A healthy dog will not bleed to death from a cut toenail—not even close! While it is unfortunate that you've hurt your dog (which none of us wants to do), and while it may be a bit messy, this is not a serious injury. (And, if your house looks like a murder scene, you may need to take my word for this.)
If you mistakenly cut into the quick – or vein and nerve that runs into every nail – a bloody mess could happen that damages carpets, furniture and, most importantly, your dog's much-needed trust in your home grooming capabilities.
If the bleeding doesn't stop after 20-30 minutes you should contact your veterinarian. What is this? Depending on the severity of the nail injury, most dogs are fine after a few minutes but some quick injuries might take up to 24 hours.
Styptic powder contains silver nitrate, which is the most effective product for stopping dog toenail bleeds. Apply a bit of the powder to the tip of the bleeding nail, or dip the toenail directly into the powder, and apply light pressure. Your dog may feel a little sting, so be aware in case they jerk away.
Use a clean cloth to apply gentle pressure to stop the bleeding. This is a good time to bring out the heavy artillery – your dog's favorite treats – to keep them still. If the bleeding doesn't stop after five minutes, apply styptic powder to the exposed quick. Keep your dog as calm as possible.
If you apply styptic powder or a styptic pencil to your dog nail, bleeding from a cut quick should stop within two minutes. Corn starch or flour on a Q-tip should also do the trick in a pinch. You may need to see the vet if the blood does not stop within 15 to 20 minutes.
Unless your dog has a clotting disorder (and you would probably already know about this), the nail will stop bleeding on its own.
Important disclaimer: If your dog's nail does not stop bleeding in 10 minutes OR if your dog has completely or partially torn off a toenail (resulting from an injury), please seek veterinary care.
Sometimes, you will see a lot of bleeding. Some pet parents actually worry that there is a broken bone, especially when they see the nail sticking out from the foot. Although it's not a life-threatening emergency, you should take your dog to see a vet as soon as possible.
It might take awhile for your pup to get comfortable having his nails trimmed again if you've cut into their quick, but they will forgive you. Be sure to give him lots of treats and praise every time you get out the nail clippers; that will help make the experience more positive.
One of the most popular methods of controlling bleeding after cutting into the quick is using styptic powder. The powder contains an ingredient called ferric subsulfate which is an antihemorrhagic agent. This will contract the blood vessels—clotting the blood flow and stopping the bleeding within a couple minutes.
Clipping down extra-long nails all at once can be traumatizing for you and your pup. The key is to gradually cut the nails back weekly until the quick also begins to recede. Once the nails are clipped to a comfortable level, you can start a regular trimming schedule.
If your dog's nails are at a healthy length, twice a month is a reasonable goal to maintain the nails. If your dog's nails are overgrown, and the quicks are very long, you will need to trim or grind every few days to recede the quicks. Make nail maintenance a routine part of your dog's health care regime.
A toenail that breaks near the base will bleed profusely, so apply gentle and steady pressure to the area and immediately take your pet to your family veterinarian. You should also take your pet immediately to the vet if bleeding does not stop or if the toenail remains partially attached.
Generally, dogs start feeling better within 48 hours. Total recovery takes some time, as the nail needs to re-grow so as to completely cover the vulnerable quick. Generally, this takes two weeks, according to Dr. Fiona.
Treatment of a broken or fractured nail
The most important thing to do straight away is to stop your dog from licking its foot or nail. Dogs and cats have bacteria in their mouth, which can cause an infection if they lick a broken nail.
Wait for the Bleeding to Stop
Ensure the bleeding stops and the wound is clean and protected before taking your dog for a walk. Walking on a bleeding nail can cause further pain and injury.
After trimming that little bit of nail, generally, within a few days, the quick should have receded enough to allow you to trim off another little bit of nail. Each time you trim that nail, the quick should slowly recede farther and farther up into the nail bed.
Limping can be a sign of nailbed damage, muscle or tendon issues, or even arthritis.
Cornstarch. Plain cornstarch or cornstarch mixed with baking soda also work. Place a bit of the cornstarch in your hand and dip your dog's nail in it. Apply pressure for several seconds—up to 2 minutes—then check if the bleeding has stopped.
In most cases, your dog will heal just fine without any medical intervention. However, if the wound does not seem to be healing properly, you should take your dog to the vet.
To apply betadine on your dog, gently wipe the wound with a washcloth saturated with the betadine solution. You can do this up to twice a day for minor sores or skin infections. One great thing about Betadine is that it is completely harmless if it's ingested.