“I want to trim my dog’s nails, but I’m nervous that I’ll screw it up and hurt him. I’ve read a lot about it online, but I dunno. It seems daunting. Can anyone suggest the best dog nail grinder or a trimmer? I am tired of spending money for someone else to trim up my dog’s nails because it’s super expensive. I just am worried about cutting them too short and cause bleeding,” asks a concerned dog parent, Marry.
Even if you don’t cause bleeding, cutting a dog’s nails too short is also painful for them. Douglas Kratt, DVM, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, explains that, “much like humans, if we cut our nails too short, it’s uncomfortable [for dogs].”
To avoid hurting dogs with clippers, most dog owners tend towards groomers, which is not only expensive but time-consuming as well.
Instead, you can easily and safely shape and trim your dog nails at home if you replace the nail clipper with a dog nail grinder.
What is a Dog Nail Grinder?
Dog nail grinder is a grooming tool that, rather than cutting the nail, will grind away excess nail. It sands the nail bit by bit while clippers clip them off in chunks; thus, nail grinders are a safe alternative to nail clippers.
But grinders take more time as compared to clippers, and we know dogs don’t like to stay at one place for more than 5 seconds.
However, this issue can be resolved by choice of the grinder you pick.
If you choose an ordinary one, it will take more than an hour per nail to make any difference. Alternatively, if you go for one of the best dog nail grinders, you can file and shine your dog’s nail in no time. And when it comes to choosing the best dog nail grinder, we recommend you to look for the following features:
The Best Dog Nail Grinder Is Quick And Effective
Long gone are the days when you had to spend hours grinding your dog nails with sandpaper because electric nail grinders make a good replacement. Though manual dog nail grinders are inexpensive than automatic grinders, they take more effort and time. And as mentioned earlier, dogs can’t hold still for long—using sandpaper will take an eternity to file their nails. Thus, go for electric dog nail grinders to get the job done in less time.
A professional dog groomer and the owner of Grooming by Molly in Boise, Idaho, Molly Bissantz says, “electric grinders are fantastic for trimming the nail to a smoother finish. It can be less damaging to the quick [a soft tender tissue below a fingernail] than nail clippers, too. However, many non-professional models are bulky, loud, and not intended for high volume trimming.”
The Best Dog Nail Grinder is Easy to Handle
Grinding 16 toes can take a fair amount of time, during which you have to hold your pup’s paws and machine at the same time. So, it’s important that the tool is lightweight and is comfortable in your hand.
The Best Dog Nail Grinder is Customizable
Having a customizable dog nail grinder will help you perform grinding effectively.
The best thing about electric dog nail grinders is that their speed can be adjusted. If the grinder is too slow, it will take as much time as filing your dog’s nails by hand. But if it’s too speedy, it can heat up the nails quickly and scare off your dog as well.
Moreover, it should come with a variety of ports so that the user has a free hand to adjust each one per the size and thickness of dog’s nails. It’s important because the nail size and thickness vary from dog to dog. For example, you can’t use the same port for a tiny Chihuahua that you use for a Great Dane’s nails.
The Best Dog Nail Grinder is Less Noisy
If your dog is skittish about loud or high-pitched sounds, noisy grinders will definitely make him run away. This happens mostly with puppies or small-sized dogs. Thus, chose a grinder with a high-tech motor that produces less noise and vibrations.
These are the qualities that a perfect nail grinder should have. Now that you know that, let’s explore the following items and see what sits well with you.
1. Toozey Dog Nail Grinder
| Pros | Cons |
| 3 ports for different nail thicknesses and sizes 2 speed setting Diamond grindstones Up to 15 hours of use after 4 hours charge Bright LED light | Not good for very thick nails If you press the nail too hard, the grinder stops spinning |
Toozey Dog Nail Grinder not only precisely grinds nails round and smooth but also prevents cutting, nasty pains, or bleeding. It is safer and more effective than dog nail clippers to trim your dog’s nails.
This tiny device is equipped with a number of features. First of all, what we love about this device is the variety of features. The device has three ports and 2 speed fits—high and low—which you can adjust per the dog’s nail thickness.
For example, as puppies have delicate nails, you can use the first port by keeping the speed slow, and bingo, your puppy’s nails are ground. Not just the adjustability, this device is super quiet and won’t scare your dog away.
Earning the tag of Amazon’s Choice, most dog owners have recommended this device because of its reasonable price, user-friendliness, speed, and diamond-bitted grinder that lasts longer.
2. Peston Dog Nail Grinder
| Pros | Cons |
| 3 grinding ports 3 Speed settings Reasonable price Less than 50db noise and low vibration Bright LED light Unique design | 4 hours after a 4-hour charge Slow because of low power output |
Considering that the device is electric, lightweight, easy to handle, and suitable for dogs of every age, Peston Dog Nail Grinder comes at an exceptionally reasonable price.
The innovative feature of this device is that it has a bright LED light, which allows you to have a clear and precise vision while trimming your dog’s nails.
