Best Dog Nail Clippers in 2021
If you buy through links in this article, we may earn a commission.
This policy helps support the website's operation. Learn more.
Our Recommendations
Comparison Table
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Different Types of Trimmers
There are three primary types of nail trimmers available for dogs and other animals. We’ll detail some of the products in each of these categories in a bit but let’s take a look at the types first to help you decide what you’re looking for.
Scissor Types
These types of clippers allow you to exert a large amount of mechanical force on your pet’s nails. They come in two different varieties, the smaller ones are naturally suited for smaller animals while the larger ones can be used for even the largest of dogs. Make sure you match the size of your animal. Like all of the trimmer types, they offer some distinct advantages and disadvantages.
Pros:
- They’re simple to use and allow you to clearly see where you’re cutting.
- They allow you to exert a large amount of force with little effort, making them ideal for larger canines.
- The blades will very rarely if ever have to be replaced.
Cons:
- Despite the leverage advantage, they can require quite a bit of force to close properly. This makes them hard to use for those with weak wrists or arthritis.
Guillotine Types
These clippers are spring-loaded and fit over the end of your pet’s nails where you close the handles and a blade will cleanly cut through the nail. They’re quite handy to have and many veterinarians and groomers prefer them since they can also be used for cats.
Pros:
- Perfect for smaller dogs and cats due to the smaller openings.
- They quickly cut in a single stroke, without requiring much force on the part of the operator.
- They’re pretty much fool-proof due to the small opening, and with a bit of care shouldn’t cut to the quick.
Cons:
- They don’t provide enough force for larger dogs, whose nails can be quite tough.
- The blades will need to be replaced on occasion.
Grinding Tool Trimmers
These types of trimmers are comprised of emery board or sandpaper which can be used to grind down your pet’s nails with a surprising amount of ease. Some of them are standalone units, while others can be attached to tools you already have around the house.
Pros:
- They’re super easy to use, and the risk of over-grinding and making your dog’s nails bleed is reduced to a minimum as long as you don’t get aggressive with the tool.
- They’ll leave your dog’s nails smooth as soon as you’re done, reducing the need for filing them down afterwards.
- They’re suitable for all sizes of dog, which is handy if you have a multi-canine household with varied breeds.
Cons:
- They vibrate and the tool will make noise, which can make nervous dogs a little bit edgy.
- They cost significantly more than the other styles of nail trimmers.
As you can see, each of these has their place and really it’s up to you to decide which one is best suited for your needs.
Individual Reviews
The Casfuy Pet Neil Grinder is possibly the best product of its kind on the marketplace. Instead of the rough sandpaper barrel drums of the Dremel 7300-PT, it comes with a long-lasting diamond barrel which will result in smoother, cleaner grinding.
The barrel can be contained within its plastic housing as well, to make sure that the dust and chips which come off of the nail are contained and not flying in you or your pet’s face. It also runs quite quietly, which can reduce the amount of discomfort your pet feels while you’re getting their nails down to a manageable size.
There are three different safety ports in the plastic cover over the drum, a small one for smaller dogs, one slightly larger for medium or large dogs, and a full 180° opening to allow for quick grinding on larger nails.
The tool itself is light and ergonomically designed to help you prevent strain on your hands while you’re using it.
Product Conclusion
If you’re looking for the absolute best-grinding nail trimmer, this is probably the one for you. Once you’ve used it you’ll wonder if you can ever actually go back to old style clippers, or even other grinders that aren’t designed as well. It comes highly recommended by us as the best solution to your dog’s long nails.
Pros
- Two speed
- Low noise
- Lifetime warranty
- Easy to use
- For all sizes of nails
Cons
- Power adapter isn’t included
These scissor-style clippers are ideal for larger dogs, and will help you make short work of these breeds’ thicker, stronger nails. They’re made of extremely sharp stainless steel, a hard material which is sure to hold its edge over a long period and since you’ll only be using them once a month or so they’ll last for years with a rather minimal investment.
The quick safety-stop will prevent you from cutting your dog’s nails too short and should be able to prevent most problems. However, if you’ve let your dog’s nails get too long, the quick may have extended past the point where the stop will function so caution is still advised.
Product Conclusion
If you have a large dog, these are the best clippers on the market. With them, you’ll be able to quickly and easily trim down even the toughest nails, it highly recommend by professioanl as reliable and sharp clippers.
