We spoke to Dr Jessica May, UK lead vet at the video vet service FirstVet, to discover everything you need to know about using and buying dog nail clippers.
In this article:
Gonicc Dog & Cat Pets Nail Clippers
Professional-Grade Dog Nail Clippers by Thunderpaws
Wahl Dog Claw Clipper Guillotine Style
Slopehill Dog Nail Grinders
Iokheira Dog Nail Clippers
Pecute Pet Nail Grinder
Are dog nail clippers safe for dogs?
Dog nail clippers are completely safe to use on your pet, as long as they are used carefully. That said the best type of clipper to use may vary from dog to dog, based on the size and thickness of their nails.
Are dog nail clippers necessary?
If dogs’ nails aren’t clipped regularly, then they can start to affect movement and cause pain. Long claws can shift a dog’s balance to the wrong parts of the foot, making it more difficult for them to walk and run. Aside from this, longer nails are more susceptible to chipping or breaking, which can be painful and often requires veterinary treatment to fix. Regular clipping is crucial to avoid this, and it also helps to make sure that the quick, which is a blood vessel at the centre of the nail, does not get too long. If the quick becomes overgrown, it becomes more difficult to cut the nails in future, so it is important to maintain a regular clipping routine to keep the quick short.
What types of dog nail clippers are there?
There are three main types of dog nail clippers to choose from: guillotine clippers, plier-style clippers, or a grinder. Unlike the other types of clipper, a grinder uses a rough, spinning surface to sand down dogs’ nails, rather than cutting them.
Guillotine clippers are generally the easiest to use, consisting of a loop to put the dog’s nail through and a blade which cuts off the lower part of the nail when the handle is squeezed. These clippers are good for smaller dogs. Larger dogs’ nails may be too thick for the guillotine clipper to cut through.
Plier-style clippers are so named because they resemble the household tool. These clippers have two curved blades which come together to clip the nail when the handles are squeezed They are particularly useful for clipping larger nails, making them a better option for bigger dog breeds.
Some dogs may dislike the pressure on the nail that comes with traditional clippers, and may be more comfortable with the sanding mechanism of a grinder. Equally, some dogs may dislike the sound or vibrations of this method. The best type of clipper depends on the preference of each dog.
No matter which method you use, it is important that a dog feels relaxed when they are having their nails clipped to help them keep still and avoid any accidents. If you are unsure which type of clipper is best for your pet, you may want to try a few different types in order to work out which is most suited to your pooch.
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Can you use human nail clippers on dogs?
It is not recommended to use human nail clippers on dogs and it would also be difficult to do so. Dogs’ nails have a different shape and thickness to humans’, so it is unlikely that human nail clippers would fit or properly shape your four-legged friend’s nails. It is always best to use products designed specifically for your pet and if you are ever in doubt about the best equipment to use, you should consult a vet for their advice.
What should I look for in dog nail clippers?
Aside from looking for high quality, sturdy clippers, you should make sure to look out for the tool that suits your dog. Smaller nails may require a more precise tool, while thicker nails may need clippers with greater cutting power.
How do I use dog nail clippers?
Before beginning to clip your dog’s nails, you should inspect their feet for any foreign objects that may be causing pain or irritation. This ensures that your dog won’t be uncomfortable while you are holding their paw or clipping their nails, making it easier for them to sit still during the process. Once you have done this, get your dog in a sitting position to cut the nails on their front paws, or a standing position to clip the nails on their back paws.
When you begin clipping, make sure to have a secure hold of your dog’s paw, without squeezing it too tightly. Place the blade of the clipper, whether a guillotine or plier-style clipper, near the end of the nail to clip it. With either of these clippers, you should be careful not to clip too high up the nail, as you may cut the quick, which will bleed and be painful for dogs. The quick may appear as a pink area towards the top of lighter nails, although it can be harder to spot in dogs with darker nails. If you are worried about cutting the quick, you can start cutting a very small amount at the bottom of the nail and work your way upwards, stopping when you see a pink area, or pigmented skin in the nail, as this means that you are approaching the quick. You can also try squeezing the nail slightly before cutting, to see if your dog reacts, which may help you to get a more accurate idea of where the quick starts.
If you are using a grinder to shorten your dog's nails, then you can simply touch the spinning head to the end of the nail to file it down. Make sure to touch the nail for short periods of time to avoid heat-build up and wearing too much away. Again, make sure to avoid getting too close to the quick.
