Using a Dremel to Trim Your Dog's Toe Nails

Nail trimming can be easy or difficult for a dog to go through. If your dog is cooperative, then trimming the nails at home is not a problem and is more ideal for you than to take them to the veterinary clinic to have done. However, sometimes dogs want absolutely nothing to do with a nail trim and will make a big ordeal about it if you attempt to trim them yourself. Some dogs are more sensitive at their paws than others and do not want you to touch them regardless. Whether you use nail trimmers or a Dremel is up to you and how your dog handles either one. Some dogs absolutely hate the sound of trimmers cutting because of the loud snapping noise that they make, others are fine. Using a Dremel versus nail trimmers has it's benefits.

Using trimmers tends to split and crack the nail, especially dull trimmers. This is where the Dremel comes in handy. With a Dremel, you can control how far you want the nail to go back and visualize the quick better. The Dremel leaves edges smoother and will not crack the nail. There are cons of using a Dremel aside from the positive aspects. A Dremel can cause a lot of heat from friction. This heat may reach the quick and become very uncomfortable for the dog. In dogs with long hair, the Dremel can grab long hair on accident. This will not only jam the Dremel, but it may cause a lot of pain for your pet having his/her hair pulled by the Dremel wheel.

The Dremel has its pros and cons. Many elderly pet owners prefer a nail trim to be done with a Dremel. That is because most elderly people have thin skin, and sharp toe nails can scratch their skin open quite easily. The Dremel leaves the nail edges smooth and prevents severe scratches. The Dremel is not for all dogs. There are many that do better with trimmers because there is no loud mechanical noise (Dremel motor spinning). Of course, there are plenty of dogs that would rather not have a toe nail trim. If your dog is horrible about toe nail trims, you should make sure you take them out for walks frequently on hard surfaces such as concrete. This, in turn, will help sand your dog's nails down so they are shorter. This can be done easily in dogs that enjoy running. If your dog runs too much, he/she can actually run the nails down to the blood supply and cause the nails to bleed.