Puppy pedicures: Exploring the experiences of Australian dogs to nail trims

Abstract

Appropriate nail care is an important aspect of companion dog health and welfare. Nail trims can be painful for dogs if not done correctly, yet little is known about how dogs experience the procedure, nor the perceptions of owners relating to nail maintenance. The present study aimed to investigate the physiological and behavioural responses of 35 companion dogs (of various age, breed and sex) to a standard nail trim procedure in a mock veterinary setting, as well as how their owners approach nail maintenance. Physiological responses were measured via continuous heart rate (bpm) from a Polar® H10 strap and M430 watch, and behaviour was video recorded and coded retrospectively. Heart rate during the nail trim was significantly higher (121.7 ± 18.3bpm) than the baseline heart rate (97.3 ± 19.0bpm; N = 34; t (33) = −8.224, p = 0.001). Factors that predict mean heart rate response were analysed with a multiple linear regression model, and dog sex and sum of stress behaviours (e.g. proportion of time spent with ears back, tail tucked and panting) were found to be significant. These factors explained 56.8 % of the total variation of heart rate observed; F(5, 27) = 7.11, p < 0.001, R2= 0.568. Nearly half (45.7 %) of dogs struggled excessively or escalated to aggression during clipping of at least one nail during the procedure. It is likely that the physiological and behavioural responses observed by dogs within this study may be more extreme in a real veterinary clinic (which itself often evokes fear responses in dogs). Considerable variation was found in relation to how the dog’s owners approached nail maintenance. Approximately one third reported their dog required nail trims two to five times per year, and just under one third of dogs never needed trims. Nearly one in three (31.4 %) dogs had experienced a painful trim in the past. The owners sought assistance with nail trims from a variety of sources (including veterinary practices and groomers) but also trimmed the nails themselves. This initial exploration into nail trims suggests they may be stressful for companion dogs, and highlights the valuable avenues for further investigation for how nail trims may be impacting companion dog welfare.