Dremel tools have taken the dog grooming world by storm, and with good reason. The Dremel for dog nail is an easy to use power-tool and is generally much safer and dog-friendly than the traditional nail clippers.
What Is A Pet Nail Dremel Tool?
A Dremel for pets is a rotary tool used for grinding your dog’s nails instead of clipping or cutting them. The battery-operated tool has a rotating grinding wheel called the Dremel bit. This nifty tool allows you full control over trimming your dog’s nails, right in the comfort of your own home.
With this tool, you don’t have to take a trip to the vet or doggy parlor, traumatizing your poor pooch just to get their nails trimmed.
Are Dog Nail Grinders Better Than Clippers?
In the long debate of nail grinders vs. clippers, most pet owners have extreme opinions. Without intentionally stepping on any toes, here’s our humble opinion:
Nail grinders generally work better than clippers. The main reason here is that clippers can injure your pooch of you’re not careful or if they’re a bit lively. Not all pups sit quietly while you manicure their nails to perfection.
With a nail grinder like the Dremel tool, you have full control over how your dog’s nails are trimmed, and you get nice smooth edges. This is more comfortable for your dog and much more pleasant for you. With clippers, you risk cutting into the quick of your doggo’s nails, which is incredibly painful. You also tend to get sharp edges, resulting in some lovely scratches as your dog thanks you for the fantastic manicure. Not fun.
Grinding allows you to follow the natural shape of your dog’s nails, resulting in a more natural, comfortable trimmed nail. When used incorrectly, nail clippers leave sharp edges at odd angles to the natural nail shape. This is uncomfortable for the dog.
Dremel vs. Clipper for Dog Nails
The debate rages on. Here are some points to ponder of using a Dremel pet nail grinding tool vs. nail clipper for your pooch.
| Dremel Nail Grinder | Nail Clipper |
| Grinding results in smooth, rounded nails. | Often creates sharp edges |
| Better control. You can remove as little as you want. | Often cuts to the full width of the nail. |
| Safe for pets | May cause injury and pain. |
| Works well on thick nails. | Difficult to cut thick nails. |
| Battery operated power tool | Manual tool |
| Expensive | Cheap and easily available. |
How to Dremel Overgrown Dog Nails
Overgrown nails can cause all kinds of issues for your beloved pooch. When the nails are long enough for you to hear them tapping on the floor as your dog runs along, they will probably cause the toes to splay out. This splaying action puts pressure on the foot and leg structure. Long term, your dog could face tendon injuries and deformed feet. Not a pleasant thought.
So, when those nails are that long, how do you trim them with a Dremel tool? Well, first, you need to understand what happens when a dog’s nails grow too long.
As the nail grows, so does the quick. That’s a collection of nerves and blood vessels inside the nail. So, if your dog has super long nails, the quick is also very long, and you can’t just cut the nail off in one go.
You have to encourage the quick to recede by regularly trimming the nail back a little bit at a time. Experts suggest that once a week or once every four days should do it.
If your beloved pup is scared out of his mind when you bring out the Dremel, use a bit of desensitization training to get him comfortable. Show him the tool and allow him to sniff it. When he smells it, give him a treat. This builds a positive association. You get the picture.
If you do this regularly, your pooch will jump for joy when the Dremel tool comes out. Jackpot!
Keep in mind that Dremels are noisy, so do the same training to get them used to the noise levels. With a bit of patience, your pup won’t even notice the noise. This process is likely to take a bit longer for dogs that are noise sensitive.
Nail trimming works best when your pup is relaxed and comfortable. Find a position that works, offering you easy access to the feet – cutting blind is a very bad idea. Lift your pup’s paw, but hold it close to the body so that they can’t pull away.
Identify the quick before you get going. On light-colored nails, this will show up as a darker section in the nail, maybe even slightly pinkish. It’s harder to find the quick on dark nails. If you can’t see it, trim slowly, inspecting the nail regularly. When you get close to the quick, you’ll see a grayish-pink oval at the top of the cut surface. This is where the nail-quick starts. Stop cutting at this point.
To be safe you should leave approximately 2mm from the quick and trim the rest of the nail.
Now, you’re finally ready to start trimming. Work quickly and with confidence, but not so fast that you’re rushing. Hold the Dremel tool at a 45⁰ angle, following the natural shape of the nail as you grind. Move the Dremel in a smooth motion across the nail – don’t saw back and forth.
Bear in mind that the Dremel tool can get really hot since the grinding head spins at high speed. Don’t hold it against the nail continuously – instead, tap-tap it gently against the nail to prevent heat build-up that can burn your dog’s nails.
Take regular breaks if you need to. This simplifies things for both you and your dog since the experience remains pleasant. If you hold the dog down or force him to stay while you trim his nails, the experience becomes traumatic, and you will probably have a real fight on your hands for the next trimming session.
Does Dremel Hurt Dogs?
When you use your Dremel tool correctly, it won’t hurt your dog. The noise and the sensation of something moving against their nails might freak them out a bit, especially if you have a sensitive pooch. But no, Dremel tools are designed with your dog’s safety and comfort in mind, so they won’t injure your pup.
People who report injuries when using a Dremel usually cut into the quick of the nail. Regardless of the tool used, this will hurt your dog and can cause considerable discomfort.
Another common mistake is holding the Dremel tool against the nail for long. Here, heat builds up, burning your pup’s nail and foot. If you avoid these two common mistakes, your pooch probably won’t even realize that they’re getting a pedicure.
How Often Should You Dremel Your Dog’s Nails?
How often you trim your pup’s nails depends on how active they are and the terrain that they play on. Generally, about once a week would suffice for regular nail trimming. If your dog plays on a rough surface all day, you might even get away with as little as once a month, although that’s the extreme case.
If your dog has overgrown nails and you want the quick to recede, you would have to trim the nails more often, up to once every four days. Don’t use your Dremel more regularly than this, since your pup’s nails won’t grow fast enough to justify such regular grinding and you might end up hurting him.
Can You Use A Regular Dremel On Dog Nails?
If you already own a regular Dremel tool, you might wonder if you need to buy an extra one, especially for your four-legged friend’s feet. The good news? You can use a regular Dremel on your pup’s paws. The pet Dremel has an oval shape that’s better suited to pet nails, but with careful handling, the regular Dremel will work just fine. However, do not use a heavy-duty powertool such as die grinder for your pets.
When you choose to use a regular Dremel tool to trim your dog’s nails, bear the usual safety tips and best-practices in mind. The Dremel tool will still get hot, so take care not to burn your pup’s nails while you work. Also, follow the natural shape of the nail when you trim, ensuring that your dog can walk comfortably afterward.
Final Thoughts
Dremel tools are easy to use and much safer than traditional nail clippers. Pups tend to prefer them over nail clippers, too, making them the perfect dog-grooming accessory.
Dan Miller is a professional toolmaker with extensive experience in the metalworking and tooling industry.
An avid DIY enthusiast and passionate hobbyist woodworker, Dan shares his expert knowledge here.