How to Cut Your Pet's Nails

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• Use toenail clippers that are made specifically for toenail trimming. We like this Extra Heavy Duty Nail Clipper


• Cut nails perpendicularly to the long axis of the nail, and about one-quarter inch away from the quick, which is the part of the nail that contains nerves and blood vessels.


• If you cannot see the quick clearly, stop cutting just behind the point at which the nail begins to curve downward.


• If you cut into the quick and the nail bleeds, do not panic. Draw the nail across a bar of softened soap to control the bleeding.


• You can also use a styptic (clotting) powder or stick that will clot the blood quickly. (Kwik Stop is a brand commonly available at your local pet supply retailer.) Put some of the powder on a moist cotton swab and press it firmly against the nail for several seconds.


• Do not forget to trim the dewclaw, which is located on the inside of each front leg just above the paw. (Some dogs do not have dewclaws.)


• If the dew claw nail (on the inside of the leg above the foot) has become embedded in the flesh of the leg, cut the nail at the proper place and extract the embedded tip. Treat the small wound with an antibacterial dressing. (You can also have your veterinarian or groomer do this.)


• If a toenail is broken and hangs by a small piece of tissue, pull the broken piece off with a hard twisting motion. If it bleeds, use the Kwik Stop or soap method mentioned above. If it doesn't come off easily, have your veterinarian do this.

PediPaws Pet Nail Trimmer - Product Review

We do not recommend the PediPaws Pet Nail Trimmer. We say, don't waste your money. If you want to file your dog's nails, buy a good emery board and use that. Emery boards made specifically for fake fingernails are excellent and inexpensive.

If you are still tempted to buy a PediPaw, you might want to read what people are really saying about it. Here is a sampling of consumer complaints found online:

• "Many of our clients have purchased it, only to find that it doesn't live up to the advertising."


• "I am convinced that the dogs in the commercial are either sedated or the actors do not have the thing on and are pretending to do the dogs’ nails. The commercial is misleading. They act like you can just take it out of the box and start clipping away. NOT the case. Only when you get it & read the instructions does it say THEN that it will take some time to finish the job. The sound is akin to going to the dentist and having a cavity filled because that is what it is - a grinder only this is a belt grinder. THAT sound is always fun to hear. Plus it smells like something burning even if you hold it on the nail for only four or five seconds. If you don’t mind taking a week or two to do one paw, then it is probably the product for you."


• "If you have an older dog maybe it works, but my young dog became so conditioned to the sound, that he would run whenever he hears the thing. I tried for a solid month with this in every way possible. Spent more money on treats than on the stupid PediPaws. I think I’ll just invest in some high quality emery boards now, at least I’ll save money."


• "DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!...it grabs at the dogs claw, is loud, and the dogs have all pulled away from it, they are frightened by the vibration of it along with the noise..."


• "Get the regular dog nail clippers or have a groomer do it...the Pedi-Paws are a waste of money....The one ordered for the kennel was sent back and we are still waiting for the refund..."


• "I bought one, they are junk. It takes forever to remove any of the toenail."


• "Save your money, I just threw $20 away on the one I bought."


• Save your money. Do not buy this product. It takes forever to work on the nails and does not work well. Customer service is terrible and they will not take the product back. Buy anything else instead of this product.


• They are biggest joke going. Dogs go absolutely ape poop when you touch their feet with one."


• I got one last year for Christmas. To avoid scaring my dog I let her sniff it to her satisfaction, then touched her sides with it till she was comfortable. Finally I turned it on and repeated the whole act. After a paw or two, it died. New batteries didn't revive it.


• "The Dogs on TV are either well trained or drugged. No normal dog will stand still for having his toenail ground off. Save you money and get a pair of dog nail clippers."