Before cutting your pet's nails, you need a proper nail clipper and know how to use it. For cats, rabbits, birds, and most small animals, you need a cat or bird claw scissor. This type of scissor is easy to use and you hold it as you would a scissor. Clip off the white tips and be careful, do not cut into the pink (kwik). The guillotine-type dog clippers will usually squash their claws and the pet may bite you for using that. Most people will hold and soothe the pet while someone else clips the nail carefully, but quickly. Cats usually do not have much patience, so if you take too long doing this, they may hiss and try to bite (Their way of saying, "Hey knock it off. Leave me alone! You're irritating!")

For dogs, you need the guillotine-type nail clipper. There are two kinds.

(L to R) Claw Scissor, Type A & Type B.

Type A is the most effective and easy to use. Hold the clipper as shown in the photo. The blade faces away from the pet's nail. Now you need to know how much to cut off! If you cut too much off, the dog will either cry or get angry with you. Some will never trust you again whenever they see you with a nail clipper. So, please be very, very careful when attempting to clip your dog's nails. A tiny bit too much is okay, it doesn't hurt much, and you can stop the bleeding with styptic powder. Pick a little of the styptic powder with your fingers and put it on the tip of the bleeding nail! Apply pressure on the nail, hold it foe a few seconds, then let go. If it still bleeds, then you cut too much off. Put more styptic powder on it until it stops bleeding or some type of liquid adhesive until it stops bleeding or take it to the vet. A groomer or show handler would apply Nexaband or some type of liquid adhesive on the nail they cut too much off, to seal it off and protect the nail from contaminants, after they stopped the bleeding.

A properly trimmed nail: The grey, black or pink dot will show. If the nails are still long, you will need to keep trimming it every week to force the kwik (blood supply) back or file them every few days. Shorter the nail, shorter the blood supply. Usually every 4 weeks is a good time to trim your pet's nails or claws. If you wait longer than 4 weeks to have them done, the kwik will get longer as the nail grows. Most pet owners they will just take their beloved pet to a professional (groomer or vet) to have the nails done. It is not expensive. Depending on the size and temperament, the cost usually runs from around $5.00 to $10.00 to have your pet's nails or claws done.

Tamara Hollingsworth is the President of Star Academy for Pet Stylists, Inc. The objective of the school is to raise the standard of pet grooming, and to prevent harm and abuse due to ignorance or lack of training. She has given lecturers and worked with groomers from all over the country. She is a lover of animals of all kinds. Star Academy is located in Stuart, Florida (561) 221-9330.