Giving your dog's nails a clipping is not nearly as difficult or scary as it seems.

Nail trimming is part of grooming your dog and can be done very easily if you know how. It's always a good idea to watch someone else first (vet, groomer or friend) who is experienced in nail trimming.

Some dogs never need to have their nails trimmed. Many will naturally wear the nails down or the dried ends of the nails will simply flake away without you even knowing. But some breeds, especially Basset Hounds and Dachshunds will likely need your help in keeping the toe nails reasonably short.

There will be times when you accidentally cut a nail too short. It just happens sometimes, even with experienced groomers. The nail will bleed if you cut it too short, so just be prepared for that.

Get a good nail trimmer. Ask your vet or the clerk in the pet store which kind they recommend. Place the main part of the trimmer in the palm of your hand and the moveable part so that it is controlled by your fingers. You want to be able to see the small cutting blade that slides when you squeeze the handle.

Make sure you’re not cutting from the top downward; but rather from underneath. Slide the opening over the end of the nail while staying in the whitish part of the nail. The pink area of the nail is the live part and has blood vessels throughout. Hopefully you’ll be able to see where the pink part starts.

If your pooch has dark nails you won’t be able to see any pink to know where the live part of the nail starts. Just do a little bit at a time with the dark nails. Check the end of the nail. The dead area usually is whitish and as you cut deeper into the end of the nail you will begin to see a dark area. That dark area is where the live part starts.

When you are ready to cut, make a smooth, quick squeeze on the handle while holding the trimmer steady. Don't try to "pop" the end of the nail off; it will fall away on its own. You can file the edges or just let the dog wear the nail smooth. Taking your dog for a walk on the sidewalk or street can help them file down.

Remember that at some point you will cut too short. When this happens, place a tiny piece of tissue paper tightly against the end of the nail and hold it for a few minutes. Better yet, have some cornstarch or flour available and put a small amount against the bleeding end of the nail, hold it there with your finger. This works right away. Or you can do nothing and the bleeding should stop in about five minutes. If it continues to bleed much more than that, give your vet a call.

Always remember, you can do this. Play with your canine’s feet first to get them used to the idea. If you do it once a week, it won’t seem like such a tragic event. If you can only do one paw a day, that’s ok too. Relax and enjoy your dog!

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It is not uncommon to hear about someone who left their dog in a parked car, even for just a few minutes, and came back to find them suffering from heatstroke or already dead.

Dogs are in Danger at 110F

If temperatures are about 70-80ºF a car can heat up to 100ºF within minutes. If the temperature is 85ºF and the windows are slightly open the temperature inside can reach 102ºF in ten minutes and in 30 minutes it can reach 120ºF.

On hot and humid days the temperature inside a car parked in the sun can increase more than 30ºF each minute. That quickly becomes lethal since at 110ºF a dog is in danger of heatstroke.

What You Can do to Prevent Heatstroke

The best thing you can do is leave your dog at home when you go out on errands. Even if you don’t plan on leaving your dog in the car, there is always the risk that your car’s air conditioning will fail and you and your dog end up driving around in an oven on wheels.

Fresh, cool water and shade are the two most important things for a dog that spends a lot of time outdoors. Dogs dehydrate very quickly and their water bowls need to be refilled several times a day with cool, fresh water.

Another thing you can do is provide a little pool for your dog or let him run through the sprinklers. Some dogs love to cool off with the hose. If you provide a pool, be sure to empty it and refill it often to prevent mosquito larvae from growing.

If your dog is left outside during the day, be sure to provide plenty of shade. Even if your yard is shaded naturally it is important to set up some kind of shelter from the heat. Set it up in the shade of a tree, for example, and make sure that the shelter is large enough so that air can pass through it freely.

Your dog’s footpads are very sensitive to the heat. Hot pavement can cause severe burns. Avoid walking your dog on hot pavement and cool his paws in cool water when you get home from a walk.

If your Dog has an emergency there are actually First Aid procedures you can do for your dog. There are easy way to get some Pet First Aid tips right online to help your Dog in a crisis.

Breeds That Need Extra Care

Some dog breeds have more problems in the heat than others. Boston Terriers, Pugs, Boxers and other dogs with pushed up snouts have a tougher time in hot weather than others. They will need extra care to make sure they keep comfortable and safe from the heat.

There are other breeds that just aren’t meant to live in areas that reach higher temperatures. These include the St. Bernard, Alaskan Malamute, Huskie, Old English Sheepdog, Newfoundland and any other breed that has a dense, heavy coat.

A visit to the groomer for a nice, short haircut can help these dogs keep comfortable in warmer weather. Other dogs that would feel better with a short summer haircut include dogs with a double coat, such as the Chow and Collie.

Signs of Heatstroke

Signs of heatstroke include, among other things, a body temperature of 104-110ºF, excessive panting, dark or bright red tongue, seizures, bloody diarrhea or vomiting, coma, and death.

What to do if Your Dog Has Heatstroke

If you think your dog has heatstroke, get him or her to the vet immediately. Use cool water, not ice water, to cool your dog. Be careful not to use very cold water as that will cause constriction of the blood vessels and slow down cooling.

If the dog’s temperature is 103ºF or lower, do not aid cooling as some animals can get hypothermic. But if your dog is cooled off and seems okay, do not assume everything is fine.

Internal organs can be negatively affected by a rise in body temperature and blood tests and a vet exam are needed to assess any damage. There is a fatal blood problem called DIC that can result from heatstroke.

To best help your dog handle the heat this summer, keep him at home and NOT in a hot car. Make sure he has a steady supply of cool, fresh water and shade, provide him with air conditioning or a wading pool to keep cool in, decrease his amount of exertion, and exercise him in the cooler times of the day. Following these simple steps will ensure that your dog has a happy, healthy summer.