How to Trim Your Chihuahua’s Nails

Are your Chihuahua’s nails overdue for a trimming? Like most small dogs, Chihuahuas aren’t too keen on getting their nails trimmed. Many will run and hide in their crate or bed when they first spot the dreaded nail clippers.

Trying to play hide-and-seek with your Chihuahua is difficult enough, let alone actually clipping his nails. Some Chihuahuas will pull away during this grooming activity. As you place the clippers around one of your Chihuahua’s nails, he may instinctively pull his paw back toward his body. Other Chihuahuas will simply yelp like it’s some form of medieval torture.

Nail trimming can be equally as frightening for owners. You may fear that you’ll cut into the quick. Just as our nails bleed when the quick is cut, so will a Chihuahua’s nails. With the right approach, however, you can safely trim your Chihuahua’s nails without causing undue stress and anxiety or cutting into the quick.

The Importance of Trimming Your Chihuahua’s Nails

Nail trimming should be an integral part of every Chihuahua’s grooming routine. If his nails become too long, your Chihuahua may develop an irregular gait (abnormal walking) or even growth deformities of his toes. Long nails will increase the pressure placed on his toes. Your Chihuahua’s body weight won’t be evenly distributed across his paw pads. With long nails, his body weight will be focused on his toes, resulting in orthopedic issues.

Long nails are more likely to break than properly trimmed nails. They are typically thinner and weaker — particularly at the tip. Even minor trauma to your Chihuahua’s long nails may cause them to splinter open, potentially creating infection-prone wounds deep in the quick.

There’s some belief that long nails contribute to canine arthritis. When a Chihuahua with long, unkempt nails walks and runs on hard surfaces, it pushes the nail back into the joint. Over time, this constant stress and pressure on the joints may lead to arthritis.

When neglected for an extended period, long nails can become ingrown. Your Chihuahua’s nails won’t grow straight out from his paw pads. Rather, they will curl as they grow. Nails are considered ingrown if they curl completely inward while making contact with the paw pads. Eventually, they may grow into the paw pads, causing severe pain and increasing the risk of infections for your Chihuahua. All of these problems are easily avoided by trimming your Chihuahua’s nails regularly.

When to Trim Your Chihuahua’s Nails

How often should you trim your Chihuahua’s nails exactly? Most veterinarians and professional groomers recommend owners trim their canine companion’s nails at least once every three to four weeks. Some Chihuahuas, of course, will require more frequent nail trimmings than others.

Here are some signs that your Chihuahua’s nails are too long and need trimming:

• You hear a “clicking” or “clacking” sound as your Chihuahua walks on hard surfaces, such as hardwood, laminate or tile floors.
• Your Chihuahua’s nails have begun to curl inward toward his paw pads.
• Your Chihuahua is limping or tip-toeing when he walks.
• Your Chihuahua is constantly getting his nails caught in rugs, carpet, blankets or upholstery.
• It’s been over a month since your Chihuahua’s nails were last trimmed.

The 3 Types of Canine Nail Clippers: Which Type Should You Choose?

Do not attempt to trim your Chihuahua’s nails using regular “human” nail clippers. Dogs have different nails than us humans. Our nails are thin and flat, whereas a dog’s nails are thicker and more cone shaped.

Regular nail clippers will compress your Chihuahua’s nails, causing him pain and discomfort. Furthermore, you’ll only be able to fit the very tip of your Chihuahua’s nails into the regular nail clippers. When it’s time to trim your Chihuahua’s nails, leave your regular nail clippers in the bathroom drawer and choose one of the three following canine nail clippers, instead.

#1) Scissor-Style Clippers

Scissor-style clippers work like a pair of scissors. Also known as Millers Forge clippers, they feature a pair of crescent-shaped blades that collapse when the handle is pulled. This crescent shape allows them to contour to the natural curvature of your Chihuahua’s nails.

Most scissor-style clippers also have an optional hinge-attached guard. Consisting of a flat metal plate, it’s designed to prevent owners from accidentally cutting their dog’s nails too deep. You can fold the guard over the end of the cutting blades to limit the trim length.

