What is a dog’s quick?
The quick of a dog’s nail is the living tissue inside that contains nerves and blood vessels. It is located in the nail bed, extending from the cuticle to the tip of the nail. The purpose of the quick is to supply nutrients and oxygen to the nail in order for it to grow. The quick is sensitive and dogs feel pain if it is cut or injured during nail trimming.
Why you should not cut the quick
The quick of a dog’s nail is the soft tissue that contains nerves and blood vessels. It is very sensitive and will cause significant pain for your dog if cut or damaged. Cutting into the quick will also cause bleeding, as the blood vessels inside will be severed. This bleeding can be profuse, especially in nails where the quick is overgrown. For these reasons, it is very important not to cut your dog’s quick when trimming its nails.
Dogs will instinctively pull their paw away or yelp when pain is felt from the quick being cut. This can make the trimming process more difficult and stressful for both you and your dog. Avoiding the quick will help keep nail trims relatively painless and reduce the chance of bleeding. Take care to only trim off small amounts of the nail at a time until you see a dark dot appear in the center, indicating the start of the quick. This will spare your dog pain and make nail care easier for both of you.
Signs the quick is showing
There are two main signs that indicate your dog’s quick is exposed when trimming their nails:
You can see the pink or red tissue when trimming the nail. The quick contains nerves and blood vessels, so it will appear pinkish-red in color. If you see this tissue peeking out from the nail, you have cut too close to the quick.
Your dog yelps or shows signs of pain when trimming that nail. Since the quick contains sensitive nerve endings, cutting into it can cause pain and discomfort for your dog. If your dog suddenly cries out, jerks their paw away, or snaps when you are trimming a nail, it likely means you have hit the quick.
Being alert and watching closely for these signs as you trim can help avoid cutting the quick. Go slowly and carefully as you near the base of the nail so you can stop before hitting the quick.
What to do if you cut the quick
If you accidentally cut your dog’s quick while trimming their nails, it’s important to stay calm and take action right away to stop the bleeding.
First, reassure your dog with a calm, gentle voice. Your dog can sense your anxiety, so remaining calm will help keep them still so you can treat the nail. Give them praise and pets to distract from the pain.
Next, apply styptic powder or cornstarch to the nail tip to stop the bleeding. Hold constant pressure on the nail for 1-2 minutes. The powders help constrict the blood vessels. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, you can make a homemade solution by mixing flour and water into a paste and applying it to the nail.
If the nail is still bleeding heavily, you may need to bandage it. Wrap the nail in gauze or a small piece of clean cloth, then loosely wrap the paw in a bandage. Be careful not to wrap too tightly or restrict blood flow. Keep the bandage on for 15-20 minutes then remove it to check the nail.
Stay calm during the process and keep reassuring your dog. Remain positive so they don’t become fearful and struggle during future nail trims. Stopping the bleeding quickly will help you both move past this mishap.
How to avoid cutting the quick
Cutting your dog’s quick while trimming their nails can be frightening for both you and your dog. The good news is that there are some simple techniques you can use to avoid cutting the quick when trimming your dog’s nails.
The most important tip is to only trim a small amount of your dog’s nail at a time. Cutting off large portions of the nail increases the risk that you will expose the quick. Instead, clip off only a sliver of the nail, check for any signs of the quick, and repeat as needed. Taking your time and trimming in gradual increments makes cutting the quick much less likely.
It also helps to use a high-quality nail trimmer designed specifically for dogs. Look for trimmers with a safety guard or sensor that will help prevent over-cutting. The right tools will give you better precision and control while trimming.
Finally, make sure you have good lighting when clipping your dog’s nails. Natural sunlight works best, but a bright lamp can also help illuminate the nail so you can better see where the quick is and avoid it. With the right technique, tools, and lighting, you can keep your dog’s nails neatly trimmed without cutting the quick.
When to Seek Veterinary Care
In most cases, a cut quick will stop bleeding on its own within 10-15 minutes. Apply pressure with a clean towel or styptic powder/gel to help control minor bleeding. However, if the bleeding persists beyond 10-15 minutes, you should seek veterinary care.
