What is a nail grinder? It's basically a mini-sander made specifically for sanding your dog's nails. Some varieties have various speed selections. Some just have an on and off setting. It's an alternative to nail clippers.
There are many good types of nail grinders out there. You can even choose between corded or cordless. Most of them are a little noisy but cats/dogs can become used to that with proper desensitizing training. I have a corded Oster brand nail grinder set that I bought at Petsmart.
It's pretty easy to use for short-haired dogs. The only thing to watch out for is not to overdo the nails. Each nail only needs 2 seconds or less. Keep an eye on the quick (the vein inside the nail), you need to stay away from that. For long-haired dogs, you must avoid getting any hair caught in the grinder! It would be very ouchy! Here's an important tip for the long-haired dogs: place a thin cotton gauze or a woven-type dishcloth over the paw and stick their little nails up through it. The hair is behind the gauze or cloth allowing you free and safe access to just the nails.
Why use a nail grinder instead of clippers? Nail clippers don't make a very clean cut - the nail tends to break unevenly, making them sharp. And the little pieces of nail fly everywhere. They could also pinch the nerve inside the nail during the squeezing motion. Nail grinders won't affect the nerve unless you grind too much. The best features of the nail grinder is that you can smooth out the nails with rounded tips. It reduces the chance of nail snags and the freshly cut nails wouldn't scratch your dog's skin, or you and your furniture!
