My Dog Has a Broken Nail
Accidents do happen and are common when trimming dogs’ nails. On occasions where you may accidentally trim your dog’s nail too short, bleeding may occur, but there is no need to panic. Many accidents due to trimming nails are mostly nothing serious and can be treated at home.
To stop the bleeding due to nail-trimming accidents, using styptic powder helps control the bleeding since it has anti-hemorrhage agents that contract the small blood vessels in the affected area. It helps clot the blood to prevent harmful bacteria from getting into the bloodstream.
If you follow the instructions on how to use the powder, it should stop the bleeding in around 20 minutes. However, if the bleeding continues after that, contact your vet for advice.
Why Does My Dog’s Nail Bleed When I Cut It?
Inside each nail on a dog, there is a vein called “the quick.” If you cut this vein, the nail will bleed. This is why its important to learn how to safely cut your dogs nails. Using the correct technique will make the experience easier for both you and your dog. Lets start out with the basics.
On white nails: It is quite easy to spot the quick on white nails because it shows up as a red dot against a cross-section of the nail and as a skinny, pink line through the core of the nail. As you cut a white nail, bit by bit, the quick will begin to appear as a tiny red dot. That is the beginning of the vein, and the cutting should stop before you cut too deeply.
On black nails: Seeing the quick on black nails can be hard. When cutting them, the interior cross-section of the nail will be whitish or grey and oval-shaped. It is here that the beginning of the quick will look like a tiny black dot. Cut small layers off to get an idea of how far back the quick is. If you cannot see the quick, sometimes it is better to do five small cuts for each nail instead of taking the chance and cutting off one large chunk.
Can a Dog Bleed to Death From a Broken or Cut Nail?
A healthy dog will not bleed to death when the vein in the nail is cut or broken. It can be quite intense when the blood does start to flow, but a healthy animals body will be able to stop the flow in due time.
HOW TO Stop A Bleeding Toenail!
The quick within a dog’s nail is a “vascular structure,” meaning it has nerves and lots of blood vessels within it. So when it sustains an injury, it is painful for the dog—and there tends to be a lot of bleeding.
Cutting your dog’s nail too much and seeing it bleed can be a traumatizing event. Here’s how to make a dog’s nail stop bleeding and how to avoid cutting it too far in the future.
The second type of injury is more serious and usually requires some veterinary intervention to prevent an infection. Both types of injuries can be triaged at home, but you should always talk with your veterinarian if possible before treating your pet to make sure they don’t need any additional care.