1. Trimming Nails How do you know how much to take off?
By Mrs. Salvati

2. How do you know how much to trim your nails?

3. Trimming Nails
Goal – cut the nails as short as possible without cutting the kwik
Purpose:
Prevent broken nails
Allow animal to walk on pads of feet and not their nails
Minimize physical damage to property, humans and other animals
Trim ingrown nails

4. How often should I cut my pets nails?
Every 4-6 weeks depending on how fast they grow.

5. Restraint for TNT
Animal standing Animal in lateral
recumbency

6. Anatomy There are 4 nails plus a dewclaw on the inside of leg
Nail - can be white or black
Quick (kwik) – pink part. Can only be seen on white nails. Leave a little bit of white when cutting nails
Black nails – unable to see quick. Trim so that you do not cut Kwik but nail is not touching the ground

7. Dewclaws Dewclaws – Thumbnail on inside of front legs.
Sometimes there are dews on inside of back legs also
Occasionally cats have 2-3 dewclaws

8. Nail Clippers

9. Nail Clippers How to Clip Nails: 1 – Have all materials ready
-kwik stop
2 – Hold nail steady with 2 fingers
3 – Push all hair out of way and locate kwik
4- Place blade against bottom of nail where you want to cut and angle clippers foward
5-Close nail clippers in one quick motion
6- Check for bleeding
7- Apply kwik stop if bleeding
8- Repeat to all nails

10. How to apply Styptic Powder (cauterizing agent – stops bleeding)
Take a small pinch of powder
In your pointer and thumb
Apply to tip of nail
Hold and apply for
Pressure for seconds

11. Disorders
Overgrown Nail
Broken nail
Back leg dewclaws

12. How much do I cut?

13. Safety
Always have someone restrain dog before you touch paws. (very sensitive area)
Observe animals body language as you are handling animal
Do not get your skin caught in the toe nail trimmer

14. Name: ________________
1.What is the goal of toe nail trimming? ______________________________________________________________________
Where is the dewclaw located? _______
___________________________________
What does Styptic powder do? _______
Where should you cut the nail? __________________________________________________________________

15. Draw a line where you should cut nail.