Quiet Electric Options To File Your Dog’s Nails – CanineJournal.com
Trimming your dog’s nails can be a major hassle. Veterinarians recommend doing it every four to six weeks to keep them at a healthy length. But using a clipper to trim your dog’s nails can pose some safety concerns if your dog is super squirmy or you don’t know where to clip them off safely.
So, what’s the best method to keep your pup’s nails trimmed? Many pet owners and professional groomers swear by dog nail grinders. These tools help you avoid cutting the quick (the blood supply and nerve) of your dog’s nails, which can lead to bleeding, pain, and possible infection. Our top picks can help you keep your dog’s nails trim and healthy.
Article Overview
Things To Consider Before Buying
In addition to avoiding cutting the quick, dog nail grinders also help you file your dog’s nails around all sides of the nail to create a smooth nail edge. There are a few features you’ll want to consider before purchasing a dog nail grinder.
Noise Level
The possible downside with dog nail grinders is the noise of the motor, which could turn your dog off immediately. The best grinder motors have a relatively low noise level but can still be a major factor. Some dogs will be spooked by the motor noise, so the quieter, the better. You know your dog best, so take this into consideration when choosing a nail grinder.
Corded vs Cordless
Most dog toenail grinders come cordless these days, but a few corded models are available that you must plug into the wall while using. As pets are prone to chew on cords, we don’t recommend a corded electric grinder. All of the products we review here are battery-operated.
Batteries
Nail grinding takes some time — it’s not as quick as simply clipping your dog’s nails. So pay attention to the battery life of the device you’re considering, as well as if it’s a rechargeable battery. Some of the products we review here use disposable batteries, so that may impact your decision.
Safety Nail Guard
Some dog nail grinders come with an attachable safety nail guard. This is a protective plastic cap that you can click into the top of the drumel to help keep your dog’s fur out of the grinder and also avoid grinding the quick. These can be helpful for many dogs, but some aren’t ideal for large dogs because you can’t fit the nails into the guard.
Best Dog Nail Grinder
We’ve chosen our top picks based on each tool’s performance and quality, features, customer feedback, pricing, and other factors.
Dremel 7300-PT Cordless Review
We’ve chosen the Dremel dog nail grinder model #7300-PT as our #1 pick as the best pet nail grinder for its overall superb performance, reasonable price, and positive customer reviews. This battery-powered tool uses a 60-grit sanding drum, has a powerful motor, and has two speed settings. Dremel is a leading manufacturer of grinding tools, and this model is a solid basic option that’s a great bang for your buck.
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Casfuy Dog Nail Grinder Review
#2
This Casfuy upgraded dog nail grinder is a major favorite of many pet parents and comes in as a close second to our #1 pick. What are the major differences between this grinder and the Dremel 7300-PT? Many users say the Casfuy has a quieter motor than Drumel devices, and it has three port sizes. But we also saw several customer reviews that reported that this tool isn’t powerful enough to trim hard, thick nails — and that the largest port size was still too small for very large dog nails.
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Oster Gentle Paws Nail Grinder Review
#3
If you don’t want to fork out $30 for a nail grinder but still want a device that works well, you might want to consider this Oster electric dog nail trimmer. However, it uses disposable batteries (4 AA) rather than a rechargeable battery like our top two picks. We like that it comes with a fully adjustable nail guard and four different grinding bands so you can choose your level of coarseness.
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What Are My Other Options?
The following devices didn’t make our top three, but you may still want to consider them. We have some budget options, a higher-end option, and ones with LED lights to help illuminate your dog’s nails while you work on them.
Dremel Paw Control Nail Grinder 7760-PGK Review
Although we picked the Dremel 7300-PT as the overall best Dremel for dog nails, this model is another excellent, albeit pricier, option if you want some more bells and whistles. We also think it’s the best large dog nail grinder. This four-speed Dremel model comes with a 45-degree nail guard to help prevent injuries or cutting the quick. It also includes a nine-piece grooming kit for multiple coarseness options.
