No dog enjoys having his nails clipped, so we want the experience to be as quick and painless as possible.
Keeping your dog’s nails tripped should be a regular part of your dog’s grooming routine. Letting your dog’s nails grow too long can lead to a multitude of health problems. He may experience pain when standing, and in worse cases, the nail can even curve and grow into the pad of the foot.
Every dog is different and has his own needs. To help you decide what the best dog nail clippers are for your dog, we have reviewed five top picks, and put together a guide on what to consider when purchasing dog nail clippers.
Safari Professional Stainless Steel Nail Trimmer for Dogs
Perfect for small to medium-sized dogs, these stainless steel cutters will glide through your dog’s nails, no matter how tough they are. The clipper blades are super strong, sharp and durable.
The product comes in a funky green color and looks super comfortable to hold.
The handles are coated with rubber for easy gripping, which will prevent any accidents involving the clippers and your poor pup’s paw.
Safari, the company behind these nail clippers, recommends you use a Safari nail file once you’ve trimmed the nails. This can be bought separately.
To use these clippers-
- Hold the paw firmly
- Trip the tip of nails with small strokes
- Use safety stop to prevent trimming too short
- Repeat once a month (or when needed)
These clippers are equipped with a quick-stop, which will prevent you from cutting too far down your dog’s quick (the bit further down the nail filled with nerves).
There are two sizes to choose from – the second size appears to be a lot more powerful and heavy-duty.
Pros
- Budget friendly
- Sharp, stainless steel blades
- Comfortable handles
Cons
- Comes quite large
Epica #1 Best Professional Nail Clipper
These heavy-duty clippers are sure to get the job done quickly and easily.
The blades are semi-circular and made of high-grade stainless steel. The edge will stay sharp for years, ensuring consistently clean cuts.
They’re super durable and should last you a long, long time. They won’t bend, scratch or rust, and no matter how tough your canine’s cuticles are, the blades will stay super sharp for many nail-cutting sessions.
For your comfort, the handles are rubber coated and completely non-slip, so you won’t be having any nail-clipper related accidents with these clippers!
It only takes a gentle squeeze to trim your dog’s nails, so the usually terrifying ordeal will be cut short to a quick and pain-free experience.
When you’re not using these, they lock closed. Just squeeze the handle, and slide the lock into the safety position. This is a great feature to have, especially if you have young children around the house.
Pros
- Suitable for other pets (rabbits, cats)
- Super durable
- Great for smaller breeds
- Safety-lock
Cons
- Distance on guard may not be short enough
Simply Pets Online Dog Nail Clippers
Would you take the advice of your veterinarian? What if I told you that two veterinarians with 30 years experience created these clippers.
The two vets behind this have really considered your dog’s safety. There’s an inbuilt nail-guard that can be used to make sure you don’t cut too far into your dog’s nails. If you’re an experienced nail-cutter, then you may not need this. It’s an optional feature!
Perfectly suited to all breeds, small and large, these clippers will glide through your dog’s nails quickly and easily.
Premium materials are used in these clippers, resulting in a high-quality leveraged cutting action each and every time.
The handle is rubber-coated, ensuring that your hand won’t slip at any point. The rubber is also super comfortable on your hands, which is great if you have a dog with tough nails, or if you have a couple of dogs that need a grooming session.
Pros
- Made by 2 veterinarians
- Tested every day by the vets
- Ergonomic handles
Cons
- Not suited to super large dogs
Gonicc Dog & Cat Pets Nail Clippers and Trimmers
Like many other clippers available on the market, this set comes equipped with the safety stop feature. This utility greatly reduces the risk of over-cutting, which can lead to a lot of blood.
The handles are ergonomically designed, non-slip and look super comfortable to use.
The sharp blades on the cutter are made of high-quality stainless steel, which should stay shiny and sharp for many, many nail cutting sessions.
This offers a guillotine-style cut, slicing the nail tip-off when in position.
Hidden away in the handle is a strategically placed free nail file, which will allow you to polish sharp nails down to perfection.
The product comes in a light blue color and has the Gonicc logo on display in the center.
It’s important to keep this away from young children, but in the instance that a child does get their hands on it, there’s an unlock protection system in place.
Pros
- Lifetime warranty
- Free nail file included
- Unlock prevention
Cons
- May not hold up against the toughest of nails
Boshel Dog Nail Clippers And Trimmer
If you’re looking for a heavy-duty, powerful pair of clippers for your dog’s nails, then you may have found what you’re looking for.
