One question that I see asked over and over in online reptile groups is “how do I trim my bearded dragon’s nails?” It’s actually quite easy and important for your dragons’ health so I’ve decided to write a how-to guide so you can give your dragons mani/ pedis!
Why do you have to trim their nails? When a dragon’s nails get too long it makes it harder for them to move around. Their long nails become a nuisance and they make it uncomfortable for dragons to walk and climb. Bearded dragons in the wild grind down their own nails while climbing and scurrying around the dessert. Wild dragons are much more active than pet dragons and they cover a lot of ground in search of food and mates. This ensures that their nails are buffed down to an appropriate length. Since pet dragons don’t have to go out and hunt or search for a mate, their nails get too long so we have to trim them.
Bearded dragons’ nails/ or claws are very similar to cats claws. They grow to a sharp point like cat’s claws and they are trimmed basically the same way.
You’re going to need the following: a pair of cat nail trimming scissors, a small amount of flour or corn starch, a towel and if your dragon is feisty and not very hand tame you’ll need an old hand towel and a pair of scissors.
Do not use human nail clippers, a knife, regular scissors or nail clippers for dogs. They can cause breakage and bleeding. Cat nail scissors are best suited for trimming dragons’ nails.
Before we get started let’s quickly go over the anatomy of a dragon’s claw. It’s made up of the same things as human, cat and dog nails. Dead tissue (the nail that grows beyond the skin) and live tissue (the tissue under the nails.) In animals, the live tissue is known as the “quick” and it is found within the part of the nail or claw closest to the hand or paw. Bearded dragon’s nails can be clear, black or a combination of both colors.
First, you want to examine your dragon’s feet to ensure that they’re free of any debris or poop. I usually trim my dragons’ nails after their bath to give them the full spa experience but if you’re not bathing yours before you trim, do a visual check for poop. If you see any, use a soft toothbrush and warm water to gently rub it off.
Next to want to identify where the quick ends. Dogs, cats, reptiles, rodents, and birds all have quicks in their nails and if you cut the quick your pet will bleed. Imagine cutting your fingernail too short and clipping your skin. The difference between animals’ claws and our nails is that their live tissue runs into the nail whereas ours is at the base of the nail.
After you’ve found the quick you’ll want to cut the nail a few millimeters away from it. Essentially you’re just removing the sharp pointy part of the claw. Place the nail scissors against the tip where you’d like to trim it and snip! It’s that easy!
Make sure that your pet is calm before you make each cut. You want them to feel safe and calm throughout the process. Never snip if your dragon is struggling or moving. You don’t want to risk accidentally cutting too much off and nipping their quick. It’s always better to trim a little and avoid cutting the quick than trying to take off more of the claw and causing your pet to bleed.
If you do happen to clip the quick it’s important that you remain calm. Panicking is only going to make the situation worse. It happens to most of us at some point. Even professional dog and cat groomer clip them on occasion. This is why we have the flour or cornstarch handy. If you happen to nip a quick, the powder helps the blood to clot. You can buy “quick powder” at pet stores but using flour or corn starch will do the exact same thing and costs much less. To stop the bleeding take a bit of the powder on your fingertip and dab it onto the quick that’s been cut. The blood should begin to clot immediately. If it continues to bleed, dab on more powder until it stops bleeding. It’s important to make sure that the nipped claw remains clean until it has fully healed to avoid infection. Rinse the wounded claw with warm water and dab it with iodine on a q-tip twice daily to ensure it remains free of bacteria and heals quickly.
If your dragon isn’t very hand tame and is visibly afraid, hissing or running from you, it’s best to wrap them in a towel with just they arm or leg exposed. If this is the case, take an old hand towel and cut a small hole that their leg can fit through. Put the leg through the whole and wrap the rest of your dragon up in the towel. Essentially you want what looks like a dragon burrito with a leg sticking out. Covering your dragon’s eyes with the towel will help to calm it like the blinders that racehorses wear.
Hold your wrapped dragon burrito firmly enough that they aren’t flailing around but gently enough that you don’t hurt it. Once they’ve calmed, begin trimming the nails on the exposed foot. After the first foot is done, unwrap the dragon and rewrap it with a different leg sticking out of the hole. If your dragon is super feisty you may want to have a second person help you hold the dragon while you trim. Holding the foot in one hand while snipping with the other will help ensure you don’t cut the quick even if your dragon moves.
There is no set amount of time to wait between trimmings. Just like humans, dragons’ nails grow at different rates. When they’re pointy and sharp again it’s time for another trim.
Trimming your dragons’ might seem like a daunting task but it’s really not that bad. Just keep away from the quick and remember if you do happen to nip it, you’re prepared!
Now that you know how to trim your dragon’s nails properly you can start trimming your cats’ and dogs’ nails at home too. It’s just as easy and will save you from having to pay a groomer to do it!
