Frequently Asked Questions

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Peticured does not take appointments or advanced reservations. Peticured utilizes an online queue, the PetiQueue, as a way to hop in line virtually instead of at the store. 

Peticured offers its customers a virtual queue to enroll their pet for service at our in-store and mobile clinic locations. It's a convenient way to grab a place in line without physically standing in line. Individual PetiQueues are only open when the each clinic is open. Simply click a location on the Clinic Page to start. For more information on the PetiQueue including Tips & Tricks, please visit our How Does the PetiQueue Work? section. 

DOGS: Short nails are crucial to the orthopedic health of your pet. Unmaintained nails can affect mobility, balance, posture, and overall comfort. A dog’s nail (officially categorized as a claw) grows out of the last bone in the foot called the distal phalanx. As the nail grows beyond a healthy length, the nail will begin to push on the surface that the dog is standing on, pushing the toe (and bone) up. Not only is this detrimental to their orthopedic health and the bone structure of their paw but also impacts their traction on various surfaces. Additionally, dogs that have nails that curve excessively run the risk of the nail growing into the paw pad, especially dew claws. This can be incredibly painful for your pet and can cause serious infections. Nails that are too long may also contribute to damaged floors/furniture and hurt humans.

CATS: Cat claws are retractable but they still grow continuously if not maintained. Many cats are able to naturally shed the outer layer of their claws (claw sheath) through scratching, but not always. Older and senior cats are more likely to need manual trimming than younger, more active cats. Unmaintained claws can curl back into the paw pads and cause discomfort and pain. Long claws at any life stage can snag/puncture fabrics and cause damage to furniture, carpets/rugs, and clothing and possibly injure the nail bed if the cat cannot release. Sharp claws can be hazardous to humans and other pets

DOGS: While the answer may be different for different breeds and the genetic makeup of the dog’s nails, there is one universal answer: While your dog is standing upright and relaxed on a flat level surface, the nail tips should not be touching the ground. Our shortening procedure is guaranteed to get your dog's nails as short as possible and will last anywhere from 2-12 weeks (with most between 6-8 weeks) depending on anatomical claw shape/structure, activity, health, and genetics. NOTE: Short nails are healthy nails! Regular maintenance of your pet’s nails significantly reduces the chance of accidental nail breakage, injuries, and discomfort. Owners of senior dogs should be extra diligent as those dogs may have more orthopedic issues affected or exacerbated by longer nails.

CATS: Our technicians focus on precision and clip to the quick to result in the longest lasting trim. The vast majority of cats will have claws return to a sharp point anywhere between 4-8 weeks after the last visit to Peticured.

Likely yes. The clicking sound you may hear on solid surfaces (wood and tile floors) is a great indicator that your dog may be due for a nail trim. If you hear that sound, take a look at your dog’s paw when standing flat and see if there is clearance between the nail and the floor. If there is no clearance or if the nail is touching the ground, it’s time for a nail trim. 

 A common misconception is that the quick on every dog continues to grow as the nail grows (advancing quick) and frequent nail trimming will force the quick to recede. The vast majority of dogs do not have an "advancing quick" and this vascular tissue will not continue to grow as the nail grows. In the very small percentage of dogs with advancing quicks, regular maintenance is important to keep the quick from advancing further. The trim procedure on those dogs should ideally expose the end of the quick without causing pain (or bleeding). The explicit method to make quicks “recede” is to actually cut through the soft tissue to make it shorter. Peticured does NOT offer this service, and should only be performed in special circumstances in a veterinary office with anesthesia and proper sterilization.  

A dog’s nail is comprised of keratin and within it, blood vessels and nerves. This soft vascular tissue is commonly referred to as the quick.

Peticured utilizes a Dremel tool (rotary grinding tool) for a multitude of reasons. The gradual sanding of the nail by the Dremel tool provides a safer removal of excess keratin, reducing the risk of damage to the soft tissue (quick) or potential cracking/fracturing of the nail caused by traditional clippers. Properly done, there is absolutely no guesswork on how far to shorten with a dremel based procedure. The Dremel tool enables our Technicians to very precisely remove excess keratin to the quick resulting in smoother, shorter nails without sharp rough edges typically seen with a traditional clipper trim. Additionally, our decades of experience have shown that dogs respond better to the nail trimming procedure with the use of a Dremel tool, especially in cases where there has been past soft tissue damage or trauma with traditional clipper trims. 

Puppies under 6 months can be an exception to the reasons noted above. Although most puppies can tolerate a Dremel procedure if done quickly, some do not yet possess the maturity or attention span needed to complete the session without unnecessary distress. A few shorter (lower stress) introductory nail trim sessions using a clipper tool on those puppies is better for building long term acceptance, trust, and confidence.  

Despite all the wonderful reasons to use a rotary grinding tool to shorten dog's nails, the general best practice for cat nail trimming is still to utilized manual clippers for the procedure. Most cats have a very small window of cooperation while being handled and a quicker session ensures a higher likelihood of successful completion. Cat claws are generally semitransparent with visible quicks and our experienced technicians are able to swiftly clip to the quick without harm. A dremel procedure may be percieved as antagonistic and even the most well mannered cats can easily develop a strong distaste for nail trimming if the procedure is overwhelming or arduous.