How and when to cut the claws of our dogs and cats

When you’re a “new birdie” to pet ownership, you quickly realize that one thing that’s not always considered about these little furry companions are their claws. No one talks about them much until they get a scratch or their chair starts breaking down. The nails of dogs and cats, still vestiges of their wild past, grow quickly and if they don’t wear them down during walks or games they are capable of doing more than unintended damage. But before taking a pair of scissors, you must inform yourself and not make any cuts without talking to your veterinarian.

In the case of cats, scratching or scratching is normal and healthy behavior, says Karen Valenzuela, an academic at the University of the Americas Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Agronomy. “They do it to mark the territory, leaving physical but also olfactory traces where they scratch. They usually do this on vertical surfaces, like trees, if they have a patio, or sofas and walls, if they live in buildings. It allows them to feel comfortable in their surroundings,” he says.

As for the dogs, “these generally scratch their bed or the place where they sleep and also the garden, both to mark their territory”. It is therefore normal to see your pet scratching carpets, cushions or grass. Dogs also use their nails to mark their actions. For example, “every time they urinate or defecate, they make a tear with their hind limbs to scrape the ground; in this way, they diffuse their aroma”.

“More than cutting the claws of cats and dogs, what is absolutely necessary is that they have the possibility of using them,” explains Gonzalo Chávez, coordinator of the Observatory of Responsible Ownership and Human Bonding- animal from Santo Tomás University. What should happen naturally, he says, is for both species to walk or have enough physical activity “and that through that movement, that exploration, that play and the wear and tear of walking, the claws are getting shorter”.

Therefore, a dog that walks as needed – at least twice a day, or has a yard to run around – does not need to have its nails trimmed. “On the contrary, a dog that does not go out will obviously have a proliferation of its nails, which can generate multiple consequences – such as incarnations or injuries – and they must then be cut”, he analyzes.

In the case of cats, these claws are essential for “climbing, since cats use space in a three-dimensional way”, he adds. Their claws are “a natural mechanism for clinging to walls, trees and other rough structures”. So that the length is not a problem, specialists recommend that the animal has access to various scratchers, effective in maintaining control of its growth.

If you think cutting a baby’s nails is a challenge, with all of their movements and kicks, animal nails can be twice as difficult because unlike human nails here you have to be careful not to get nervous.

“The tutor can actually trim their pets’ nails after their veterinarian explains and teaches them the procedure,” says Valenzuela. In the animal’s nail there are blood vessels and therefore the cut “must be made a few millimeters later”.

“If we do it right, cutting the nail shouldn’t cause any pain or discomfort to the dog or cat,” Chavez says. For this to be the case, it is necessary to keep in mind the notion of “hatching” more than that of cuttings. That is to say, remove just a little, with the aim that they do not invade but avoiding an injury.

“At least the first half of the nail is irrigated and vascularized; if you cut too deep, the nail will bleed. If we reach the vascular system, there will clearly be pain during the cut and some bleeding may be profuse, ”details the university of the U. Santo Tomas.

When the animal’s nails are black – which happens in some dog breeds like Yorkshire terriers – the blunting process is even more difficult, as it is more complex to identify where the blood vessel ends. In these cases, it is essential to consult the general veterinarian, so that he can instruct the guardian in the procedure.

With very long claws, the main risk is not your hands or your furniture, which can scratch, but the animals themselves. If its size is excessive, “the nail begins to deform”, explains Chávez. If he’s gotten too big and is starting to snag or snag, or bend over in a weird way, it’s best to get him treated by a veterinarian rather than an animal groomer.

Given its natural behaviors, which include climbing and/or scratching objects, it is less common to see a cat with excessive growth. If they don’t have a scratching post or enough access to trees and walls, cats feel the need to spend their nails scratching furniture, chairs, or curtains. When dogs have this problem, on the other hand, their nails grow and bend. “There, it is likely that the adjacent soft tissues or the pads of their paws begin to be injured”, underlines the veterinarian. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the sitters to monitor them and keep them of adequate size.

With excessive growth, tears and wounds in the leg can occur, as well as infections. “You have to think that the nails start from the first knuckle of the finger and that can cause bone fractures, tearing of the nails or jamming,” he says.

For many pet keepers, the subject of declawing can be a headache: many animals are reluctant to have their paws touched, either because they are not used to it or because they have had past bad experiences and are carriers of a phobia. Some not only move and prevent the cut, but also become aggressive and defensive.

What the two professionals recommend, if one adopts the animal when it comes to a puppy, is to touch its paws because they are very small, so that they see this interaction as something natural and harmless. A good idea, as Valenzuela comments, “is that after three months a simulation of nail cutting should be performed, holding the paws and pretending to cut, so that the animal becomes familiar with it”.

If your vet has ever taught you this, it’s important to know that dogs and cats can’t use the same nail clippers that you or your family use. Firstly because you won’t be able to cut almost anything, and secondly because you can cause an injury or a problem. The good thing is that there is a wide range on the market and almost every pet store sells it.

As we said, scratching or clawing is a completely natural behavior in animals, so it is necessary that the humans who take care of them understand, accept and channel this behavior. Something sitters can do is enrich the environment with items that help pets meet this need. For cats, explains Karen Valenzuela, it is necessary to have vertical scratchers with rough surfaces – such as natural fibers or ropes – so that they do not scratch the armchairs or other furniture. “There are also synthetic pheromones on the market to apply in the environment, which are very useful,” he says. Perceiving them in the environment, cats feel more relaxed.

This product has a composition that imitates the facial pheromone produced naturally by the cat —and which it diffuses in its habitat by rubbing its head against its environment—, which reduces its stress, stabilizes its behavior and prevents scratching. Of course, this does not replace physical activity or scratching posts.

In the case of dogs, having a suitable bed or cushion is essential, as they scratch the area where they sleep to mark their territory. “It is also possible to leave an area of ​​the garden for the dog to scratch and use as a rest area,” he advises. Although the most important thing, as we mentioned before, is that they walk daily.

There is a surgical practice which so far is not prohibited by law but which is considered animal abuse. We are talking about declawing, which is the technical name given to the procedure of extracting cats’ claws.

“It is a very painful practice, which goes against the usual behavior of the cat”, explains Chávez. Even partial or radical, “cats are prone to accidents and are unable to climb if they want to.”

“While not legally prohibited, it unnecessarily endangers the health of the cat, definitely compromising its well-being,” he says.

*Product prices are effective as of June 2, 2022. Values ​​and availability subject to change.