Using a dog nail trimmer how to#

Using a dog nail trimmer how to#

So that’s how to use guillotine dog nail clippers. If your rod is too horizontal, you’ll blunt the blade further – you want to rub it at the same angle as the cutting surface. To sharpen, simply rub your sharpening tool back and forth along the edge of the blade. This forms a cutting point along the length of the blade. Looking closely at your nail clipper blade, you’ll notice the metal is filed at an angle. The coating on the rod contains diamonds or similar materials to sharpen the blade. This is a long, thin, and rounded sharpening tool that fits in the curve of the nail clippers. You’ll also need to use a specialised sharpening rod. You’ll usually have to take your guillotine nail clippers apart to access the blade. Most people do not take very good care of their nail clippers, but sharp clippers will be easier to cut with and cause less damage to your dog’s nails. (Image credit: Getty Images) How to sharpen guillotine dog nail clippers However, most guards can be swung out of the way should you find a large cut is needed. It also encourages you to cut small amounts several times, rather than one big cut which could hurt your dog. A guard on nail clippers prevents you from cutting too much nail if your dog moves. This is usually a spinning or sliding piece of metal or plastic that sits just the other side of the cutting blade. Some dog nail clippers come with a guard. What is the guard for on dog nail clippers? So, you’ll need to hold the guillotine clippers upright, vertically, and perpendicular to the nail so that the blade crosses from bottom to top rather than crushing the nail side to side. Again, the aim is to cut the nail from bottom to top, not from side to side. Guillotine clippers are held in a similar way to sprung bypass clippers – in the palm, with the underside of your four fingers squeezing shut to close the clippers – but you’ll need to approach the nail differently. With both types of bypass clippers, the clippers are held horizontally, so that the cutting blades cut the top and bottom of the nail, rather than side to side. Sprung bypass clippers are held in the palm of the hand, between the fleshy part of the thumb and the undersides of the four opposite fingers. Unsprung ‘scissor’ bypass clippers are held using the finger holds – much like scissors are. Guillotine nail clippers and bypass clippers are held slightly differently. (Image credit: Unsplash - Kristine Tanne) How to hold dog nail clippers You may also want someone who can hold your dog whilst you trim their claws. You should also gather together other things you’ll need whilst you clip your dog’s nails – some treats, a muzzle, and a way to stop your dog’s nail from bleeding. Familiarise yourself with how they work, and make sure they’re comfortable to use. Firstly, squeeze them a few times without your dog there to make sure they’re sharp, and that the blade moves easily. So, if you’ve chosen guillotine nail clippers for your dog, it’s time to look at how to use them. It’s also harder to get the dog nail clippers into position on little nails or highly curved nails. However, this straight cut can make life harder if a nail needs cutting at an angle. They make a straight cut, which can be really handy to avoid making your dog’s nail bleed. ‘Guillotine’ nail clippers have a stationary blade (usually a hole or ‘ring’ shape) and one moving one (the ‘guillotine’) which slices the nail when you squeeze the handles. However, they blunt easily, and there’s no easy way to sharpen the blades, meaning you’ll have to replace the nail clippers entirely. They can be great for precise cuts, and on highly curved or small nails, but the spring ones work well in larger nails too. These can either be sprung like secateurs, or not – like scissors – but they work in much the same way. You may also see this type called ‘plier’ nail clippers. ‘Bypass’ or ‘scissor’ dog nail clippers have two sharp curved blades that move against each other – much like a pair of scissors or secateurs. There are also non-cutting types – like nail grinders and nail files – which may work well for some dogs. Although they all look different, they fall into two main categories: the ‘bypass’, or ‘scissor’ type and the ‘guillotine’ type. When choosing your dog nail clippers, you might have noticed several different types. (Image credit: Getty Images) Are guillotine dog nail clippers better than bypass types? What’s the difference?