Pet Nail Solutions

25/12/2025

Wishing all of my fabulous clients and their beautiful pets a fabulous Christmas 🎄⛄🎅🏼🐾

07/03/2025

Please feel free to share 🐾🐾🐾

This month we speak to Stacy Brook, a Registered Veterinary Nurse, who also has a business specialising in nail clipping and nail maintenance for pets. She

01/02/2025

EAR SERVICES

Regular ear cleaning allows for the early detection of infection or signs of irritation. It is advisable to regularly check and clean your pets ears to reduce waxy debris, which may create an unhealthy environment in which infections and yeast growth can occur.

The fine hair often seen in the ear canals of dogs usually provides a protective barrier and it is therefore not recommended to routinely pluck the hair from the canals. However, if the hair is excessive, matted, or there is an odour present from the ear, it may be necessary for a professional to remove the hair from the canals to allow for improved management of the ear.

Please get in touch if you would like guidance or support with the routine maintenance of your pets ears 🐕🐈‍⬛

05/11/2023

Scratching is an instinctive element of cat behaviour which helps to maintain ideal nail condition, and also facilitates territory marking through pheromone glands in the feet.

Cats rely on their nails to climb, hunt and defend themselves; because of this, healthy claws are especially important in those who venture into the great outdoors. Young and active cats, in particular outdoor cats, typically need minimal intervention when it comes to claw care.

Indoor cats may require more attention to maintain optimum nail condition. Although some cats choose to scratch unfavourable items in the home such as the carpets or furniture, it is important to encourage healthy scratching behaviours for both their physical and mental wellbeing. Providing adequate scratch posts and mats should reduce destructive scratching and will help to control the length of the nails.

Cats nails grow in layers, or husks, around the blood and nerve supply, referred to as the quick. The act of scratching removes the outer layers of the nail to reveal a new, sharper surface, which is protected by natural retraction of the claws on the front feet. When scratching is reduced, ineffective or absent, these layers can build up, resulting in a thickened or overgrown nail which is at risk of becoming embedded into the pad.

SO, WHEN MIGHT INTERVENTION BE NECESSARY...?

• Older cats commonly demonstrate reduced scratching behaviours, which may be linked to joint discomfort or other underlying disease processes. This can lead to an overgrowth and thickening of the nail which contacts, or even embeds into, the pad beneath, resulting in a further reduction of scratching due to pain or discomfort. Cats with significant nail overgrowth may show signs of lameness, however others may not; it is therefore crucial that the nails are regularly examined and managed. As joint pain is a common ailment in senior cats, they may prefer to scratch horizontal mats as opposed to vertical posts.

• Overweight cats often have reduced activity levels which consequently lead to a reduction in natural behaviours, including scratching. Horizontal scratch pads may be of benefit to overweight cats, but overgrown nails will most likely require trimming.

• Overgrown nails are usually visible despite retraction. Claws may become caught or snag on soft furnishings and carpets, and may be heard contacting hard floor surfaces as the cat walks.

Nail overgrowth in cats often goes unnoticed and is a common health concern in senior cats, and some indoor cats. Whilst it is crucial to encourage natural scratching behaviours, this should coincide with regular monitoring of the claws and supported nail management as required. A cat's nails should only be trimmed because they are overgrown, not because they are sharp.

Thank you for your interest.

20/10/2023

DID YOU KNOW... That the Kennel Club named 'long claws' as one of the top five most common disorders affecting dogs in the UK.

Over-long nails are not uncommon in our canine companions, often due to their unwillingness to cooperate in the nail clipping process, travel stress, or fear of the vets. However, they are not just a cosmetic issue and can lead to problems in your pets.

• Lengthy nails affect the structure off the foot, causing an unnatural angulation that puts pressure on the wrong parts of the paw. This can often result in discomfort and potentially pain.

• On a long-term basis long nails can lead to, or worsen, chronic changes in the feet, such as arthritis, and may cause injuries to muscles, tendons and ligaments.

• Changes in the feet have a knock-on effect on a dogs stance and posture, which causes uneven weight distribution through the entire body.

• As the nail grows, so does the quick; which is the blood and nerve supply that runs partway through the centre of the nail. This can make management of the nails more challenging, as the process to encourage quick recession takes time and patience.

• Increased pressure through the nails can lead to soreness of the nail beds, inflammation and potentially infection.

• Nails are more prone to damage by being torn, snagged or broken when they are not maintained, which could result in an emergency trip to your vets.

• Ingrown nails can sometimes go unnoticed, particularly in dogs with longer coats. These can cause traumatic wounds in the pads, which are painful and may become infected.

• Long nails cause reduced traction on slippery floors. This is worsened by unmanaged hair on the base of the feet.

Appropriate nail maintenance is important in all dogs but is absolutely crucial in our older or arthritic companions. If you would like me to assess the length of your dog's nails or have any questions, please send me a direct message, including an image of your pets feet.

Thank you for your interest.

15/10/2023

Thank you for your interest in my mobile pet nail maintenance business. I work with dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea-pigs, and other small mammals, in March and the surrounding area.

My name is Stacy and I qualified as a veterinary nurse in 1999. For the first five years of my career, I worked in an animal rescue centre with many dogs, cats, and small animals with varied temperaments, and have been working in veterinary practice since then.

Nail clipping can sometimes be a stressful experience for animals, as can travelling to and from the vets or groomers. I am keen to minimise this as much as possible by visiting your pets in their home to trim their nails.

For those patients who are not tolerant of paw or nail handling, I can initially work on some desensitisation and training methods with you to improve the nail management journey for the future.

For further information, or to book an appointment, please message me directly through my page.