Senior Dog Comfort & Care

Trimming your dog’s nails is important during all life stages but, especially for older dogs. Long nails force your dog to change their gait and posture, which can cause pain and inflammation in their joints. Long nails make it hard to get a good grip when walking on slick floors. Even worse, it increases the likelihood of falling or splaying their legs repeatedly, which can injure their joints and muscles. Dogs who slip or splay out can become fearful and then avoid certain areas with slick floors, which can result in them being less active.

Trim or have your dog’s nails trimmed regularly. If you hear their nails clicking on the floor, it’s time! Which is approximately every two weeks. You want them as short as possible without “quicking” them. If they aren’t a fan of the clippers, you can use a Dremel®-style grinder or nail file. Make it an enjoyable time with extra attention and treats. If your dog isn’t a fan of mani-pedis, just do one nail a day. Be sure to trim the hair between their pads, too, since it can cause them to slip on hard surfaces when it’s long.