Long nails can make walking unpleasant for your corgi. But sometimes trimming the claws of a corgi requires careful planning for perfect execution.
So, how do you trim your corgi’s nails?
There are various steps involved in trimming the nails of corgis. Some of them include knowing when to clip, choosing the trimming tool, getting the dog comfortable, and much more.
The essence of these steps is to ensure that both the dog and the owner experience little or no discomfort throughout the trimming process.
If you are trimming your corgi’s nails for the first time, or you are not sure you’ve been doing it right, this is for you. In this article, we compile a complete guide on how to trim corgi nails.
When to Trim Your Corgi’s Nails
Generally, you should trim your corgi’s nails when they grow long enough to touch the ground. However, corgi nails do not always grow outward. Sometimes, corgi nails grow inward – into the paw pads of the dog. And when they do, they can hurt your dog pretty bad, so you have to trim.
When corgi nails grow into the paw pad, you may hear some clacking noise as the dog walks. When you do, it is time to trim the dog’s nails.
What You Need to Trim Your Corgi’s Nails
The primary tool you need to trim the nail of a corgi is a nail trimmer. Depending on the dog’s size and your preference, you may get a scissor-style nail trimmer or a large nail clipper.
For smaller dogs, scissor-style nail clippers are recommended. For medium to large-sized dogs, large nail clippers are recommended. Of course, since corgis are generally small-sized, scissor-style nail clippers are perfect for them.
If you are not too comfortable with nail trimmers, you can get a nail grinder. With a nail grinder, you can trim nails and add finishing touches too.
Ensure you opt for high-quality trimmers and grinders. The experience with products of lower quality may not be pleasant for you or your corgi.
You may need something to stop bleeding in case you trim the nail excessively. For this purpose, you should have a clotting powder such as styptic powder, benzocaine, cornstarch, or baking soda around when trimming the nails of your corgi.
Getting Your Corgi Comfortable
You never know; your corgi may have had an unpleasant experience with nail trimming. Consequently, it may be skittish or aggressive when you try to trim its nails.
Obviously, if your corgi acts out, you will have a hard time trying to trim its nails. But to avoid this, get the corgi comfortable with the process. Even if your dog shows no sign of fear for the nail trimming process, you should make it comfortable with the procedure.
How to Make Your Corgi Comfortable With Nail Trimming
Follow these steps over 7 days:
- On the first day, present the nail trimmer or grinder to the corgi. Let it feel and sniff the tool, then praise it or give it a treat.
- The following day, touch each one of the corgi’s paws with the trimmer or grinder. Then squeeze the trimmer so that it hears the clipping sound. If it’s a grinder, switch the grinder on and let the dog feel the vibration. Afterward, praise the dog or give it a treat.
- On the third day, touch the paws of the corgi with the grinder or trimmer again. Then reward it with a treat or praise it.
- Try to trim just the tiniest bit off the tip of one of the front paw nails. Do just one nail and offer treats and praises if the dog responds positively.
- Try repeating the step from the previous day on two nails.
- Keep going and trimming one more nail each day.
- Keep practicing or simulating the trimming process on your corgi until it gets very comfortable with the procedure.
Getting a Nervous or Aggressive Corgi to Cooperate While Trimming Its Nails
If you cannot get your nervous corgi to cooperate with you while trimming its nails, you may get someone to help you restrain it gently. Gentle restraint could feature distractions. Such distractions could be a treat like peanut butter or a conversation with the dog.
If the dog is aggressive, you may have to train it to wear a muzzle. So, whenever you intend to trim its nails, put the muzzle on its face so that it does not bite you.
Trimming Corgi Nails
Once you’ve gotten the corgi to let you trim its nails, move on to trimming its nails. But before you start clipping your corgi nails, ensure you know how much you can cut.
Clip the nails excessively, and the dog may bleed. This will be painful, and the corgi may never want to get its nails trimmed again.
Where to Trim?
Knowing where to trim off your corgi’s nails is pretty straightforward if they are light. However, if the nails are dark or black, you have to be extra careful.
Generally, when trimming the nails of a corgi, do not trim beyond the quick.
The quick is a tissue inside the nail of a dog’s claw. It contains veins and nerves. As expected, if you cut it, the dog will bleed and feel pain.
If you are lucky, your corgi will have white, clear, or light-colored nails. With these nails, it is pretty easy to figure out the location of the quick. The quick appears as a pinkish or reddish area from around the center of your dog’s nails downwards.
For the sake of safety, stop just below the level of quick when trimming your corgi’s nails.
With darker nails, figuring out the location of the quick is a bit complicated. You may not spot a pinkish or reddish color through the darkened nails.
Still, you may try spotting a small dark circle around the center of the nail downwards. If you spot this, that should be the quick.
If you look beneath the dark nails of your corgi’s paws, you may also find a chalky white ring. This ring also indicates the location of the quick.
However, if you cannot spot the quick visually, trim the nails little by little. After each little trim, lift the corgi’s paw gently and examine the center of the nail head-on. If you notice a tiny dark circle at the center of the nail, that is the quick; do not clip it.
How to Trim?
To trim the nails of your corgi with a nail clipper, do the following:
- Since corgis are typically small, you can place them in your arms while trimming their nails.
- Hold your corgi’s paw between your thumb and forefinger, gently but firmly.
- Raise your forefinger and thumb in a way that extends the nails. Then take a look underneath each to locate the quick.
- Place the clipper at the edge of the nail at a 45-degree angle and trim straight across.
- Clip only the tip of the nail each time. Stop when you are just below the quick.
Trimming the nails of your corgi with a nail grinder involves pretty much the same steps as when you use a nail clipper. Still, these tips should help you get the best outcomes:
- Grind small portions of the nails at a time to avoid hitting the quick.
- You will get better control of the grinder if you hold it closer to the tip. If you can control the grinding tool better, you can make it more comfortable for your corgi.
- Since corgis are typically hairy, pay attention so that your dog’s hair does not get caught in the grinder.
- Always pay attention to your corgi’s sensitivities and try to make the experience more pleasant. This applies to both clippers and grinders.
What Should I Do if My Corgi’s Nails Start Bleeding? (What Should I Do if I Cut the Quick?)
If you end up cutting your corgi’s nail quick by mistake, and it starts to bleed, do not fret. Instead, dip the bleeding nail in styptic powder or cornstarch.
Styptic powder or cornstarch will stop the bleeding and clog the punctured blood vessels to keep microbes out so the wound may not readily get infected. Nonetheless, you should let a vet see the injury just to be sure.
After tending to the wound, calm the dog down so that it does not worsen the injury. You may offer it some treats to keep it calm and less stressed.
If the cut is significant, styptic powder and cornstarch may not stop the bleeding. In this case, apply a lot of pressure to the wound (you could use a tourniquet). Then get the dog to a vet immediately.
What Will Happen if I Do Not Trim My Corgi’s Nails Regularly?
- The primary downside to irregular nail trimming is pain. If the nails overgrow, walking may become painful for your corgi.
- Overgrown nails reduce your corgi’s traction. Consequently, it may slip and fall easily.
- Long nails may turn your corgi’s healthy feet into splayed feet. In the long run, the dog’s paw may become deformed. Also, the joints and tendons may get injured.
- Since regular trimming can cause the quick to draw inward, irregular care leaves it more accessible. Having the quick recede is preferred since it makes clipping easier. Besides making trimming easier, a short quick is less prone to injuries.