Q:

How often should I trim my dog's nails?

A:

Do you hear clicking sounds when your dog walk? If yes, then it's time to trim its nails.

Nails can be broken when untrimmed. Worse, some nails may even curl and grow back into your dog's feet.

Dewclaws should not be neglected. Left untrimmed, dewclaws can grow so long that they curl up and grow into the soft tissue. With untrimmed nails, your dog would face difficulty walking.

Cultivate a weekly nail clipping routine. Trim thin slices regularly rather than remove large portion after a long period. When your dog's nails are regularly trimmed, the quick regresses, allowing you to trim shorter each time.

And if your dog's nails are untrimmed for months, hear the rhythmic clicking sound now.

Q:

Clipping Milo's nails is my greatest nightmare. Sometimes, his yells are so loud that I feel as though the whole block could hear him. What could be done? Help!

Could you have clipped Milo's quick? Clipping the quick causes pain and bleeding. When you clip Milo's nails, clip only the excess- not the nerves of the quick and its blood vessels. Indeed, nail clipping can be a hellish experience for Milo and you if the approach is wrong. Refer to these steps to prepare yourself for the next nail-clipping experience:

1. Ensure you have settled Milo in a calm and bright environment. Get your nail trimmers and styptic or antiseptic powder ready to stop bleeding if the quick is accidentally nicked.
   
2. Place Milo either on the floor or on a table. Grab Milo's paw firmly and push his pads to extend his nails. Give him a little treat now as you begin.
   
3. If Milo has light-coloured nails, locate where the quick ends. Leave nail at least one-quarter inch away from the quick. Clip nails on a 45-degree angle. If Milo has dark nails, clip several thin slices off the end of the nails until you see a black dot at the centre of the nail.
   
4. Praise Milo each time you clip his nails. If Milo appears aggressive, calm him and try to clip at least one or two nails. Clip the rest of the nails in the next few sessions. Gradually increase the nail clipping session from a few seconds to a few minutes when you can finally clip all his nails in one session.
   
5. After the nails are clipped, file them in a sweeping motion from the back of the nail to the curve of the tip.
   
6. Reward Milo with delicious treats or chews so that he will be less resistant in future sessions.