The alternatives to clipping a dog's nails are to use a nail grinder such as a Dremel or file the dog's nails with a scratchboard or a handheld file.
Natural wear from the dog walking on hard surfaces like asphalt and concrete can help to naturally wear down the dog's nails.
It's often better to file a dog's nails instead of clipping them, especially if the dogs nails are not too long.
Filing the dog's nails is a slower and more gradual, which is also less likely to result in cutting of the quick and causing pain or bleeding.
Filing the dog's nails also results in smoother and rounded edges on the dog's nails, which also prevents snagging, scratching people or furniture and prevents accidental breaks.
Clipping the dog's nails is faster people that are skilled in cutting the dog's nails without cutting into the quick and can take off small amounts of the nail at a time.
Even clipping and filing both can be a good option for dogs nails.
You should cut or trim your dog's nails often as every 2 weeks to 4 weeks or when the dog's nails can be heard clicking on hard floors.
Some dog's may need more frequent trimming of their nails than others.
Dogs that are more active on hard surfaces like concrete or asphalt will need their nails cut or trimmed less often than less active dogs.
Some dogs can go as long as 5 to 6 weeks without needing their nails cut or trimmed.
Dog breeds like Bulldogs, Shih Tzus and Pugs might need more frequent nail trimming because of their short legs and body structures reduce the ground contact that is required for filing down the dog's nails.
Dog's that are very active on hard surfaces like asphalt or concrete can wear their nails down naturally and keep them shorter and less active dogs can develop longer nails that require manual trimming.
And in some cases, dog breeds like Rottweilers, German Shepherds and Gordon Setters might also become more susceptible to a medical condition called lupoid onychodystrophy, which can cause the dog's nails to become brittle, misshapen grow abnormally long.
A dog's nails should not click on the floor when they are walking normally.
If a dog's nails are clicking on the floor when they are walking normally, then it's a sign that the dog's nails are too long and overgrown and in need of a trim.
Normally a dog's nails should not be touching the floor when the dog is standing, although very active dogs might have their nails worn down naturally.
If your dog's nails are clicking on the floor when they are walking normally, it's a sign that the dog's nails should be trimmed.
Overgrown nails are often painful for dogs and can lead to issues like pressure on the dog's toe joints, cause pain while walking and even result in a higher risk of injury to the dog from being torn or broken.
overgrown nails on dogs can cause long term health issues, like joint strain, altered posture and even arthritis.
When a dog's nails are overgrown and too long, the overgrown or long nails on dog's can put pressure on the dog's toe joints, which can result in pain and discomfort and arthritis over time.
Dog's with overgrown nails, may also change how they walk to avoid pressure, which can also misalign the joint's in the dog's legs and back.
And dog nails can curl and grow into the dog's paw pads and cause pain and also potentially an infection.
Long and overgrown dog nails are also more likely to become stuck in things and can break or even tear and be extremely painful for dogs.
The signs of pain from a dog's overgrown nails include.
Barking, whining or whimpering.
Irritability or withdrawing.
Changes in their posture or gait.
Licking or chewing at their paws.
Reluctance to walk or play.
And clicking sounds on hard floors.
If your dog's nails are overgrown or too long, they should be trimmed using a dog nail trimmer.
Just be careful when cutting a dog's nails as they have blood vessels in their nails and what's called a quick that when cut can lead to pain and bleeding.
Having a vet do the dog nail trimming is best when you don't know how to properly trim a dog's nails.