More Than a Cosmetic Issue
Many dog owners think of nail trims as a grooming task — something that makes the clicking stop. But overgrown nails are actually a health issue that affects your dog's entire body.
How Overgrown Nails Affect Your Dog
Altered Gait and Posture
When nails are too long, they push against the ground with every step. This forces your dog to shift their weight backward, changing their natural gait. Over time, this leads to:
- Joint stress in the toes, ankles, and wrists
- Compensatory posture changes that affect the shoulders and spine
- Reduced traction — long nails actually make it harder for dogs to grip smooth surfaces
Pain and Discomfort
Long nails can:
- Curl into the paw pad — especially dewclaws that don't wear down naturally
- Split or crack — painful breaks that can lead to infection
- Press on the nail bed — causing constant low-grade pain with every step
Long-Term Damage
Chronic nail overgrowth can cause permanent changes to your dog's foot structure and contribute to arthritis in the toes and legs.
The Quick: Understanding Nail Anatomy
Inside every dog nail is the quick — a blood vessel and nerve that supplies the nail. In light-colored nails, you can see it as a pink area. In dark nails, it's invisible.
The quick grows with the nail. If nails are allowed to grow long, the quick extends further, making it harder to trim nails short without causing bleeding. Regular trimming encourages the quick to recede over time.
How Often to Trim
As a general rule:
- Every 2–3 weeks for most dogs
- Weekly for dogs that don't walk on hard surfaces
- Monthly for active dogs that walk on concrete or asphalt regularly
The goal: nails should not touch the ground when your dog is standing on a flat surface.
Grinding vs. Clipping
Both methods work:
- Clipping is faster but carries a higher risk of cutting the quick
- Grinding (using a Dremel-style tool) allows more precision and smooths the edges
Many groomers, including our team at Gordie's, use grinding to get a smoother, safer result — especially on dogs with dark nails where the quick isn't visible.
Signs Your Dog's Nails Are Too Long
- Clicking on hard floors
- Nails visible when standing on a flat surface
- Splayed toes
- Reluctance to walk or run
- Licking or chewing at paws
Making Nail Trims Less Stressful
- Start young — puppies who get regular nail trims grow up unbothered by them
- Use positive reinforcement — treats during and after
- Keep sessions short if your dog is nervous
- Let a professional handle it if your dog is fearful — struggling at home can make the fear worse