Recommended by professionals (animal trainers and veterinarians), this nail clipper is powerful enough to cut your pet’s nails in just one quick cut.
The blades on this are super sharp, made out of high quality 3.5mm thick stainless steel.
For your dog’s safety, there is a safety stop serving as a quick sensor. The safety stop blade greatly reduces the risk of cutting your dog’s nails too short and injuring him.
The product comes with a mini nail file, so you can file down the nails and make them less sharp once the nails have been cut. It’s just located in the left handle of the clipper.
This clipper is also super easy to use. The handles are comfortable, non-slip and have a good grip.
Pros
- Free nail file included
- User-friendly design
- Super sharp blades
Cons
- Safety guard can be temperamental
How do I Cut My Dog’s Nails?
- Choose a high-quality trimmer (see the guide below).
- Remove dirt and debris from your dog’s paws.
- If the nails are super tough, soak them in warm water first to soften them.
- Firmly (but gently) hold your dog’s leg steady.
- Cut off the very tip of the nail. If you can’t see clearly, use a bright light. Then you’ll see the quick and know when to stop.
- Use a nail file to soften the nails if they’re too sharp or uneven.
- Give your dog a treat if he’s been a good boy!
How do I Choose the Best Dog Nail Clippers?
There’s plenty to consider when choosing which nail clippers are best for you and your dog. It’s not just your dog you need to think of – you must think of your own comfort too as you’ll be the one using the clippers and applying the pressure.
Safety Features
Most nail clippers will have some form of safety feature. Nail guards prevent you from cutting into your dog’s quick. The quick is the nervy part of the nail which can bleed when cut – and it should be avoided.
A quick-stop also helps you avoid cutting the nails too short. When the nails are cut too short, it can not only cause bleeding but can cause discomfort and pain to your dog.
Some people may find this a hindrance more than a help, but it’s best to get a clipper with a quick-stop if you’re new to cutting your dog’s nails.
It’s important to note that the quick-stop will NOT 100% prevent you from cutting the quick. You must use your eyes and common sense too.
If you have children, you may want to consider getting a clipper that locks after use. If a child gets their hands on a razor-sharp clipper, you will be having a quick visit to the emergency room.
Handle
When handling anything sharp, there should be a non-slip handle.
As you’ll be putting a lot of pressure on the cutter, and you’ll be doing it at least 10 times per dog, you want the handle to be comfortable.
Most nail cutters combine comfort and safety and use a non-slip rubber material to coat the handle, which is super comfortable on your hands and fingers too.
Cut Type
Nail clippers come in two main types – guillotine and scissor. Both are great for cutting the ends of your dog’s nails, but the size of your dog will determine which one you might choose as the best dog nail clippers.
Guillotine
Guillotine-style clippers slice of the end of your dog’s nails, just like a guillotine.
This style of clipper is great for smaller dogs or dogs with thicker nails.
Most veterinarians recommend these for those who are more experienced in the art of nail cutting, even though they are very popular with all dog owners.
Be cautious when using the guillotine style clippers, as improper use can crush the nail. Always remember to clip perpendicular to the nail – cutting side to side can cause injury.
The blades may need replacing when they dull, but in a lot of cases, it’s cheaper to just buy a new pair.
Scissor
Scissor-style nail clippers trim the end off your dog’s nails using your own force on the scissors.
This type of clipper is great for larger dogs, and are perfect if you’re not a clipping expert.
These clippers look like scissors but have a half-circle cut out where each toenail goes. There’s no spring to open the blades after each cut, so you have to use your own strength.
Most scissor-style clippers have a quick-guard to protect your dog’s nerves in his lower nail. This is great and prevents injury to your dog.
Recap
Nail clippers are a necessity in any dog-friendly household. Instead of a horrible, stressful ordeal, with the best dog nail clippers, it will be a quick and simple task.
Taking into account the styles, handles, and design, our favorite dog nail clipper is the Epica #1 Best Professional Pet Nail Clipper.
The scissor-style clipper gives you guidance when cutting your pet’s nails, which is great if you’re a beginner. You can clearly see the nail in the semi-circle blade – so you don’t need to guess where you’re cutting.
If you live in a multi-pet household, these will be perfect as you can use them on your dog, rabbit or cat.
You won’t get sore hands from cutting all those nails too, as the handle is ergonomically designed for your comfort. The rubber-coated handles ensure a secure grip, so there’ll be no accidents either.
For added safety, the clippers lock closed once used- you just need to switch the safety lock.
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