What is it about?
Nail clipping is a commonly requested and performed procedure in small animal practice. We surveyed veterinary team members about their knowledge, attitudes and how they go about nail clipping. The majority of dogs and cats displayed signs of fear, anxiety and stress in relation to nail clipping. Almost 80% of survey respondents had been injured performing nail clipping, with those reporting a negative attitude about nail clipping more likely to report being injured than those with a positive attitude. A number of respondents reported that they felt pressured by external sources to continue clipping nails even when animals showed severe distress. In general, respondents felt that pre-visit pharmaceuticals were not used enough, but where they were used these did have a positive impact. Respondents also felt that veterinary team members could proactively educate owners about home nail care, counter-conditioning, and minimising stress in animals, and should not perform nail clips unless necessary. Our findings suggest that there is a need for further training of all veterinary team members regarding this common procedure to lower risks to both animal patients and veterinary team members. Client education may also play a role.
Featured Image
Photo by Shawn Rain on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Nail clipping is frequently requested of veterinary team members, and frequently performed in companion animal practice. Yet this common procedure has the potential to harm both animals and veterinary team members. There are strategies to reduce these risks, which can be implemented to improve the wellbeing of both veterinary patients and veterinary team members.
Perspectives
This is one of a series of projects I've worked on regarding the common, "small" things we do in veterinary general practice which have the potential for serious impact on patient welfare and staff safety. By attending to these things, we can improve the welfare of our patients.
Dr Anne Quain
University of Sydney
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: “One of the Hardest Things I Have to Do in the Clinic”: A Survey of Veterinary Team Members’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Nail Clipping, Veterinary Sciences, January 2026, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/vetsci13020115.
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