I’m a Vet—and These Are the Only Dog Nail Clippers I Use

While all veterinary offices, pet spas, and even some doggie daycare centers offer nail trimming services for your dog or cat, paying top dollar for a professional trim isn’t always in the budget. Luckily, this is a task you can complete in the comfort of your own home with the purchase of one essential tool: a nail trimmer. Seren Lanza, DVM at VCA Darien Animal Hospital in Connecticut offers expert advice on how to easily and properly trim your pet’s nails with her go-to nail trimmers. Is pet hair a problem in your home? Check out these 13 pet hair removers that actually work.

Why trimming your pet’s nails is crucial

Regularly trimming your pet’s nails is important for more than just aesthetics. “Unhealthy nails can cause pain, and in rare instances, trigger irreversible damage to the dog,” explains the American Kennel Club (AKC).

There are two parts to a dog’s nail: the living pink quick and the shell, which is the hard outer material. “The quick supplies blood to the nail and runs through the core of it. Nerves in the quick cause bleeding and discomfort when cut,” the AKC explains. “Regular nail trimming will cause the quick to recede from the end. Short quicks are the preferred length for the dog’s well-being and easy maintenance.”

So what will happen if you fail to trim your pet’s nails regularly? Long nails can turn a healthy paw into a splayed foot, not only reducing your pet’s traction but also potentially leading to deformed feet and injured tendons in the long run. “As the long nail hits the ground, the pressure puts force on the foot and leg structure,” explains the AKC.

ⓘ

This is the only nail trimmer I use

My go-to nail trimmer is Millers Forge Large Dog Nail Clipper. They are a standard nail trimmer with an open clipping part—not a closed circle or guillotine style. This makes them easy to use and hold, plus they’re made of surgical stainless steel and are sharp, so they cut efficiently. For cats, I like the Miller Forge Pet Nail Clipper, they’re similar but smaller.