#2) Guillotine-Style Clippers

Guillotine-style clippers are a popular choice among Chihuahua owners. Pioneered by the pet products manufacturer Resco in 1937, they feature a stationary ring and a crescent-shaped blade. When you squeeze the handle, the crescent-shaped blade will move outward while subsequently pushing your Chihuahua’s nail against the stationary cutting ring.

Guillotine-style clippers are simple and easy to use. Most of them require less squeezing force than scissor-style nail clippers, and they offer more precise cuts. With that said, guillotine-style clippers don’t have a guard, so you must use caution to avoid cutting too deep.

#3) Nail Grinders

Nail grinders aren’t actually clippers. As their name suggests, they are grinding devices. Most nail grinders are battery powered. Some of them use disposable batteries, whereas others use rechargeable batteries. Regardless, all nail grinders all electric rotary tools with a grinding head.

The grinding head consists of an abrasive disc or piece of sandpaper. When you turn on the nail grinder, the grinding head will begin to spin. You can then press your Chihuahua’s nail into the grinding disc. The grinding disc will grind down the nail without actually cutting it.

Steps to Trimming Your Chihuahua’s Nails With Clippers

1. Find an area where you can easily reach your Chihuahua’s nails. Some owners use a table, but a couch or recliner should suffice as well.
2. Gently hold and comfort your Chihuahua with your non-dominant hand.
3. While holding the clippers with your dominant hand, use your non-dominant hand to slide your Chihuahua’s nail between the blade. Guillotine-style clippers should be moved into position from underneath the nail, with the cutting blade closest to your body and the stationary ring closest to your Chihuahua’s body.
4. Take note of where the quick begins. You should cut no closer than 2 millimeters of this area to prevent bleeding. If your Chihuahua’s nails are mostly white, the area where it darkens is the quick. If his nails are black, look for a white ring surrounding the quick. Another tip is to trim dark nails gradually, preferably with a grinder, to avoid hitting the quick.
5. With the blade positioned at a 45-degree angle to the nail (see image below), gently squeeze the handle to make a clean cut. Depending on your Chihuahua’s disposition towards nail trimming, you may want to distract him with petting, praise or a treat. Physically restraining your Chihuahua isn’t recommended, as this will only make future nail-trimming sessions more difficult by causing stress and anxiety.
6. Repeat these steps until you’ve trimmed all your Chihuahua’s nails, including the dewclaws found on the side of each paw pad.

Steps to Trimming Your Chihuahua’s Nails With a Grinder

1.  Like with using clippers, find a comfortable area for you and your Chihuahua. You should hold your Chihuahua with your non-dominant hand and the grinders with your dominant hand.
2. Turn on the grinder and gently press the tip of your Chihuahua’s nail into the grinding head at a 45-degree angle. If the grinder has multiple speed settings, start with the slowest speed.
3. Move the grinder just over the top of the nail, at which point you should reverse direction by moving the grinder back down.
4. Continue this up-and-down motion until you’ve trimmed the nail to an appropriate length.

Help! I’ve Cut Into The Quick

If you accidentally cut your Chihuahua’s nails too deep and cause them to bleed, try not to panic. While cutting into the quick may cause pain and discomfort, you can stop the bleeding and promote faster healing times by using a styptic powder product like Kwik Stop.

Classified as an antihemorrhagic agent, styptic powder stops bleeding by forcing the blood vessels to contract. The quick is the inner part of the nail. Unlike the outer part, it contains blood vessels and nerve endings, which is why it bleeds when cut into. Styptic powder is designed to encourage clotting so that the quick will stop bleeding.

Simply place a small amount of the powder on a cotton ball or gauze pad and apply it directly to your Chihuahua’s affected nail. Hold the cotton ball or gauze pad in place for at least 10 seconds. As long as the cut isn’t too deep, this should stop the bleeding. If your Chihuahua continues to bleed for longer than five minutes, however, seek immediate veterinary attention.

