Taking care of your Shih Tzu’s nails is an easy task; however, most owners would prefer bringing their pets to the grooming station because they feel they cannot do the job. It is actually a simple process. The only important thing is you are well informed about the normal anatomy of a canine nail and you have a well behaved dog. Actually, you are the best person to trim your Shih Tzu’s nail because you are the person your dog trust the most. To save you a trip to the groomer and bank some dollars, here are some reminders for a trouble-free nail clipping session.
It is best to nail clip after a dog’s bath because the nails are soaked in water and soft to trim. Take the paw into your hand and try to talk to your dog in gentle tones so as not to cause panic. Do not suddenly grab his paw and trim. This might surprise the dog and can cause you a bite, or you might induce a wound on his nailbed due to sudden jerky movements. As soon as both of you are relaxed, trim the nail in one smooth but quick motion. Trim the nails above the pulp – the blood supply that can be easily seen in a bright light. The pulp is found inside the nail and dark red in color. Accidentally hitting this structure can cause bleeding. This is not an emergency situation but your dog will surely go in pain. Just put clean cotton over the bleeding and induce pressure for 2-3 minutes. After trimming, use a file or an emery boar to minimize the jagged and pointed edges. A dog will usually need a trim every 4-5 weeks depending on his activity – such as scratching himself, digging, floor or cement scratching, etc. It is just important to check the nails just in case the dog is already having a difficult time walking. Overgrown nails can lead to wounds when accidentally removed. This can also cause infection because bacterial and fungal contaminants can get in and easily multiply due to the blood supply in the nail.
Source: shihtzuparadise.com
