12/22/2024
Why should dogs’ nails be so short?!?
This is why! These pics were taken about 5 mins apart. This is what we mean when we say that long nails can cause orthopedic/structural issues in dogs! In the first picture (before), the dog is pushing her leg out in front of her shoulder and walking flat-footed so that her nails don’t push painfully into the ground. In the second picture (after), she’s just had a nail grind and her structure is immediately better and her foot is in a healthy position!! The leg is directly under the shoulder, directly atop the foot, and is perpendicular to the table/floor. This is proper foot and leg placement. The placement in the “before” photo changes a dog’s structure and can make them more prone to injuries…imagine walking on your heel while lifting your toes off the ground. That’s essentially how dogs with long nails have to walk 24/7, and over time can cause permanent issues.
This is an important factor in deciding whether your dog’s nails are too long. Just looking at the nail itself can be deceptive. We say we don’t want the nails to touch the floor, but see how they aren’t touching the floor in the first pic? But that doesn’t mean the length is good! Make sure to check your dogs’ stance and structure as well when deciding how short to go, and aim for pic number 2!! 🙂
***not my dog, but a grooming client. The dog was so happy and sweet after I did her nails and attacked me with kisses 😭❤️