Pros
- Make clean cuts
- Ergonomic design
- Nail file included
- Sharp steel blades
- Safety stop
Cons
- Safety stop doesn’t work for the smallest dogs
For medium-sized and small dogs, this pair of scissor-style clippers is beyond ideal and bordering on being the best possible answer. They blades are made of sharp stainless steel, and you can tell by the heft of them in your hand that they’re sure to keep going for a long time to come.
They also have a quick-stop safety measure to keep you from cutting too far up the nail. All you have to do is align the safety bar with the center of the hole in the trimmer, and you should be able to avoid any problems. Now, one thing to be aware of is that excessively long nails will have a quick that extends much farther than normal, so you’ll still want to be careful about things.
Product Conclusion
If you’ve got a dog in the middling range of size, or a smaller one and you’re uncomfortable with guillotine style trimmers, take a close look at these to decide if they’re right for you.
Pros
- Well made
- Easy to use
- Cut thick nails
- Ergonomic design
Cons
- Difficult to use on large dog nails
Resco invented this style of clipper in 1937, and they’ve been a favorite of vets and groomers ever since. These handy little devices will make short work of most small dog’s nails, but guillotine-style trimmers really aren’t made to handle the tougher, thicker nails of larger breeds.
They work quite efficiently, the only real issue with them is the fact that you’ll have to replace blades on occasion. It might be a good idea to buy a couple of extras when you pick up your pair, so you can keep things on your schedule when the first ones get dull.
If you’ve got dogs and cats, these are absolutely ideal since they’ll allow you to make short work of your feline’s nails just as well as they will with a dog’s nails. They’ll also work for most pets that have nails, and the tiny size is small enough for even rodents and smaller birds.
Product Conclusion
If you’ve got a lot of different animals in the house, or just can’t handle scissor-style clippers, these clippers are something you might want to look into. Their multi-functionality and great quality make them the guillotine clippers to own.
Pros
- Replaceable blades
- Lifetime warranty
- Great for small dogs
- Durable
Cons
- Suitable only for small nails
The Dremel 7300-PT is a Dremel rotary tool specifically designed to grind your pet’s nails. It operates on a 4.8V motor with two speeds, running at 6,500rpm and 13,000rpm respectively. It’s one of the most highly recommended pet nail grinders around.
You’ll easily be able to use any of the ½” sanding drums which are produced by the manufacturer to quickly and gently bring nails down to size. As long as you do things in stages, you’ll find that it’s pretty easy to avoid getting to the quick and you won’t ever have to restrain your pet in order to file their nails after the whole operation is done again.
It can be relatively noisy, and the vibrations might make your animal a bit skittish at first but proper positive reinforcement can ensure a stress-free experience for both of you. It comes with a rubber ½” drum and four replacements as well, which should last for a good amount of time. The replacements are quite cheap once you’ve worked through the original supply.
Product Conclusion
If you’re looking for a grinder, this may be a good consideration for you. It’s still a fully functioning rotary tool with a 1/8th-inch collet as well, so you might even get some use out of it around the house if you’re the DIY-type.
Pros
- Variable speed
- Lightweight
- 4 sanding bands included
- Removable battery
Cons
- Bit noisy
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do dog needs special nail clippers?
Human nail clippers aren’t designed for dogs, it hard to use it with a pet and can damage his nail. We highly recommend you special pet grinder or clipper. - What size of clippers should I use?
It depends on the size of your pet. Most clippers designed for medium or large and thick nails. For small puppy nails, you can choose guillotine or grinder, which you can use for all types of nails with a special protective sleeve. - What is a safety stop on dog nail clippers?
This is a special metal plate that keeps you from cutting quick. - How and when should I cut my dog’s nail?
If you hear nails tapping on the floor while your pet is walking, it means, that your dog needs trimming. It’ll be good if you know the anatomy of a dog nail before the start. You must prepare treats for the dog, find a comfortable position for both, gently hold a dog’s paw and cut his nail in one fast move. After it give him treats and continue with the remaining nails. - Are guillotine nail clippers better?
It can be better for small puppies nails and for people with hand pain or arthritis. It needs less power than clippers.
Summary
As you can see, there’s quite a bit to consider when you’re looking to take care of your dog’s nails. Each of these types of nail trimmers has its own advantages and disadvantages, and once you start regularly undertaking the task you’ll find your dog is free from discomfort with their feet. It’s not a difficult task as long as you do things right, so why not pick up a trimmer for yourself today and get started on making sure your canine walks freely and without pain. And You may need to groom your dog not only with nail clippers, so best dog hair clippers will help You.
Images credits: Amazon.com
