How Often Should You Trim Your Dog’s Nails?

Tldr; Every two weeks is a good estimate for most dogs. Weekly is best for shortening quicks.

We have gone over nail care a lot on our blog. This is because nail trimming is such an important part of your dog’s life. Overgrown nails can cause dogs a lot of pain. They can grow into the dog’s paw pad, put undo pressure on their joints, and twist their toes into odd positions.

Yet many well-meaning owners unwittingly cause their dogs pain by letting the nails grow too long. Dogs aren’t always wild about having their nails done, and taking them more often to the groom shop can feel like a chore for everyone.

There’s also the fact that dog’s nails grow at different rates. Some dogs may never need their nails clipped, while others may need to be seen by the groomer every week. Here’s how to tell.

The Paper Test

Try to slide a piece of paper under your dog’s nails while they are standing still. If the paper won’t slide under or catches on your dog’s nails, that means they are too long. If they’ve just been to the groomers and still don’t clear the ground, it means you should be working on shortening the quick. You can read more about shortening your dog’s quicks in this article.

Short, well cared for nails should clear the ground at a stand still and a walk. They may still ‘click’ on the floor when your dog is trotting though, so don’t be surprised if your dog isn’t completely silent even with short nails.

Cause of Different Growth Rates

So, what causes one dog to be able to go for months without getting their nails cut, and another dog to start having their nails curl sideways after just a few weeks? The answer lies in a variety of different conditions.

• Exercise
  Dogs that get out for regular walks need fewer nail trims than those who never leave their pillow. This is because the act of walking grinds down the nails a little bit on their own. Wolves never need their nails cut, and part of that is from all the digging, running and walking they do.
• Foot structure
  Dogs that have a more upright pastern (the ankle) tend to have shorter nails than dogs with more sloped pasterns. This is because the more upright the pastern, the more the foot presses down on the toe, increasing how much the nail wears down with every step.
• Health
  Healthy dogs tend to have nails that grow faster than dogs that are unhealthy. If your dog is taking supplements for their skin and coat, those supplements may also help them have strong healthy nails.
  
  This isn’t a bad thing for your dog, but it definitely means keeping an eye on nail growth.

Fast Growing Nails

After a nail trim, keep track of how long it takes before the nails touch the ground again. It could be as little as just a few days, or as much as several months. Once the nails touch the ground, that’s how long you can go between nail trims.

I personally do my dog’s nails every week. They are senior dogs, and don’t like to walk as much as they like to sit on soft pillows. They also have arthritis, and keeping their nails short helps avoid any pressure on their joints.

If you’re not sure, every two weeks is a good starting point for your dog. This maintains nail health in most dogs, without any risk of overgrown nails. In some dogs, this may shorten the quick as well. To shorten the quicks, once a week is best.

If you think your pet can go longer, try the paper test to see how long your pet can go before their nails touch the floor.

Similar Posts:

• What is the Alternative Cut Line?
• How to Round Your Dog’s Nails
• How to Trim Your Chihuahua’s Nails
• Alfie and the Clippers of Doom
• Best Nail Trimming Tools for Chihuahuas