06/12/2024
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Why is maintaining your dogs nails so important βΌοΈ
Dogs are digitigrade animals which means they stand or walk with their toes (metatarsals) touching the ground and then the rest of the foot is lifted. As you can imagine and visually see from this image nail length can then have a huge impact on the positioning of the foot.
Abnormal foot position can then cause discomfort, wounds or even affect the soft tissues predisposing your dog to injury. When we look at nail length, it can also be a sign of abnormal foot placement through another health issue and it might be that your dog has an abnormal gait, weight distribution or foot placement due to arthritis, dysplasia, neurological issues or other joint problems. In some cases your dog may wear down nails or scuff nails abnormally indicating the above.
Generally it is important to maintain your pets nails and it is essential even from a young age as it can have an impact on the whole function of your pet and their biomechanics. The systems affected include ligaments, tendons, musculature and the skeletal systems which all contribute to healthy movement.
Please monitor and maintain your pets nails especially if they have health issues already causing joint discomfort as you can image it could make it even more difficult for them to cope with day to day πΎ contact your vet or groomers and Iβm sure they will assist and support you with this π