 Do I really need to cut his nails???
Not a dumb question...I hope.
Of course I know that you cannot just let their nails grow and grow without cutting them because it can cause toe damage. However, what if I often walk the dog outside on the sidewalk and the kids play outside with him on concrete? Is it possible that the outdoor activity will keep his nails filed down enough that I won't need to cut them?
I tried to cut them last night for the first time. Sam is 4 months old and we just got him this week. I was only cutting off about 1 mm but on one of the toes he yipped! I was cutting very slowly and had barely pressed down when he yipped so I might have nicked the quick. There was no blood and he seemed fine, but I didn't have the nerve to cut anymore. I asked my wife to just have the vet do it next time she takes him in.
Just the thought of cutting the quick sends shudders up my spine! I cut my dogs quick once when I was a teenager and all I remember was the puddle of blood on the floor!! OUCH!! I felt so bad!
What are your thoughts on outdoor walking to eliminate the need to trim his nails? Any thoughts?
Doug |