Did you know that trimming your dog’s feet not only looks smart but can prevent problems too?
Dogs that have a lot of hair around the feet can be prone to matting. Matts can even form in between the toes, causing your dog much discomfort.
There are other reasons why removing the hair around the feet can benefit your dog. In the winter, snow, ice and road salt gathered by the hair can pack in between the toes causing 'hotspots' which can make your dog overly clean the area, leading to painful cracks in the pads. Also, when the feet become wet from outdoor exercise, excess hair can take much longer to dry. When the fur remains damp for long periods of time, this can provide the ideal environment for fungal infections to take hold.
In the summer, grass seeds are problematic as they can attach to the fur between the toes. If these are not seen and removed they can eventually dig their way into your dog’s skin causing a lot of pain and usually a large vets bill to remove the seed under anaesthetic.
Another good reason for removing excess hair is to give your dog more grip on slippery surfaces such as hardwood floors. By trimming the hair, the pads have more contact with the ground providing more grip and preventing slipping. When the fur is left long under the pads, your dog may compensate by trying to use his nails to dig into the surface for extra traction. This is seen as scrabbling at the floor with their nails, ultimately damaging your flooring!
Matts between the toes are virtually impossible to brush out, so clipping the hair or cutting the matts out with scissors is the best option. There are three ways you can trim the hair around your dog paws.
Specialist A5 Toe Blade for the Pedigree Pro dog clipper
Designed with a narrow clipping head of just 2cm wide, this blade is perfect for getting in between the narrow spaces of the toes. Our Masterclip 5/8N toe blades is made from top quality German steel and fits our Pedigree Pro dog clipper and all A5 dog clippers including Wahl, Andis, Oster, Lister and Liveryman. A great addition to any dog clipping set at just £24.99.
https://www.masterclip.co.uk/product-range/product/clipper-blades-58n-german-steel-toe-blade--08mm
Showmate Dog Trimmer
Alternatively, the Masterclip Showmate Dog Trimmer is a great handy battery powered trimmer, ideal for light trimming work or owners that prefer a lighter handset. It is much quieter than an A5 clipper which makes it ideal for more nervous dogs.
The blade is just less than 4.5cm wide with the narrow angled head allowing the clipper to get into small spaces. The Showmate trimmer comes in pink, blue or green and is just £59.99. https://www.masterclip.co.uk/product-range/productgroup/showmate-trimmer
Bull Nose Scissors
These scissors are designed with rounded ends to prevent accidently catching the skin.
Ideal for trimming delicate areas such as the around the eyes, pads and groin.
Our Masterclip Bull nose scissors have a convex edge and are made from high grade, mirror polished stainless steel. Their ergonomic design, finger rest and removable rubber finger inserts for comfort. The tension can also be adjusted by turning the blue tension screw. Our 6” Bull Nose dog grooming scissors are just £17.99
https://www.masterclip.co.uk/product-range/product/accessories-bull-nose-scissors