Clipping Nails

It's important to regularly clip your pet's nails to avoid them from becoming overgrown. Overgrown nails can cause your pet to experience pain, infection, decreased traction and injury to themselves, humans and other animals. Clip the nails with pet nail trimmers, removing just the very tips.

Most animals are sensitive to their paws being touched and held. You should work on getting your pet used to having their paws touched before even introducing the nail clippers. Break down the process into small steps, rewarding each step with treats and calming praise. Only proceed to the next step if your pet is comfortable. If you’re met with too much resistance to the nail clipping process, go back a step and slow down.

For example, if your pet is not allowing you to hold their paws, start by just touching their paws (while feeding treats) for a few seconds every day. Once they are comfortable with their paws being touched, you can increase the amount of time you touch the paws. Then you can start holding the paws and increasing the amount of time you hold the paw. This will get your pet used to having their paws handled for longer periods of time. Similarly, the nail clippers may make your pet feel nervous or scared. Repeat this same slow process when introducing the nail clippers.

This training technique of slowly building upon each step and rewarding with treats along the way is necessary for preventing your pet from creating a negative association with the nail trimming process. The more often you handle your pet's paws and trim their nails, the more they will cooperate and willingly participate. There are even behaviors and positions you can teach your pet to make the process even easier.

Below is a step-by-step guide to help you get started, but keep in mind: every animal is an individual. Some pets may need additional steps, and some may be comfortable enough to skip some steps. Some pets may benefit from medication or professional grooming and restraint due to high levels of fear and stress. Always listen to your pet and adjust your methods accordingly.  

Clipping Nails Step-by-Step:

Pair each step with high-value treats. Remember: If your pet stiffens or stops eating the treats, pause. If they look away or pull away, pause. You should only proceed if they are continuously taking treats. 

1. Don't move too quickly. Observe your pet’s body language as you reach for their paws. Some pets will need extra time getting used to you touching certain areas of their body. You may need to first desensitize them to you approaching before you can start touching them. Start by petting their back, shoulder and upper leg before going for the ankle and paw. For an example of desensitizing the "approach", check out this video: Peanut butter + Dishwasher = Nail trim!
2. Desensitize your pet to having their paws touched. Some pets who have a negative feeling toward nail clippers or having their paws touched may need extra help and Counter Conditioning to help change how they feel about the nail trimming experience. While feeding your pet high-value treats, gently touch their paw for a second or two, while saying "nails," "toe beans," or your word of choice. Naming things (like "nails" when clipping the nails, "collar" when touching their collar or "up" before picking them up) can provide predictability and comfort for our pets, who otherwise could be caught off guard by those actions. Check out this video, Oh, Behave: Stress-Free Nail Trims.
3. Increase the duration of the paw touches. Repeat Step 1 but increase how long you touch each paw. If you started with one second, increase to three seconds, then five seconds then 10 seconds. 
4. Add movement. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 but turn the "touch" into a stroke. Experiment with petting paws and legs, touching each individual toe pad and the nails.
5. Desensitize your pet to having their paws held. While feeding your pet high-value treats, gently grab and hold their paw for a second or two, while saying "nails" or your word of choice.
6. Increase the duration of the paw hold. Repeat Step 4 but increase how long you hold each paw. If you started with one second, increase to three seconds, then five seconds then 10 seconds. 
7. Add movement and pressure. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 but add gentle pressure, lightly squeezing the paw (as if you are gripping it to trim the nails). Experiment with holding the ankles, legs and each individual toe and nail.
8. Desensitize your pet to the nail clippers. Place the clippers on the ground where your pet can see them and investigate them as they please. Reward them with treats every time they look at the clippers, approach the clippers, sniff them or touch them with their paws!
9. Interact with the nail clippers. Repeat Step 7 but while you are touching, grabbing and picking up the clippers. 
10. Desensitize your pet to holding the clippers near their paws. Slowly move the clippers towards their paw. If they freeze or stop eating the treats, move the clippers away. 
11. Make contact. Repeat Step 9, but this time actually touch the clippers to the paw. If they freeze or stop eating the treats, move the clippers away.
12. Hold their paw while holding the clippers. Combine Steps 6 and 9. If they freeze or stop eating the treats, move the clippers away and let go of the paw.
13. Hold their paw and touch the clippers to the nails. Combine Steps 6 and 10. If they freeze or stop eating the treats, move the clippers away and let go of the paw.
14. Clip the nails! Start small and slow. Clip one nail, pause, let go of their paw and reward with treats! Assess if your pet needs a break or if you can continue clipping more nails. If you're only able to clip one nail and then stop for the day, that's okay! You don't want to push your pet too far and create fear around nail trims. That will set you back. 
15. End with lots of treats and praise! After the nail trim — whether you trimmed all paws or only one single nail — reward their bravery and cooperation with a pile of delicious treats.
16. All done! Say "All done!" or "No more!" to let your pet know that the nail trim is over. Put the nail clippers away and let your pet decompress. 

