In the Literature
Ahmed LA, Somarriba M, Brodbelt DC, Church DB, O’Neill DG. Epidemiology and clinical management of nail clipping in dogs under UK primary veterinary care. J Small Anim Pract. 2025;66(12):925-933. doi:10.1111/jsap.70002
The Research …
Nail clipping is often handled in the clinic; 5.52% of dogs presented to general practices in the United Kingdom are reported to have overgrown nails, and pet owners in the United States commonly report torn or broken nails.1,2 Despite the importance of good nail care for a dog’s welfare, data are lacking regarding frequency, risk factors, and clinical management of nail clipping in dogs.
In this study, 2,440 nail clipping cases (3,380 events) randomly selected from 2,250,741 dogs presented to a primary care clinic were analyzed. Patient demographics and nail details were evaluated.
Chihuahuas, beagles, and greyhounds were the breeds most likely to undergo nail clipping, followed by pugs, whippets, Jack Russell terriers, English bulldogs, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel/poodle crossbreeds, and French bulldogs. Dogs 1 to 2 years of age had the highest likelihood of nail clipping. In 59.4% of cases, nail clipping was the primary reason for the visit to the clinic, and clipping was restricted to the dewclaw in 11.39% of cases. Overgrown, ingrown, and broken nails were the most common reasons for nail clipping.
… The Takeaways
Key pearls to put into practice:
Nail clipping is a common reason pet owners bring their pets to veterinary clinics. Structured training can educate team members in safe and effective nail clipping procedures.
Owners should be educated in proper nail clipping techniques (eg, the mechanical act of clipping nails, what measures can be taken to reduce the pet’s stress). Markers of stress may increase during nail clipping, and further study is needed to determine optimal methods of stress mitigation.3
Of the breeds most likely to need nail clipping, 6 were hounds or toy breeds. Toy breeds, hounds, and terriers are least likely to receive at least 30 minutes of daily exercise.4 The importance of nail clipping should thus be emphasized to owners of these breeds, as these dogs are more likely to require nail clipping due to reduced activity.
You are reading 2-Minute Takeaways, a research summary resource presented by Clinician’s Brief. Clinician’s Brief does not conduct primary research.