Long claws are more prone to chipping, tearing, splitting and breaking, which can be very painful and may require veterinary treatment. As well as being prone to damage, when a dog stands or walks on a long-clawed paw it puts pressure on the wrong parts of the foot, causing pain and discomfort.
What happens if a dog's nails are too long?
When your dog's nails are too long, they create an unnatural angle for the foot. This causes unequal pressure on the toes and can cause the nail beds to become sore and tender. Long nails on dogs are more prone to splitting and/or splintering. This is the equivalent of a human hangnail.
What happens if you don't trim a dog's nails?
Neglect it, and several things can happen. For instance, the nails can grow and curve into the footpad. In some cases, the nails can also split down to the quick. Not only would that be painful, but there would be a high risk of infection.
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