Some dogs hate nail trimming, others merely tolerate it, almost none like it. Some dogs need tranquillizers to make it through the process without biting, while others sleep through the procedure without a care. No matter what your dog’s personal take is on nail clipping, it is something you should do for your IGs regularly to keep from harming their skeletal structure.
A dog’s nails are important parts of their anatomy. Unlike cats, dog claws are not weapons, but are used when he runs to grip the ground when accelerating and turning corners. Outdoor animals run around enough over different surfaces and wear their own nails down. But our house-bound companions don’t get that natural wear from carpet, hardwood, or vinyl flooring. And since IGs nails grow more quickly than most other breeds, it’s easy for them to get too long.
Having long nails changes the way a dog carries himself. The diagram below shows how a long nail causes the bones in the foot to flatten and the Metacarpal, Phalanx I and Phalanx II bones to sit more angled when the dog walks or stands. The different angle of the bones when pressure is applied causes joint stress and can lead to joint pain and arthritis. It also leads to dropped wrists which make the dog look flat footed. Women reading this article can probably relate if they think about wearing high heels all the time. Long toe nails essentially do the same to dogs by changing the natural alignment of leg bones which adds torque or twisting to the joints.
Changing the natural alignment also makes the dog less steady on his feet and can contribute to an increased probability of leg breaks. If the dog’s joints are out of whack, he can’t catch himself from falling or landing as well. Since broken legs are already such a problem for Italian Greyhounds, this makes keeping your Iggy’s nails trimmed even more important.
The image shows how the bones of the paw and wrist angle back when a dog has long nails, but the damage doesn’t stop there. All the bones in a dog’s body are connected and the leg bones connect all the way up to the spine. Some of you might relate to how an injury on one part of our body can cause us to carry ourselves differently and create pain in another part of our body. Unfortunately, our dogs can’t tell us when they have a headache or shoulder ache and many times we miss the slight signals that they are in pain. Since dogs can’t trim their own nails, it’s up to us to make sure this dog maintenance is performed before the pain sets in.
IGs usually need their nails trimmed every two to three weeks, if not more often. Frequent walking (daily, fast paced, long walks) can help wear down nails and increase the time between trimmings. For our dogs, nail trimming is a two person job and my husband holds dogs on his lap with their feet sticking outwards while I clip. The red line in the diagram to the left shows where to cut the nail. The nail comes straight out, and at the point where it starts to bend downward, you should cut at a 45 degree angle. It’s always a good idea to have Kwik Stop or another blood stopping product on hand in case you hit the quick. If trimming nails is not your forte, groomers or vet clinics are good alternatives to keep your dogs’ nails well groomed.
Some dog owners prefer to grind down (commonly using a Dremel tool) their dog’s nails. We’ve been using a regular Dremel with a Peticure attachment for years on our dogs. The Peticure attachment is not sold anymore, but you can purchase a Peticure or Dremel pet grooming kit. I would recommend using a system with a dust containment attachment. Otherwise, you’ll have a LOT of nail dust to clean up afterwards. Never hold the Dremel in one place for too long because the friction will make the whole nail very hot and cause your dog pain. We continually move the Dremel and grind down to the same spot – where the nail starts to bend downwards or on white nails, right before the start of the pink quick.
Unfortunately, it is easy to overlook this basic grooming. Many of the dogs we take in to rescue, regardless of what their situations were before, need a nail clipping when they arrive. Similarly, I’ve noticed at playdates there are always a couple IGs with very long nails. Remember though, that trimming claws is not merely a cosmetic issue, but also a health issue. You and you IG may dread biweekly trims, but it is one of the most basic things you can do to take stress off your pups’ joints as they age.