First, gently hold your dog's paw in your hand. While looking down at your dog's semi-transparent nails, locate the pink region in the center of each nail. This pink area showing through the outside of the nail is the quick. It's that simple!
The quick is nerve and it will be painful if it's cut. That's why a dog will pull their paw away if their quick is cut and some will also whine or cry. The amount of pain is based on how much of the quick was cut. The more quick that's cut, the more nerves are damaged.
As you get closer to the quick, the center of the nail will appear black, and may eventually look pink right before the quick. The trick is to trim a very short bit of nail at a time and stop as soon as the cut surface shows a black center. If you get to the pink, definitely stop!
Dogs need their nails clipped on a regular basis, approximately every 3-4 weeks; however, it is common for owners to wait too long in between trimmings which can lead to a number of health issues for the animal. For cats, a routine claw trimming every 10-14 days will keep your pet healthy.
If you accidentally cut into the quick, immediately compress the wound for at least two minutes with a clean cloth or paper towel. If the bleeding is minor, try rubbing a bar of clean, scent-free soap over it.
If your dog's quick is cut, keep the walk after light and easy. It's unwise to take a dog with an exposed quick on a 5-mile run, as their nails will scrape against the asphalt and damage the nail bed further. A walk around the block is fine.
After trimming a small portion of an overgrown nail, generally, within seven days, the quick should have receded enough to allow you to trim off another little bit of nail again, according to The Everything Puppy Book: Choosing, Raising, and Training Our Littlest Best.
IDENTIFYING THE QUICK IN DARK NAILS
Your best bet is to use a focused light source, like a flashlight or torch to shine on the dog's nails. It's possible to use your phone's torch function for this purpose if it's powerful enough.
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.
Usually, you can't see the quick very easily in dogs with dark colored nails. However, if you look at the underside of the nail, you may be able to see a softer, more “crumbly” part of the nail that looks different from the outer shell. That is the quick you are seeing.
Not only does cutting a dog's nails too short cause them pain, but leaving them to grow too long can be even more painful. For instance, long nails can cause a dog to lose traction in their paw, making it easier for them to slip and fall, causing additional pain than that from the nail alone.
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.
Stop or Block the Dog's Approach
Step forward and put your hand out in a stop motion. Use your body to block space and access of the approaching dog. Continue to stay between them and your dog as you make your way out of the area.
Walk in Front of Your Dog
Walking in front of your dog allows you to be seen as the pack leader. Conversely, if your dog controls you on the walk, he's the pack leader. You should be the first one out the door and the first one in. Your dog should be beside or behind you during the walk.
Keeping your dog's nails trimmed consistently is very important, because a lack of regular nail trimming can cause an overgrown quick. Without regular nail care, the quick will advance inside the nail and may even advance enough to match the end of the nail's outer shell!
Your veterinarian may apply antibiotic ointment or powder to the exposed nail bed and bandage the foot to prevent contamination and to minimize further bleeding. An oral or injectable antibiotic may be advised as well. Since the nail bed or quick is attached to bone, prevention of infection is crucial.
That is, the open blood vessels will clot and close quite quickly. However, the nail that is no longer covering the exposed quick can take up to 10 days to regrow and protect the nerves and capillaries that nourish it. A nail that is completely ripped off will take a minimum of two months to regrow.
Nails that are too long can cause a dog to slip and fall more easily. Long nails cause a dog to place their feet differently, in a “plantigrade” position. In other words the nails “push” the dogs toes up and the “heel” comes down to balance, placing strain on the muscles and ligaments in the legs.
Check the underside of the nail to find the quick; it's above the nail tip's triangular, hollow groove. Trim safely by making small, 45° cuts with dog nail clippers until you reach the dark circle (or pulp) in the middle of the nail. Use a nail file or rotary grinder to trim nails without nicking the quick.
The cutting blade should be closest to you, not the dog. Be sure not to cut too short, as the nail will bleed. Nails should be cut from underneath at a 45-degree angle.
It is therefore important to keep your dog's claws well trimmed at the correct length. If they get too long it can put pain and pressure on the toes and paws, which will ultimately put strain on the legs. Long claws are also prone to splitting and infection.