If you have a fear of trimming dogs’ nails, you are not alone! One of the biggest fears amongst dog owners is accidentally clipping nails too short that it cuts the “quick”. The quick is the soft, pink tissue in the center of the nail which has a vein and nerve. It helps nail growth and provides sensation to the paw. If a dog’s nails are not properly maintained, the quick may become overgrown, leading to pain and nailbed issues. If your dog has dark nails like me, it makes it especially difficult to avoid cutting the quick!
Last week, mom noticed that my nails were getting a little longer where they were touching the ground when I stand. My upcoming groomer appointment isn’t for another few weeks, so she decided to give me a little at-home trim. Mom has used dog clippers in the past so she wasn’t too worried, and of course I trust her with my life! We got through a few nails easy peasy, but then… CLIP! OUCH! One got cut just a little too deep and I let out the loudest yelp 😢 I was scared, mom was scared!
My quick was peeping out of my nail and it hadn’t started bleeding out yet. Mom put a tiny bit of Vaseline on the tip and tried to wrap my toe gently, but that didn’t work very well. The wrap fell off when I moved my paw, and the quick started to bleed!
Mom put some baking soda on the tip of my toenail, rewrapped my whole paw and made me sit/lay until she could run to the store to pick up some first aid items. We got styptic powder and some bitter bandage tape, and that really did the trick! I recommend all dog owners to get some to keep on hand in case you get any minor cuts.
The styptic powder helps the bleeding stop and keeps the cut from getting infected. Mom applied it by dabbing a damp Q-tip into the powder then applying it to my wound. You can also pour a little into a shallow dish and dip the wound into the powder. The sustained pressure from the bandage also helped the bleeding stop and kept the powder from getting everywhere. I tried to lick the bandage and it tasted bitter, yuck!
I was a very good boy and stayed off my paw so my nail could heal! After about an hour of leaving my paw wrapped up, mom checked on it to make sure the bleeding stopped. Then, we rinsed off my paw gently with shampoo and water, and I rested it overnight before walking around again.
Lessons learned:
– Dog nail trims are necessary, but use caution if your nails are dark and you cannot see the quick! Try to trim only a tiny bit at a time
– Accidents happen, and it’s best to be prepared! Get some styptic powder to keep in a first aid kit
– Stay calm and show your dog love with hugs and treats so they don’t associate nail trimming with the pain. Your dog’s nail will heal and be fine in no time! I can confidently say I now know from experience 🙂
A friend recommended that I try using a Dremel nail grinder, so I ordered one and can’t wait to show you how it works! If you use the Dremel, let me know how you like it.
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Stay happy and healthy!
– Butters The Pup 🐾
Butters The Pup 