Harmful Effects Of Not Clipping Your Pets’ Nails
Just like fur brushing and bath time, clipping your pets’ nails should be a part of their regular grooming routine too! Not only is this important in helping to maintain their health and wellbeing, but it would also definitely save your furniture and floors from becoming a patchwork of scratches.
Outdoor pets generally do not require nail clipping because the gravelly and rough surface outdoors would wear downtheir nails naturally. In contrast, the smooth floors and plush tapestries of our homes do not provide our pets with the idealcondition to do so. These days, with most pets being indoor dwellers (in part because owners want to shield them frompotential dangers outdoors), all the more is it important for us, as pet owners, to help trim our pets’ nails; not doing somight pose a health risk to our pets!
Difficulty walking and running
When your pets’ nails get too long such that it clicks against the floor each time they walk, their paws are exerting aconstant force back into the nail bed, causing pain and putting extra pressure on the feet. Think of this as wearing shoesthat are too tight, the front of your shoes pressing down against your nail bed. Over an extended period, this constantpressure against your nail bed can cause your nails to grow into your skin!
If this problem persists for a prolonged period of time for your furry companions, it may cause some discomfort in yourpets, leading them to distribute their weight unevenly while they walk and eventually rendering a misalignment of thejoints in their front legs. This problem is exacerbated if your pet is overweight. When not resolved, the paws and claws ofyour pet will look abnormally extended and flattened, possibly causing difficulty in mobility and worst, injury.
Overgrown nails can damage footpads
In the most severe cases, when the nails are not cut for a long time, they can curl back into your pets’ footpad, piercing itand causing injury and infection. Sometimes, long nails may even break and split — a harrowing condition that wouldrequire immediate veterinary attention.
Long nails look unappealing and can cause damage to the household
Apart from posing a health hazard to your pets, long, uncut nails also look rather unkempt and can also seriously damageyour floors, home furnishings and walls. Avoid scratches to your furniture, and prevent your pets from injuringthemselves (when their nail tips catch on things) by clipping their nails regularly!
All in all, we believe that clipping your pets' nails should be an integral part of their grooming routine and must be doneregularly. As pet parents, we want what’s best for our furry companions; this includes routine clipping to make sure thatour pets remain in the pink of health! If you’re facing some difficulties in clipping their nails on your own, you couldalways seek the support of a professional groomer.