At the center of every dog nail is a bundle of nerves and blood vessels called a quick. Cutting this quick, or even applying pressure to the area around it, can cause your dog immense pain. Some breeds, such as Shiba Inus, pugs, shepherds, labs, and bully breeds, seem to have exceptionally sensitive quicks.
Cutting a nail too short is colloquially called “quicking” because we call the nail bed, where the nerves and blood vessels live, the “quick”. So when you quick a dog, you damage the nerves and vessels and it hurts (a lot) and bleeds (a really lot).
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.
If you accidentally cut the quick when trimming your dog's nails its best to stay calm and apply a clotting agent like styptic powder or even ice to constrict blood vessels and numb your pup's pain. Positive reinforcement and treats may help your dog overcome any fear or anxiety caused by getting their nail trimmed.
Just like human nails, dogs do not have any feeling in the nail itself, but the quick contains a nerve that transmits sensations back to the brain. When trimming the nail, it is important to stay far enough from the quick to avoid causing pain or drawing blood.
Adult dogs may be fearful of the clippers and the sound they make, especially if they had a previous bad experience (having the nail trimmed too short or “quicked”). Desensitizing older dogs to nail trimming takes patience. The process cannot be rushed.
The nail will bleed and your dog will cry; it's just as painful as it is for us when one of our nails breaks into the quick.
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.
It can take two or three days before the removed nail heals enough for your dog to resume everyday life, but it will be two months at least before the nail is properly regrown. Protect the nail with booties to prevent the wound from opening again.
Most broken nails will heal by themselves over 1-2 weeks.
Skipping This Grooming Task Can Cause Your Dog Pain
Veterinarians warn that unhealthy nails can cause pain and, in rare instances, trigger irreversible damage to the dog. A dog's nail consists of the living pink quick and the hard outer material called the shell.
So, if it's possible and practical to trim your dog's nails weekly or at least every other week, you'll likely see better results, have a much less stressed dog, and experience less stress yourself in the process. The quick is the part of a dog's nail that contains blood vessels and nerves.
Survival instinct
The main reason dogs hate getting their nails clipped is because of the pain. It doesn't hurt them if they are clipped correctly but if your dog has been cut too close to their nerve in their nail, even once, he will remember it.
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.
Most dogs need to have their nails trimmed approximately once monthly. Dogs that are frequently walked on pavement or concrete may be able to go a bit longer between nail trims, because walking on a hard, rough surface can help file the nail.
Your dog's nail quick can be exposed due to a trimming issue or lack of nutrition. Nail quicks may also become overgrown, making nail trims stressful. If a dog nail quick is exposed, clean and wrap it to prevent infection. If the bleeding does not stop, visit your vet immediately.
Try to coordinate your dog's nail clipping with her bath time. Bathing your dog before trimming her nails softens the nails so that they are easier to clip and less likely to splinter. The massaging motion of cleaning your pet's fur can relax your dog so that she's more docile for a nail clipping.
You can usually walk your dog within an hour after cutting the quick. Provided it was only a small cut, and you stopped the bleeding, there is no reason not to walk your dog. The only matter you want to keep in mind is how deep the cut is and whether you take some precautions.
You can use a dog nail clipper. However, if your dog is in pain from the hanging nail, take her to the vet's office so she can be given pain medication and sedation prior to treatment. Next, stop the bleeding by applying gentle pressure.
Signs that your pet may have a nail or nailbed infection could include redness, swelling, or discharge from the skin surrounding the nail, or discoloration or deformation of the claw itself. Your dog may also lick her paw or exhibit signs of pain or lameness on the affected paw or paws.
Depending on how active your dog is, and the types of surface they walk on, you should aim to trim your dog's claws once or twice a month. Make sure you stick to this and get into a routine, e.g. first weekend of every month etc.
Benadryl: This mild antihistamine sedative helps calm your pet when it is nervous about clipping its nails. Melatonin supplements: Help regulate body rhythm and help calm down your dog. Natural sedation methods: Herbs like California poppy, chamomile, rosemary, or valerian are natural relaxants.