Chihuahua Nail Trimming Tips

• Invest in a pair of high-quality canine nail clippers (never use human nail clippers).
• Start trimming your Chihuahua’s nails early, preferably he’s still a puppy. Even if his nails don’t necessarily need it, trimming at an early age will acclimate your Chihuahua to this grooming process.
• Whether you use scissor-style or guillotine-style clippers, make sure the blade is sharp and clean before using it on your Chihuahua. If the blade is dull, either replace it or buy a new pair of clippers.
• When using a grinder, try to get into the habit of replacing the grinding head on a regular basis. Grinders don’t have a blade, but the grinding head will still become dull over time.
• Observe your Chihuahua’s body language. If he tries to pull away, you may end up cutting into the quick. Wait until your Chihuahua is calm and relaxed before clipping his nails.
• Use a pair of blunt-tip scissors to trim excess fur from your Chihuahua’s paws. Long pieces of stray fur may get caught in the clippers.

Should You File Your Chihuahua’s Nails After Trimming Them?

You may want to file your Chihuahua’s nails after trimming them. It will smooth out any rough or sharp ends so that snagging is less likely to occur. Your Chihuahua will be able to borrow under blankets and play with plush toys without snagging his freshly trimmed nails.

If you struggle to trim your Chihuahua’s nails without cutting into the quick, you should consider filing them. It will encourage the quick to recede. Regular filing will result in a shorter quick that’s easier to avoid during future nail-trimming sessions.

Filing is only beneficial, of course, if you trim your Chihuahua’s nails with clippers. If you use a grinder, you can skip this post-nail-trimming activity. The grinder will smooth out the ends of your Chihuahua’s nails just like a traditional nail file.

You may want to use a grinder specifically for filing. You can trim your Chihuahua’s nails with scissor-style or guillotine-style clippers, followed by filing his nails with a grinder. Alternatively, you can use a traditional nail file to smooth out your Chihuahua’s nails after trimming them.

DIY vs Professional Nail Trimming

If you aren’t comfortable trimming your Chihuahua’s nails yourself, you may want to opt for a professional nail trimming service. Most veterinary clinics and groomers offer nail trimming for about $10 to $20. It’s a relatively simple process that veterinary professionals and grooming professionals alike can perform.

Some veterinary clinics include nail trimming as part of an annual exam. When you take your Chihuahua to get an annual checkup, a veterinary technician may trim his nails at no additional charge.

Groomers, on the other hand, can provide other grooming services, such as the following:

• Bathing
• Brushing and deshedding
• Ear cleaning
• Eye cleaning
• Teeth cleaning
• Styling
• Coat conditioning
• Paw pad moisturizing and “pawdicures”

If your Chihuahua experiences stress and anxiety during nail trimmings, you should consider taking him to a grooming professional rather than a veterinary clinic. If you take him to a veterinary clinic, your Chihuahua will begin to associate veterinarian visits with stress. With all the poking and prodding, veterinarian visits are stressful enough for our furry companions; your Chihuahua doesn’t need the extra stress of getting his nail trimmed at the veterinary clinic.

Whether you take your Chihuahua to a veterinary clinic or grooming professional, you’ll typically have to bring proof of rabies vaccination. Most states legally require dogs over a certain age to be vaccinated against rabies. If your Chihuahua hasn’t received his rabies vaccine — or if you haven’t kept up with your Chihuahua’s rabies booster shots — you may not be able to get his nails trimmed.

What If My Chihuahua Chews His Nails?

It’s not uncommon for Chihuahuas to chew their nails. If your Chihuahua’s nails become too long, he may chew them as a form of self-grooming. Like all dogs, Chihuahuas use their teeth as a tool. They may bite their bodies to relieve itchy skin, or they may chew their overgrown nails to shorten them.

Self-grooming, though, is just one of many reasons Chihuahuas chew their nails. Some Chihuahuas chew their nails because they are stressed or bored. Others chew their nails because they are suffering from allergies or an infection. If your Chihuahua exhibits chronic nail chewing, let your veterinarian know.

References:

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/dog-grooming-tips

https://hospital.vetmed.wsu.edu/2022/03/10/how-to-clip-a-dogs-nails/

https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/the-importance-of-a-peticure/

How do you trim your Chihuahua’s nails? Let us know in the comments section below!

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