HuffPost and its publishing companions may receive a share from purchases made by way of hyperlinks on this web page. Every merchandise is independently chosen by the HuffPost Shopping group. Prices and availability are topic to alter. The consultants consulted for this story don’t essentially endorse the merchandise forward except in any other case famous.
At finest, trimming our pets’ nails can really feel like a chore that house owners and dogs alike dread. At worst, it’s a struggle that neither of you needs to be a part of. This is comprehensible: Pets could really feel burdened or scared throughout nail time, and as their proprietor, you could really feel anxious about unintentionally hurting them.
Still, it’s not a good suggestion to skip trimming your pup’s nails. “Regular grooming and nail maintenance is essential for the health and well-being of pets,” Dr. Nicole Savageau, a veterinarian with cell pet service The Vets, instructed HuffPost. As a consequence, house owners should discover a methodology that works for his or her particular pet, making an allowance for their dogs’ distinctive temperament and well being standing. You also needs to contemplate your individual consolation with completely different nail-grooming methods, Savageau defined.
One methodology that’s appropriate for anxious pets is Etsy’s reviewer-beloved ScratchPad, a scratching board with an abrasive floor that lets nervous dogs file down their nails at their very own tempo. Dogs can scratch it like a scratching publish, or you should use your hand to information their paws; your pup could even assume it’s a toy, as one reviewer’s canine did.
A scratching board just like the ScratchPad offers a easy but efficient answer for pets and house owners alike, particularly in comparison with different widespread strategies like electrical nail grinders. “Some pets may be fearful of the noise or vibration produced by electric grinders, leading to stress or even injury if they struggle during the nail trimming process. Scratching boards offer a quieter and less intimidating alternative,” Savageau wrote.
The ScratchPad additionally could allow you to trim your pup’s nails extra exactly and with much less threat of harm. “Scratching boards allow for more precise control over the amount of nail being removed, reducing the risk of over-trimming and potential injury to the quick (the sensitive tissue inside the nail),” Savageau defined.
A tool just like the ScratchPad could show particularly helpful for these with elderly pets or pups with arthritis, nervousness or thick, darkish nails, in keeping with Savageau. This is because of their mild, quiet and non-invasive design.
If your pet has extraordinarily overgrown nails, a scratching board will not be the appropriate name for you — at the very least initially. “If a pet’s nails are severely overgrown, a scratching board may not be effective in sufficiently trimming them down,” Savageau defined. “In such cases, it may be necessary to use clippers or grinders to safely shorten the nails before transitioning to a scratching board for maintenance.” In addition, in case your pup is especially aggressive or uncooperative, it is best to search assist from a veterinarian or skilled groomer.
The ScratchPad’s abrasive floor is made with extra-durable sandpaper that’s alleged to final at the very least six months with common use (refills of the scratching surface are also available at Etsy as soon as it’s time for a contemporary one). You can select whether or not you need the floor to function medium grit, coarse grit or one aspect of every; the medium grit is supposedly all-purpose, whereas the coarse possibility is finest for bigger breed dogs with bigger, more durable nails.
The ScratchPad measures 10 inches by 24 inches, so it’s appropriate for each giant and small dogs, and it’s designed to work on each entrance and hind legs.
Etsy reviewers sing the praises of the ScratchPad, saying it’s an amazing different to different strategies and noting that earlier than making an attempt the ScratchPad, their pups resisted nail-cutting so intensely that they risked hurting themselves. One reviewer famous that utilizing ScratchPad was “like second nature” to their canine.
Grab a ScratchPad for you and your dog from Etsy here, or learn on for what reviewers must say:
“Great purchase. My dog has notoriously long nails that bother him and can even cause arthritis. This is a great alternative to chasing him down to cut or sand down his nails.” — Jessica A.N
“This is much higher quality than any other knockoffs you’ll find. It was worth the price. My pup loves it.” — Donald Hahn
“My dog has black nails and it’s hard to see the quick, so clipping was really stressful for both of us. He really likes the scratch board and thinks of it as a toy, so I can finally keep his nails short while also having a nice enrichment activity!” — Shinobu
“Oh my goodness! Such an amazing product! The instructional video was so helpful and my dog caught on right away. No more long nails!!” — Sarah S
“I had reservations about this working for my dog. But after the first go with the scratch pad, Its like second nature and I could not be happier! I recommend this 100%” — Steve
“My dog won’t do this himself, but he’ll allow me to do it or him. Like he’s at the spa! (eyeroll) Which is a huge step up since he needs anxiety medication and a vet to do his nails otherwise.” — Melanie
“Absolutely love this! My dog hates having her front paws held and puts herself near a place of injury when we try to cut her nails. With a couple handfuls of food and encouragement, she learned to use this so quickly! The separate course and fine sides made it such a neat and easy process, and I would absolutely recommend this! If it worked on our tough case, that deserves 5 stars!” — Brittany Burger
