Dog Nail Clippers For Basset Hounds

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Dog Nail Clippers For Basset Hounds – Not For The Faint Of Heart

Finding the right method and dog nail clipper for Dash took some time; Basset hound nails are just massive! Dash’s toenails, in particular, are the largest, hardest toenails I’ve ever encountered in a dog, basset hound or otherwise.

The first time I went to trim Dash’s nails, he was just a 10-week-old puppy so, really, so far so good. And then? He grew…

Dash as a fully grown basset has very thick, very tough toenails. And, no matter how often I trim this dog’s toenails, they seem to grow just that much faster. It’s a constant battle to keep his toenails trimmed and short.

There’s basically three types of dog nail clippers:

• Grinders (Like Dremels) – my preferred method of clipping any dog’s toenails BUT the dog (and you!) must be acclimated to this type of trimming. There is an art to it; leave the grinder on the nail too long and your pup will feel a searing pain. Take it slow and easy. This is the best nail trimmer, imho, though as it leaves nails smooth at the end.
• Scissor Type of Dog Nail Trimmers – After the Dremel, this is my go-to toenail trimmer. The nail is clipped with a scissoring action thereby giving a clean cut.
• Guillotine Type Toenail Trimmers – my least favorite trimmer for any dog as it can be painful to the dog should he or she move when the guillotine is in action. This is the type of nail trimmer than the toenail is inserted, you squeeze the handle and a cutting edge (the guillotine) shears off the nail. This type works best on my smaller dogs but not Dash as his toenails are too big to fit into the guillotine area of the clipper.

When it comes to anything but using a grinder for nails, I’ve found that the best toenail trimmers for bassets are the ones made for the largest dogs. After all, bassets are large dogs on very short legs…

No matter what type of trimmer you use on your dog’s nails, make sure to have styptic powder on hand for bleeding accidents.

First Things First – Make Sure To Have Styptic Powder On Hand Before Trimming A Dog’s Toenails

It happens to the best of us; we cut too far into the nail and the quick starts to bleed. Not only can this be painful, but, the risk of infection is also present. Dipping the offending toenail in styptic power will stop the bleeding. I prefer a styptic powder with benzocaine which can help with the pain. I also like the styptic pads and gels for ease of application. All work equally well.

 Kwik Stop Styptic Powder with Benzocaine 42 GM Kwik-Stop Styptic Powder 1.5 Ounce Kwik Stop Styptic pads with Benzocaine, 90ct

Dremel Grinder Type Dog Toenail Trimmers 

Although there is a learning curve to using a grinder, this way of clipping nails is the most effective for Dash. I acclimated him to having his nails ground in a few weeks – I started by touching the grinder to each nail with the grinder off. The next time I worked with him, I turned on the grinder and touch each nail very very quickly. Eventually, he accepted a grinder. That’s what we use today.

There’s a lot of grinder type nail trimmers on the market. I prefer using a Dremel with a sanding disc attached as the Dremel is so versatile around the house.

 Dremel 4000-2/30 120-Volt Variable Speed Rotary Tool Kit – Corded FURminator Nail Grinder Oster Gentle Paws Premium Nail Grinder for Dogs and Cats

Scissor-Type Dog Nail Clippers

These are my favorite trimmers for Dash’s toenails. A quick snip is all it takes. Some of these come with safety guards to, ostensibly, keep you from trimming all the way to the quick. What it actually does is prevent you from cutting more than 6 centimeters at a time. The nail trimmer safety feature can be moved back if you don’t want to use it.

 Dog Nail Clippers with Quick Sensor | Nail Clipper for Dogs | Professional Pet Toenail Trimmers, Heavy Duty Build for Large Breeds Safari Professional Large Nail Trimmer For Dogs Best Professional Pet Nail Clipper Large

Guillotine-Type Dog Nail Clipper

As mentioned above, I can’t use this type of toenail clipper for Dash as his nails are too large. If you do have a smaller basset though, these might work. Note: They’re still not my favorite trimmers as they can really hurt the dog by squeezing the toenail HARD in order to clip it.

 Resco Deluxe Dog Nail Clippers, Original Pet Nail Trimmer, Made in USA, Large, Yellow Master Grooming Tools Large Dogs Guillotine Nail Clippers with Textured Rubber Handles, 5-Inch Resco Original Deluxe Dog, Cat, and Pet Nail/Claw Clippers. Best USA-Made Trimmer, More Colors & Sizes