INTRODUCTION

Although it may seem an unimportant issue, the length of the nails is key to the health of our dog. A dog that does not naturally wear down its nails and has no one to take care of trimming them can suffer serious postural problems.

WHAT FORMS A DOG'S NAILS?

Dogs' nails are made up of keratin and hardened dead cells, just like ours, it doesn't hurt to cut them, but inside them there is a vein that you have to be careful not to cut, which is not serious but can be painful. This vein grows at the same time as the nail, so a dog with long nails will have a long vein that will prevent us from cutting and trimming them in the same way as we would a dog with short nails.

WHAT PROBLEMS CAN MY DOG HAVE IF HE HAS LONG NAILS?

Many people do not take care of their dog's nails and do not give them any importance, believing that they do not cause any health problems and that it is something rather ‘aesthetic’, remembering them when the dog scratches them too much.

Dogs' nails, if kept too long, can cause problems in the same way as a person's long toenails or long hands. The most common problems are:

• Deformation of the feet and hands
• Changes in posture
• Problems with walking
• Easier breakage
• Danger of getting nails caught and pulled out by the root
• Eye damage from scratching
• Injuries and infections when the nails get into the skin or flesh (very common with dewclaws)
• Osteoarthritis
• Easier for nails to bleed when they are cut
• Pain when walking
• bone problems (back, hips or joints)
• Pus
• More fragile nails
• Sensitivity in the hands and feet
  
  

WHEN SHOULD I TRIM MY DOG'S NAILS?

Dogs' nails should be trimmed whenever necessary, especially if they are puppies (so that they get used to it, even if it is just the tip), elderly or sick animals (leishmaniasis, for example, causes more accelerated nail growth).

To do this, use nail clippers appropriate to the size and/or hardness of the nails, with a good light and always with a bottle of haemostatic powder next to you in case any of them bleed.

HOW TO MAINTAIN MY DOG'S NAILS PROPERLY?

Dogs' nails are kept short as they walk on hard floors, which helps to wear them down (the only nail that does not wear down is the dewclaw nail, as it does not rub against the ground), frequent long walks and trimming and filing them when necessary will help our dog to have beautiful, healthy and correct nails.

CONCLUSION

It is essential to take care of our dog's nails so as not to cause him health problems that we could easily avoid. If we do not want to do it ourselves because our dog does not let us or we are afraid, we will go to a vet or dog groomer to have them done, and we will never wait until they are too long or twisted to have them checked.