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FURminator Nail Grinder Review
If your pup has black nails, the FURminator Nail Grinder could be your best bet because it has an LED light that illuminates your dog’s nails as you trim them. It has two speeds, an attachable nail guard, and comes with two grinding bands. This device runs on four AA batteries, which are included. While it’s one of the most affordable on the market, the downside with this grinder is that the motor isn’t very powerful, so it can take a lot of time to file your dog’s nails down, especially with thick nails.
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Our Experience
We used the FURminator on our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. It’s plenty powerful for just using AA batteries (and haven’t had to replace them in over a year of use). The light helps you see the nail better as not to trim too short. Love the guard as an extra safety precaution. It came with a spare band but have not attempted to replace it yet. It’s not as good of a job as what they do at the vet, but it at least helps hold you over between trips to the groomer. – Sadie C., Canine Journal
We used the FURminator on our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. It’s plenty powerful for just using AA batteries (and haven’t had to replace them in over a year of use). The light helps you see the nail better as not to trim too short. Love the guard as an extra safety precaution. It came with a spare band but have not attempted to replace it yet. It’s not as good of a job as what they do at the vet, but it at least helps hold you over between trips to the groomer. – Sadie C., Canine JournalPawPerfect By Bell+Howell Pet Nail Rotating File Review
Have you come across the PawPerfect dog nail grinder “As Seen On TV” and wonder if it’s worth considering? The standout feature with this grinder is the LED light that helps make the process easier to see. It also comes with one extra-fine and two fine bands. But otherwise, this dog nail trimmer doesn’t blow us away. It uses three AA batteries, and many users say the motor is underwhelming.
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Wahl Professional Dog Nail Grinder Classic Review
This Wahl small dog nail grinder is a good option if you’re on a tight budget, but keep in mind it’s not meant for medium or large dogs (or dogs with thick nails). It comes with a safety cap, two sanding drums, and five sanding bands. But it only has one speed, which rotates slower than many other products.
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How To Grind Dog Nails
It’s best to read any instructions that come with your dog’s nail grinder, so you know how to properly use the tool. But as a general rule, here are the steps to help you know how to use a dog nail grinder properly:
- Hold your dog’s paw with your thumb on the toe pad and your finger on the top of the toe above the nail, gently pushing the nail out.
- Hold the grinder closer to the rotating head for greater control.
- Make sure to keep fur away from the grinding tool, so it doesn’t get caught.
- Start by grinding across the bottom of the nail and then the tip of the nail. Be sure to smooth any rough edges carefully.
- Grind only a small part of your dog’s nail at a time until just above the quick.
This brief video also has a helpful tutorial on how to trim dog nails with a grinder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions our readers often ask about dog nail grinders.
Is A Nail Grinder Better Than Clippers?
So what’s the consensus between a dog nail grinder vs clippers? It really comes down to you and your pup. Some dogs won’t go near a grinder because of the noise, and a grinder takes much longer to do the job than a simple clipper.
However, dog nail trimming can leave your dog’s nails rough and spiky, and there’s a better chance that you’ll cut the quick with clippers. But if you know how to avoid the quick, clippers could be a good choice for a quick trim.
How Do I Grind Black Dog Nails?
Grinding or clipping black dog nails can be a bit more challenging because it’s much harder to see where the quick is. Take it slow, and grind down a small part of the nail. Then, take a peek at the center of your dog’s nail straight on.
If it’s whitish, it’s safe to file some more. Continue this process. You’ll know you’re getting close to the quick when the center appears black or has a pinkish tone.
What Do I Do If I Accidentally Grind The Quick?
If you accidentally cut the quick and your dog’s nail begins bleeding, it’s usually not a huge deal. But it’s a good idea to have some styptic powder handy to apply to the nail. While styptic powder is ideal, you can also apply corn starch or ice the wound until the bleeding stops. Call your vet if you’re concerned, or the bleeding won’t stop.
More At-Home Grooming Needs
A nail grinder is just one of the tools you can use at home to save money on your dog’s grooming needs. Check out our comprehensive guide on grooming a dog, including grooming tips and some of our recommendations for the best brushes, shears, fur clippers, and much more.
