Owners of double-coated breeds must also be careful when cutting their pet’s fur. While some pet owners opt for shaving their dogs completely in the heat of the summer, McCracken warned against it with the double-coated breeds, such as Pomeranians.
“It depends on the breed,” McCracken said. “Shaving ruins a double-coated dog. It can grow back in wrong directions or get coarser.”
By learning how to give your dog spa treatments at home, your pet will be healthier, look better and get to spend some one-on-one time with his best friend – you.