Regular trimming of a dog’s nails can be stressful with the wrong pair of nail clippers. After all, it’s the rare pup who eagerly responds to dog nail clippers the way we humans might enjoy a relaxing pedicure. Because it entails broaching their tender limbs with blades, having a fearful and trembling subject is more fraught.
That’s why getting the best dog nail clippers to trim their nails is absolutely necessary—whether that means a super-sharp set of clippers, a smooth and efficient guillotine clipper, or a gentle, low-intimidation grinder of a dog’s claw like a Dremel. Plier-type scissors are the most traditional style. And if that’s your variety of choice, you can’t do much better than ultra-durable Epica Professional Nail Clipper
(available on Amazon)
.
If you’re a new dog owner or just looking to upgrade all of your pet’s gear, it might not be a bad idea to add a nice dog collar and dog leash to your dog’s gear pile. Your dog probably deserves a walk after getting their nails trimmed with the best dog nail clipper, right?
After reviewing the various options available, we found that the best dog nail clippers instantly cut even the thickest nails. A clearly delineated safety guard ensures that you don’t quickly nick your dog—the delicate cluster of veins and blood vessels that appear as a dark circle just beyond where the pure and nerveless nail.
Here are the best dog nail clippers available online today.
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
The Epica Pet Nail Clipper is our top pick because of its power.
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
If you prefer a guillotine-style trimmer, our best tested is Resco, which has been the industry leader since 1937.
How We Test Dog Nail Clippers
To find the best dog nail clippers on the market, our experts have extensively researched user reviews, product specs, price points, and other important factors to determine which brands and models we can recommend. recommend to our readers.
While our pet experts haven’t personally tested these models, they rigorously test and evaluate a wide range of pet products on a regular basis—including dog collars, travel backpacks, cat litter boxes, and pet DNA tests. Our team is well versed in understanding what features are important to look for when looking for the best dog nail clipper. The options on this list were carefully selected to meet our criteria, which centered on features, such as grip comfort, ease of use, and cut quality, as well as price, durability, and professional recommendations. organizer for each column. of dog nail clippers.
What to Know About Buying the Best Dog Nail Clippers
We reviewed several different types of dog nail trimmers for this guide.
Scissors: The most common type of clipper, these pliers-style tools have steel blades that cut off pieces of nail when you squeeze the handle. Ideally, they also contain a quick stop guard to prevent you from cutting a nerve.
Mills: This electric option uses a rotating, emery board-type wheel instead of a blade to gradually grind the nail pieces.
Guillotines: As the name suggests, these dog nail clippers feature a hole that fits over the nail. Squeezing the handle causes the blade to lower and cut the nail vertically instead of horizontally.
Since this is a cutting tool, it goes without saying that the blade should be high-quality stainless steel and resistant to dulling, bacteria, and rust. While special features are nice (like emery boards tucked into the handle!), safety is paramount. The most significant risk to your dog is accidental nail clipping, so make sure the clipper has a quick guard as a failsafe against overcutting.
What Are The Best Dog Nail Clippers For My Dog?
The most important thing dog owners can do when choosing the best dog nail clippers is to make sure they are the right size for their dog. Small dog nail clippers cannot handle the density of a large dog’s thick nails, while a large dog nail clipper can be clumsy and aggressive against the soft nails of small or medium-sized dogs.
Classic scissors come in small and large sizes and are almost always equipped with quick guards. However, if your pet upsets its paw when you’re trying to trim, it could cause you to accidentally cut too much of the nail (or worse!).
A grinder offers a gentle, less-abrupt way to shorten and buff your pet’s nails, although you may have to do some work to get them used to the buzzing sound.
The guillotine dog nail clipper is also effective on small dogs or even cats, although the animals may be uncomfortable with the rough downward pressure.
How to Use Dog Nail Clippers
The hardest part about using dog nail clippers is getting your dog, or any pet for that matter, to sit. Most don’t like it, so if you’re using dog nail clippers instead of having a vet do it, you’ll want to know how to do it safely and correctly.
To properly clip your pet’s nails, you’ll want to position yourself and your dog in a comfortable position. Your arms should be hanging around your dog, who should be lying on his stomach. You can use your other arm to hold your dog’s head while you trim its front paws with dog nail clippers. If your dog is uncomfortable or unable to sit, try laying him on his side.
Simply hold their paws and trim each nail with the dog nail clippers.
Can You Use Human Clippers as Dog Nail Clippers?
While it may be tempting to trim your dog’s nails with the human clippers you already have around the house, these clippers are not made for dog nails. Unlike human clippers, dog nail clippers are designed for the curve of a dog’s foot. If you try to use human clippers instead of dog nail clippers, they can break or damage dogs’ nails and put painful pressure on them. No dog dad or mom would want that!
Dog nail clippers provide a quick and clean cut that won’t cause uneven nail surfaces. They allow your dog’s nails to maintain their natural shape and smooth surface. The wrong type of clippers, like human clippers, will put your dog, especially large dogs, at greater risk because their paws are thicker.
What Dog Nail Clipper Do Most Groomers Use?
It is common to see pet groomers and veterinarians using the Resco dog nail clippers or the Millers Forge dog nail clippers to trim dog nails. In fact, Millers Forge dog nail clippers are commonly recommended by pet groomers and veterinarians. They are heavy, comfortable to hold, and provide extremely accurate and fast cutting of pet nails.
Resco guillotine dog nail clippers are also popular with groomers. These are another pair of dog nail clippers that make precise and easy cuts. This is ideal for vets and groomers as it allows them to trim dog nails faster. If you have a squirmy pup, these two types of dog nail clippers are ideal.
Electric vs Manual Dog Nail Clippers
Electric dog nail clippers, also referred to as grinders, are different from manual dog nail clippers, and both have pros and cons. The type of dog nail clipper you choose depends on your budget, feature preference, and how well your dog sits.
Manual dog nail clippers come in a variety of styles and sizes, such as scissors, pliers, and guillotine-type clippers, which are great for customizing the size on dogs of different sizes. They are also cheap and quiet, which is great for mischievous dogs. The downside to manual dog nail clippers is the risk of overclipping, especially in dogs that squirm, and the clippers can leave sharp edges in the nails after clipping.
Electric dog nail clippers are more consistent in producing a smooth, rounded edge. You are also less likely to trim your dog’s nails too short. When the grinding head becomes dull, it’s easy to replace, making electric clippers a reliable investment. The downside of these dog nail clippers is that they are more expensive and make a lot of noise, which can scare your dog.
