09/15/2026
🐾 Let’s talk about how FAST dog nails can grow especially puppy nails!
Seriously… you trim them and somehow two minutes later they’re little needles again. 😂
Most people think nail trims are mainly about keeping dogs from scratching us or destroying the floors, but proper nail maintenance is actually an important part of their overall comfort, posture, and movement.
When a dog’s nails become too long, the nails can make contact with the ground before the paw pads do. That pressure can push the toes upward or backward, cause them to spread, and change how the dog distributes their weight.
To compensate, a dog may begin shifting their weight backward or standing differently to relieve some of that pressure.
And that change doesn’t necessarily stop at the feet.
When a dog repeatedly stands and walks differently, it can place additional stress on the toes, wrists, elbows, shoulders, and potentially the rest of the body. Over time, long nails can contribute to discomfort, reduced traction, and changes in how a dog walks or stands and can even cause joint issues and pain.
Overgrown nails are also more likely to snag, split, crack, or tear which can be incredibly painful and bleed quite a bit.
Regular nail maintenance helps:
🐾 Keep the toes in a more natural position
🐾 Support balanced posture and movement
🐾 Improve traction on slippery floors
🐾 Prevent painful cracks, tears, and snags
🐾 Prevent nails from curling toward the paw pads
🐾 Keep dewclaws from becoming overgrown
🐾 Make future nail appointments easier and less stressful
Puppy nails can feel like they grow overnight because they’re thin, incredibly sharp, and often aren’t being naturally worn down very much yet. Many puppies benefit from having their nails trimmed or filed every 1–2 weeks.
Starting young is also about more than nail length. Regularly handling their paws and introducing clippers or a nail file helps teach puppies that nail care is simply a normal part of life. The more positive exposure they receive now, the less frightening it will hopefully be as they grow.
Many adult dogs need nail maintenance approximately every 3–4 weeks, although every dog is different. Breed, genetics, activity level, overall health, the surfaces they walk on, and how quickly their individual nails grow all make a difference.
Older dogs may actually need their nails checked more frequently not necessarily because the nails suddenly grow faster, but because many senior dogs are less active and don’t naturally wear them down as much. Arthritis, weakness, or changes in the way they walk can also cause certain nails to wear unevenly.
If you’re hearing click, click, click every time your dog walks across the floor, it may be time to check those nails!
Other signs can include nails touching the ground while your dog is standing, toes that look pushed upward or spread apart, slipping on smooth floors, or nails beginning to curve toward the paw pads.
And don’t forget those dewclaws! Because they don’t touch the ground, they receive little to no natural wear and can continue curling until they grow into the skin or paw pad.
It’s also important to know that severely overgrown nails usually cannot be safely shortened to the ideal length in one appointment. As the nail grows longer, the quick (the blood vessel and nerve inside the nail) may also extend farther down.
Trying to remove too much at once can cut into the quick and cause pain and bleeding. Consistent, smaller trims can gradually help the quick recede and allow us to safely shorten the nails over time.
If you ever notice a sudden change in your dog’s nails such as unusual brittleness, discoloration, swelling, bleeding, or repeated splitting that deserves a conversation with your veterinarian.
And don’t forget if your dog is one of my regular Barkershop clients, nail trims are FREE between your regularly scheduled grooming appointments. ❤️
You do not have to wait until the next full groom or bath if those nails are getting long especially when those puppy talons return five minutes after I trimmed them. 😂
Just reach out and we’ll get them taken care of! 🐾
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