Dogs have special pads on their paws that help them grip different surfaces. Their toenails are similar to human nails, but much thicker. This helps them run and dig.
Dogs need to have their nails trimmed so that they don’t get hurt while playing. When you trim your dog’s nails, it’s important not to cut into a blood vessel in the nail called the “quick”. If you nick this, it will bleed and hurt your dog. It’s hard to see the quick on black nails.
Some dogs also have an extra toe, called a “dewclaw”, a little above the foot on the back of the leg. Dewclaws are there for no reason, but they have nails that need to be trimmed just like other nails. Dewclaws can get caught on things and are easily injured, so vets often recommend removing them.
