Skip to Content

When to Replace Dog Nail Clippers

Guillotine style nail clippers isolated on a white background

Not everything stays nice and sharp. There are a few signs that can indicate when it’s time to replace your dog’s nail clippers:

  1. The blades of the clippers become dull and don’t cut through the nails easily.
  2. The clippers start to break apart, particularly around the blade area.
  3. The shape of the dog’s nails changes, making them harder to clip.

No matter which implementation you use that has a blade, there is one thing you can always count on. It will go dull eventually. When a dog nail clipper’s blade goes dull, it can be a very stressful time for your dog.

Dull nail clipper blades are harder to use and may cause more pain to your pet. It also makes trimming those nails slower and you may not get an even cut. This is one reason why you should have a spare pair of clippers around your home.

That way when one pair gets dull, you have a sharp backup to use. You want to keep the nail cutting time as stress-free for you and your pet as possible. Dull nail clippers will not make that goal a possibility.

What Dog Nail Clippers Do Groomers Use? Click here to find out.

How Long Do Dog Nail Clippers Last?

This will depend on the quality of the manufacturing process. If the maker uses inferior construction materials or weak blades, then those clippers will not last a long time.

You will need to spend the extra few dollars and get a high-quality set of nail clippers if you want them to last a long time. Top-quality is the way to go and you do not want to cheap out when it comes to your dog’s care.

Another factor that has even good quality clippers not lasting a long time is how often you use them. If you only own one dog, then this is not going to be a problem. However, if you own more than one then you may be replacing those clippers sooner than you think.

Even top-quality nail clippers will not last a long time when they are used frequently. The more dogs you own, the more nails you need to trim and the shorter the lifespan of the clipper.

You may have to own more than one pair at a time to make sure your dog’s nails are trimmed correctly all the time. Having a backup pair or two is a smart move as you never know when your go-to clippers will get dull or break.

How Often Do You Trim a Dog’s Nails?

Close up of a grid with numbers like a calendar

The key to trimming your dog’s nails is that you never want them touching the floor. If you hear that click, click, click sound, then you know it is time to trim your dog’s nails. It is not good for your pet to have their nails touch the floor.

How often you trim those nails is up to you. Some people do it weekly, others bi-weekly and still more do it once a month. The number of times you trim your dog’s nails will depend on how fast they grow.

If you trim those nails only once a month, then you can expect your nail clippers to last a long time. If you trim those nails frequently, then you can expect your clippers to only last up to 6 months.

Can Dog Nail Clippers Be Sharpened? Click here to learn more.

Can You Sharpen Dog Nail Clipper Blades?

Person sharpening a knife on a grinding wheel

If you have a nice grinder in your workshop, then it is possible to sharpen those blades instead of buying a new set of clippers. Sharpening takes a little skill as you do not have much metal to work with.

To sharpen the blades, you will have to take the clippers apart and sharpen one side first. Once that side is sharp, you do the other side. All you will need will be a grinder with a 4000 to 8000 grit surface.

Then you only need to do about 50 to 10 passes to get those blades nice and sharp. After that, you just put the clippers back together again and you should have another 6 months of life.

Don’t Forget to Oil Them

Oil can isolated on a white background

Having sharp blades is not enough when it comes to clippers. The metal on the clippers needs oil to cut the friction down. If there is too much friction, then you will have a harder time closing the blades.

This can translate into pain for your dog or some other accidental mishap. A little oil makes sure those issues do not have an opportunity to arise and cause your dog to hate nail clipping time.

The oil will also keep the rust away enabling your clippers to last a lot longer. Taking care of your clippers is as important as taking care of your dog’s nails.

What are the best nail clippers for small dogs? Click here to find out.

Some Final Words

Hand holding a black dog paw in one hand and nail clippers in the other.

Nothing will last forever. Make sure to have some spare clippers on hand when you own a dog. That way you can always reach for a sharp pair when you need them.

Taking care of your dog includes owning the right tools to do the different grooming tasks safely.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Please note: We are not veterinarians and you use our advice at your own discretion. We always recommend that you consult your veterinarian whenever you have health-related conditions your furbaby is facing. With that in mind, as pet parents ourselves, we wish nothing but the best for your pet and their healthy and happy lives.