If you do accidentally cut the quick, do not panic. There may be some bleeding, but applying styptic powder, which is an antiseptic clotting agent commonly used in pet grooming, should help to clot the cut and applying a cool compress may help to relieve any discomfort. Clotting may take several minutes but If bleeding does not stop within a few minutes, then you should take your dog to see a vet, as a precautionary measure.
The best dog nail clippers UK
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The best dog nail clippers UK
1 of 6gonicc Dog & Cat Pets Nail Clippers
With ergonomically designed non-slip handles that are strong, lightweight and comfortable, these clippers have sharp blades made of high-quality stainless steel with unlock protection to prevent them from getting in the wrong hands. The safety stop blade reduces the risk of cutting your pet's nails too short plus there is a free hidden nail file conveniently stored in the handle so you can polish sharp nails to perfection.Review: "Really good. Would recommend. I have a rescue staffy who is so scared of going to the vets so being able to safely do his claws at home is brilliant. I've always been worried about cutting them too short but the safety stopper is really good and gives you the confidence. Being able to do a couple of claws at a time in the comfort of our own home is just what we needed. Would 100 per cent recommend."
£13.95
2 of 6Professional-Grade Dog Nail Clippers by Thunderpaws
Ideal for maintaining, trimming and cutting your dog's nails, each Thunderpaws Nail Clippers comes with a protective guard to protect your pets from "over-trimming" and a safety lock for easy storage. Built with high quality stainless steel blades to ensure a clean cut in one smooth action, the non-slip rubber handles are ergonomically designed for a comfortable grip.Review: "We and the vet have always struggled to get our elderly red setters nails cut, they are thick, black and very difficult to cut. We bought these clippers to try and save the monthly trips to the vet. Unfortunately due to his age he finds it difficult to get in the car and his nails have grown longer than they should. We are so impressed, they cut his nails like butter and were so easy to use, hopefully they will stay nice and sharp and we can keep his nails nice and short."
£10.99
3 of 6Wahl Dog Claw Clipper Guillotine Style
These guillotine clippers are made from durable, rust-resistant stainless steel and have a spring cutting action for precise clipping and ease of use. Suitable for small, medium and large dogs as well as other animals, the lightweight, ergonomic design fits comfortably in your hand.Review: "For as long as I have been a responsible dog owner I have owned a set of Wahl Dog Claw Clipper Guillotine Style. For me there is no alternative which is a safer and quicker method of accomplishing neat comfortable nails for my dogs, without causing them undue stress, as of course most dog owners know that nail clipping can be extremely stressful for our much loved pets.There is no chance of accidentally cutting your dog with these as the nail goes into the guillotine area for cutting. Yes, you do still need to be careful not to cut the nail too short, but once a month I trim my dog's nails a little and if you do this then the "quick" will recede so that you can keep the nails nice and short."
4 of 6slopehill Dog Nail Grinders
This pet nail grinder has three ports for different sized nails so that you can choose a suitable one according to your pets' size and characteristics of their nails. It has an adjustable low and high-speed design with 7000 RPM for precise trimming and 8000 RPM for quick grinding. Each grinder is rechargeable and has a built-in battery that lasts two hours after a three-hour charge. Review: "Used on our chihuahua who is scared of everything. I wouldn't say it's silent but it hasn't got a loud scary sound and she wasn't scared just sniffing it. Very easy to use. Took me about ten mins to get all her nails down but they were pretty long.Now they are more manageable, I can just get this out once a week and quickly file.I was scared to use clippers but with this it's so safe and you can file then look at the nail to see if anymore needs taking off."
£19.99
5 of 6Iokheira Dog Nail Clippers
When you trim your dog's nails with these clippers, the blade block prevents the cut nails from splashing when cutting and when you don't need to use them, the safety lock can keep the blades hidden. There is a nail file stored in the handle so you can smooth and shape the edges of nails after cutting with the clipper.Review: "My dog hates getting his nails cut at the vet that much we have to have him sedated which costs us around 80 pound. Bought these to try cut them ourselves and he actually lets us do it. Would recommend anyone who has a nervous pet to try these before spending a lot at a vets."
£8.49
6 of 6Pecute Pet Nail Grinder
Designed with low noise and low vibration so it won't scare your dog, this grinder is equipped with one groove-shaped and one normal grinding head plus two security covers.Review: "Have clipped 100s of nails by now and wanted to find a tool that would help get overly long nails back just that bit more than can be done just with nail clippers (I'm a dog groomer!). This is a nice pocket sized tool and so it's easy to hold and use. Importantly, it's very quiet. I have successfully used it today on 2 dogs, one large, one medium sized and was able to shorten the nails up with it and smooth the ends very easily. Looking forward to using it on lots more dogs."
£17.99