Dogs need their nails clipped regularly, approximately every 3-4 weeks. Waiting too long can cause overgrown nails and quicks, making it harder to cut the nails short again. If a dog’s nails have grown too long, you need to trim them very lightly once a week until the quick recedes enough so that you can cut the nails to a healthy length.Leaving nails to become overgrown damages the ligaments and joints in a dog’s paws and legs, makes it painful to walk, makes ripped nails and infections more common, and causes a host of other risks to your dog’s health.