Cesar, a proud owner of corgi, shares, “I ordered this nail grinder to keep up with my dog’s nails between grooming appointments. And WOW THIS IS A NAIL GRINDER!!!! Very sturdy u can see it but when u pick it up u see how well it’s done and can see this will last a long time. I’ve tried other one’s before and even more $$ and this one is by far the best one I have ever got for my furry baby’s nails. Definitely recommend this to anyone looking for not only a very good nail grinder but it just happens to be very affordable. It was a great purchase!!”
Review videos from other dog owners also show that the device isn’t loud, and the dog doesn’t feel uncomfortable near it.
However, some users also reviewed that the device has a low power output and takes time. This issue can be resolved by choosing the proper settings per the nail size and charging the device as recommended by the instruction manual.
3. Dremel 7300-PT 4.8V Cordless Pet Dog Nail Grooming & Grinding Tool
| Pros | Cons |
| Works on thick nails Cordless 2 years warranty Works fast Less noisy | One grinding port No LED light Take time to assemble its components Hair can get wrapped around the spinning coil Regular changing the sandpaper |
Dremel is the first company that launched dog nail grinder tools, and that’s why nail grinders are also termed as ‘dremels’. The tool is pretty simple to use, just charge it and get going.
Some of the users, however, find it a little difficult to assemble the components—the kit of this tool comes along with several parts that are to be joined together before using it.
Here are some tips to help you with this device:
- Dremel dog nail grinder comes in the box with some charging, but it is recommended to charge it fully before using it for the first time so it doesn’t die halfway through a foot.
- You can be overwhelmed by looking at the size of the two manuals. But don’t worry, you’re not alone. For your ease, don’t read the large manual because it tells you about general Dremel tool use and nothing practical.
- The smaller manual is practically about the nail trimming aspect and talks specifically about how to grind your dog’s nails.
- You may get confused as to how to insert the rod that holds the sanding drum into the tool itself, and because of the way it comes, the hole is too small. All you have to do is to hold down the blue button on the front to lock the rod in place. Then twist the mechanism until the hole widens enough to insert the rod and then twist to tighten again.
- Don’t spend more than 3 seconds on each nail at once.
- Be gentle and don’t push the grinder too hard or it will get hot and cause irritation to the dog. Just touch the sanding drum to the nail, and it will do the work for you. You don’t need to push.
- Be patient. If your dog doesn’t get used to the device on the first go, don’t give up!
- Repeated gentle exposure and treats work wonders! It’s totally worth the adjustment/training period!
- Last but not least, be sure about the device. If you’re afraid of it, your dog will be afraid of it. This is such a quick, painless, and safe way to grind your dog’s nails. If you use this device properly, this device will last for longer and be useful as well.
4. Casey Dog Nail Grinder Upgraded
| Pros | Cons |
| 3 ports Diamond bit grinder Advanced 2-Speed Switch Low Noise Grinder < 50 db Quick | 2 hours after a 3-hour charge No LED light |
As compared to other electric dog grinders we have discussed above, this grinder has a high output power, which means it will do the job quickly. However, it has a higher price tag due to its high quality.
The special design and high-quality motor work quickly, producing minimal noise. In addition, it has a variety of settings that can be adjusted to grind dog nails of all thicknesses.
The main disadvantage of this tool is that it doesn’t have an LED, thus you’d have to use this tool in bright light. Though its charging stays for a short span, but don’t worry, your job will be done in no time, and you won’t be needing a 15 hours battery time.
Many customers have reviewed this tool and called it the best dog nail grinder. Just use it per the manual guidelines, and you are good to go.
Tips for Grinding Your Dog’s Nails and What to Avoid
If you’ve never ground your dog’s nails or are skeptical about using the tools correctly, consult your vet before trying it out.
The next thing is to be patient. According to Kratt, the most common mistake dog owners make while grooming their dogs’ nails is, surprisingly, getting frustrated by the time this process takes. Because sometimes dogs don’t cooperate with you or don’t want to have their nails cut. To tackle this issue, either you take some time to get your dog used to this procedure, or it’s best to take him to a professional like a groomer or veterinarian.
How to Grind Your Dog’s Nails Properly?
- Before you grind your dog’s nails, be sure to locate the quick at the rear end of the nail. This part is delicate and consists of nerves and blood vessels that supply blood to the nail. If the quick is cut, not only will it bleed, but also it will be extremely painful for your dog. In any case, if you nick your dogs’ quickly, use styptic powder on the nail to stop it from bleeding. If you don’t have styptic powder at home, you can use baking flour.
- You can easily see ‘quick’ if your dog has clear or yellow-colored nails. But if your dog has black or brown nails, we recommend choosing an LED dog nail grinder that will give you a better vision.
- If your dog has long hair, be careful about it. Even if you are using the best dog nail grinder, if you don’t push the hair back, there is a possibility that hair will get stuck, causing pain to your dog.
- Never trim your dog’s nails shorter than two to five millimeters away from the quick.
- For thin nails, start grinding the nails directly from the end and don’t keep the grinder there for long, else it will heat up.
- For thick nails, slowly grind the nails from the top for thinning it and then move the grinder to the end.
- The key to using the best dog grinder in the best possible way is to follow the instructions as so. Ask your vet to describe to you how to use the tool properly.