Additionally, if your dog seems to be in significant pain or distress from the cut quick, take them to the vet right away. Signs of pain include whimpering, crying, holding up the paw, or excessively licking the area. Prolonged bleeding or signs of pain indicate a serious injury that requires professional treatment.
Veterinarians have medications and tools to stop bleeding and treat pain more effectively. They can properly assess the wound, stop bleeding, provide pain management, and treat any infection. Don’t delay seeking veterinary care if the bleeding persists or your dog seems in distress, as prompt treatment is important for your dog’s health and comfort.
Aftercare for a Cut Quick
If you accidentally cut your dog’s quick, it’s important to take proper aftercare steps to avoid infection and promote healing. Here are some tips for caring for a cut quick:
Keep the nail clean and bandaged. Gently clean the wounded nail with a dog-safe antiseptic and apply a light bandage. This protects the sensitive nail bed and prevents debris from getting into the cut. Change the bandage daily.
Avoid activities that could re-open the wound. Limit your dog’s activity for a few days to allow the nail time to start healing. Avoid walking on rough surfaces, running, jumping, or playing fetch until the nail has fully healed.
Monitor for signs of infection. Keep an eye on the cut nail for redness, swelling, oozing, foul odor or other signs of infection. Contact your vet if you notice any problems.
With proper aftercare, your dog’s cut quick should heal within a week or so. Be extra gentle with nail trims in the future to avoid another painful injury.
Training a dog for nail trims
One of the best ways to avoid cutting your dog’s quick is to train them from a young age to accept nail trims as a positive experience. Starting when your puppy is young allows them to become desensitized and comfortable with the process. Make sure to go slowly and keep sessions short and positive.
Begin handling your puppy’s paws frequently so they learn to accept touch to their feet and nails. When your puppy is calm and relaxed, gently touch their toes and feet, giving treats and praise. Over time, introduce touching the nails with the clippers without actually clipping.
When your puppy accepts nail handling, clip just a tiny amount of the tip of one or two nails per session. Immediately give high-value treats and enthusiastic praise. Keep sessions brief, ending on a positive note. Take multiple days to trim all the nails, avoiding pushing your puppy past their comfort zone.
With patience and positive reinforcement, regular nail trims will become an enjoyable routine for you and your dog. Going slow protects the quick while teaching your dog to happily offer up their paws.
Professional grooming help
Some dog owners are simply uncomfortable or scared about trimming their dog’s nails themselves. If you feel anxious about trimming your dog’s nails or making them uncomfortable, consider taking your dog to a professional groomer or veterinarian for nail trims.
Professional groomers and vets have a lot of experience handling dogs and clipping their nails. They can get the job done quickly and safely, minimizing stress on both you and your dog.
If you do take your dog to a groomer or vet, don’t be afraid to ask them to show you their technique and give you pointers. Pay close attention to how they calmly restrain the dog, find the right nail clipper positioning, and identify where the quick is. Ask questions about anything you’re unsure of.
Observing an experienced professional trim your dog’s nails can help build your confidence to try it yourself in the future. And your dog will get used to the routine and handling involved with having their nails trimmed by someone else.
Occasional professional trims may be worthwhile for anxious dogs or breeds with dark nails where the quick is hard to see. But ideally, you’ll still want to trim your dog’s nails at home between visits.
Preventing Overgrown Nails
The best way to prevent your dog’s nails from becoming overgrown is to trim them regularly, before the quick has a chance to grow out. Ideally, trim your dog’s nails every 2-4 weeks depending on their growth rate. Use nail clippers designed specifically for dogs and trim just the white tips of the nails.
You can also help wear down your dog’s nails naturally by providing surfaces for them to walk and play on. Take your dog for walks on sidewalks and roads, as the concrete acts like a nail file. Bring your dog to playgrounds with abrasive surfaces. At home, add nail-filing boards, scratch pads, logs, and rocks for your dog to climb on.
By keeping up with regular trims and providing scratching surfaces, you’ll maintain short, healthy nails and prevent the quick from extending.