Dog Nail Grinder Buyer's guide
As a dog parent, you know that owning a pet pooch comes with many different responsibilities. One of them is helping them to keep their nails short and trim.
According to the American Kennel Club, long and overgrown nails could cause pain and irreversible damage to your canine companion.
So, keeping the nails of your dog trimmed continuously is essential. It helps with your pooch's overall well-being and reduces the damage to your expensive upholstery and carpets.
There are various ways to keep your dog's nails short, but one of the safest and probably the easiest method is with a nail grinder. It works through a "sandpapering" process of grinding down your dog's nail.
We understand that it can be difficult to choose the right nail grinder for your canine companion, that's why we came up with this buyer's guide to help you to make your choice better.
Nail Clippers Or Nail Grinders?
By now, you should be aware of the importance of trimming the nails of your furry friend regularly. So, you ought to check your pooch paws from time to time to ensure that their nails are not extending out of their footpad.
As a general guide, you need to trim your dog's nails once every 1 to 2 months.
Another way of knowing when it is time to trim is when you hear the sound of your dog's nails clacking when it walks through hard surfaces.
When it is the time to trim, you must decide between nail clippers and nail grinders.
Which is the better option?
It really depends. Both the nail grinders and the nail clippers have their own advantages. However, our observation seems to indicate that most groomers, dog owners and veterinarians prefer using a nail grinder.
This is because grinding the nails of your pooch is a safer option. There is no risk of you mistakenly cutting into the cuticle bed of your dog and causing an injury. The process of clipping nails requires a fair amount of pressure to be placed on the dog's nail. This can be a discomforting process for your pooch. Also, clipping can leave behind nail splinters or jagged edges, which are not as smooth as a trimmed nail.
In general, your furry 4-legged friends will find it easier to sit for grinding because it is a gentler and gradual process. As with any other dog accessories, you still must introduce the grinder gradually to your pooch to let them get used to it.
When used correctly, grinders are extremely safe and dog-friendly.
What To Look Out For?
Now that you are convinced about getting a canine nail grinder, we have listed a few factors to consider before making that purchase.
Grinders are not created equal, so you have to be aware of the different features. This will help you to find one that best suits your needs.
Speed Or Power Of Nail Grinder
Similar to humans, your dog's nails are made from a tough protein known as Keratin. The key difference is that our nails only have 1 layer, but your dog's nails have 2 distinct layers.
With 2 layers, you need a nail grinder that has enough power to get the job done. Our recommendation is to choose one that has a powerful motor to give it enough speed and strength to deal with the toughest of nails.
Power Source
Nail grinders that need electricity as their power source can be uncomfortable to use especially when you have a skittish canine companion.
This requires the nail grinder to be connected to the power source through a cable, thus restricting the range of your movement to the length of your cable.
As a result, you have only a small area to go about your nail trimming process. Keeping your pooch within this area could be a challenging task.
On the other hand, a trimmer that operates with batteries frees you from such limitations. There's a catch though. Nail grinders with rechargeable batteries tend to be costlier, so be prepared to pay a premium for this convenience. But the good thing is that if it's rechargeable, you don't have to worry about always replacing batteries.
Ease Of Using
A grinder should be lightweight and easy to hold in the hands. If it is heavy and difficult to handle, grinding away the nails of your pet pooch will be a much harder and challenging process.
We recommend visiting your local retailer or pet store to have a touch and feel of how the grinder will be.
How Durable It Is?
Everyone wants a tool that is made to last.
It's the same for a canine nail grinder too. It should be manufactured from solid, high-quality materials such as plastic of high density. Keep a lookout for a diamond bit nail grinder – they tend to last longer.
Noise & Vibration
As much as possible, do get a canine nail grinder that has the least amount of noise and vibration.
Why?
Especially with dogs that are not yet accustomed to the nail grinding process, the noise and vibration can create an uncomfortable environment for your furry companion.
Customizable Speed
With a nervous pooch, it's better to get a nail grinder that has multiple speed options. Start with the slowest speed to let your pooch get used to the sound, vibration and the process of grinding its nail.
Once they are more comfortable with this process, work your way up the speed levels. Always remember to use positive reinforcement and prepare a few treats along the way.
Furthermore, grinders with variable speeds allow you to grind away the outer nail quickly and slowing down the speed as you get closer to the claw. Hence, the chance of injury is reduced.
Read Customers Reviews
We have provided a list of nail grinders that we think are the best in the market. But you should do your own research too. Ask around your friends and family to see if they might have any recommendations.
Also, you can check out online retailers such as Amazon to read actual customer reviews of their canine nail grinders.
How To Use A Nail Grinder?
The steps of using a canine nail grinder are generally similar across the different models. However, there might be slight differences in how they are operated. So be sure to read on their user manual before using it on your pooch.
Here are some basic facts that you need to be aware of:
- You need to have a full understanding of your dog's nail anatomy. This is so that while grinding, avoid getting too close to the blood vessels which can lead to pain for your pooch.
- If it is your first time grinding, you must start very slow and take much care while grinding until you become more familiar with the process. Here's an instructive 2-minute video which shows you the proper steps of grinding nails.
- Decide on which nail you need to trim before you start the grinding process.
- Try making your pooch aware of the grinder before you start. Let your pooch know and associate the nail grinder with positive reinforcement such as treats. This helps to make your furry friend less jittery.
- If you find that your nail grinder heats up easily, be sure to take breaks of 10-20s to let it cool down. Overheating of the grinder could scald your skin and we wouldn't want that to happen.
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