Bathing

All dogs need baths, whether because they get dirty or simply to cleanse dust, dander, loose hair and oily residue from the skin. If you or someone in your family suffers from mild dog allergies, frequent bathing can reduce the amount of dander on the coat and in your home. How often your dog needs a bath depends on their breed and coat type, as well as how much they are outside — reach out to your local groomer for recommendations for your pet. Most dogs do fine with weekly or even monthly baths as long as you use a gentle, moisturizing shampoo and completely rinse all the soap out of the coat. However, some dogs with very short and fine hair only need baths every few months or longer. Otherwise, their skin could become dry and irritated.

Self-grooming pets like cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, mice and rats will usually clean and groom themselves, but they may need a bath when they are particularly dirty, stinky, sick or if recommended by your vet. Keep in mind: If your pet has either stopped cleaning themselves or is over-grooming themselves, contact your vet to rule out any medical issues or physical pain. Stress can also be a reason your pet's grooming habits have changed. Cats rarely need to be bathed unless they spend time outside and become significantly dirty or as recommended by your vet. 

Bathing DOs & DON'Ts:

• DO take your time. We want to make bath time a calm bonding experience for you and your pet. 
• DO fill the bath before bringing your pet into the bathroom or bathing area. Some pets may be startled by the loud sound of the running faucet. By the time the bath is ready, they may be too scared or stressed.
• DO test the water before bathing your pet. The water should be lukewarm, not too cold and not too hot. You don't want to burn your pet, but you want them to be comfortable.
• DO offer praise along the way. Speak to your pet in a soothing tone, praising them throughout the whole process.
• DO pair every step with plenty of treats. If your pet is too stressed to eat the treats, take a break. 
• DO implement safety measures. Put towels down and a grippy mat in the tub so your pet doesn't slip and injure themselves. Consider putting a slip lead on your dog so they cannot jump out of the tub, potentially injuring themselves. Bathe small animals in a sink instead of a tub. 
• DO avoid bathing near the eyes, nose, mouth and inner ears. Water and shampoo can irritate these areas. For dogs, use ear cleaner to dry out water from the inner ear and prevent infection after baths and swimming. 
• DO rinse, rinse and rinse some more. Any soap left in the coat will be itchy and make the hair look greasy. 
• DO gently dry them with a towel or cloth before turning them loose. 
• DO enjoy (and be ready for) the post-bath zoomies! 
• DON'T fill the tub too full. The water should be very shallow. Use a cup or small bucket to fully wet your pet. 
• DON’T bathe your pet outside with the hose unless you have warm water. You wouldn’t enjoy a cold outdoor shower, and neither would your pet.
• DON'T let them drink the dirty bath water. 
• DON’T use human shampoos — most will dry out the skin.
• DON'T let them outside right after the bath. Wait until they are dry. Many animals don't like the "clean" smell, so they will try to roll in something stinky or dirty (dirt, grass, feces, dead things, etc.) after a bath.

Cleaning Ears

Pets who get frequent ear infections or a lot of buildup in the ears will benefit from weekly or biweekly ear cleanings. Start out with a big cotton ball (cotton batting is even better). Wet the cotton with the ear cleaner and use it to swipe out the inside of the ear. A small amount of cleaner will naturally drip down into the ear canal. Gently massage the base of the ear with your fingers. Stand back and let your pet shake their head (drape a towel over their head to minimize the mess). Then use the cotton ball to softly wipe out the ear. Never stick a cotton swab into the ear canal — you can rupture your pet’s eardrum.

For more tips on grooming and other essential pet information, check out the “Complete Guide to Pet Health, Behavior, and Happiness,” authored by Gary Weitzman, DVM, MPH, CAWA, president and CEO of San Diego Humane Society.

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