Pete the Vet's guide to manicures and pedicures for pets

Pete Wedderburn on nailing your grooming game

Pete the Vet: Dachshund puppy getting Mani Pedi Pedicure, grooming.

From dogs and cats, to guinea pigs and rabbits, to reptiles and birds, nearly all living creatures have nails or claws. Some nails are sharp and claw-like (cats), while others are blunter and more tool-like (dogs).

Nails are made from a type of compressed hair, and just as hair grows, so do nails. For this reason, they sometimes need to be trimmed. In many cases, nails are self-caring. Dogs that regularly walk on hard surfaces naturally wear down the tips of their nails. Cats use trees (outside) or scratching posts (indoors) keep their nails short and sharp. And many animals nibble their nails with their teeth, smoothing off irregular edges.But monitoring a pet’s nails, and trimming them when needed, is part of responsible pet care.