What do you put on a dog’s toenail to stop bleeding? A Comprehensive Guide

Natural Remedies: Baking Soda and Cornstarch

Some pet parents prefer to go with a holistic remedy and use either baking soda or cornstarch. The easiest way to use these is to make a paste by adding some water and using an applicator like a cotton swab. After you’ve calmed your dog down and they are lying still, gently apply pressure to the bleeding nail and hold for a few minutes.

Styptic pencils work similarly as the styptic powders. However, they are sometimes avoided at pet groomers or veterinary offices because they contain silver nitrate which will sting on contact. Other than this, the pencils are very effective at stopping the bleeding.

Wet the end of the pencil with clean water. Then press the nail against the edge of the pencil. Hold the pencil firm-in-place for a few minutes. Styptic pencils can also work to stop bleeding on light cuts on the skin.

If you do not have any of the above on-hand and still need to deal with an accidental toenail bleeding you can use a bar of soap. Moisten the bar of soap and work or gently drag the nail across the bar. The best kind of soap to use is a fragrance-free antibacterial soap.

Using Styptic Powder to Stop the Bleeding

Styptic powder is the best and quickest way to stop toenail bleeding from a dogs toenail. Its available at any pet supply store or online. Kwik-Stop is one of the best-known brand names, but there are others available too.

To use the powder, either get some on your finger and press onto the bleeding nail or pour some into the lid of the container and dunk your dogs nail into it.

Apply pressure for several seconds. If the nail is bleeding badly, you may need to add more styptic powder.

When the nail no longer bleeds when you remove pressure, you can relax.

Another option is to get sticks with styptic powder on the end, or silver nitrate sticks. All of these sting a little bit to one degree or another (including the powder), so your dog may flinch when you first contact the sensitive nerve. This discomfort will pass quickly.

No styptic powder on hand? There are several common household materials that can help in a pinch. Here are a few and how to use them:

Bar soap: Grab a plain bar of soap and soften it so its slightly mushy. Press your dogs nail into the soap and hold in place for 3–5 minutes or until the bleeding stops.

Cornstarch: Plain cornstarch or cornstarch mixed with baking soda also work. Place a bit of the cornstarch in your hand and dip your dogs nail in it. Apply pressure for several seconds—up to 2 minutes—then check if the bleeding has stopped.

Ice: Ice cubes can also help to slow bleeding, since the cold temperature causes the blood vessels to contract, resulting in less bleeding. Icing your dogs toe will also numb the pain. If your dog objects to the ice, wrap the cube in a paper towel or thin cloth to act as a bit of a barrier. This will also help to absorb any blood or melting water.

Once the bleeding has stopped, its time to do damage control to make sure this experience doesnt taint future nail trims. Release your dogs paw, then pick it back up again and tell her how perfect she is. Do this a couple times, gently massaging her toes and holding her paw for varying amounts of time with lots of praise. This is to remind her that when you handle her feet its a good thing.

If you arent done trimming all of her nails, keep going, but ramp up your usual praise-and-reward schedule. For example, if you normally give her a treat after each paw is done, reward her for every other toe or so. If she is really upset, you can even reward after each nail. Your goal is to overwrite the bad experience of having a nail clipped too short with the positive experience of a routine nail trim.

If you are stressed about continuing the nail trim, take a deep breath but persevere. You can do it! Even if you just take the slightest amount off the tip of each nail, you are still doing your part to help your dog remember that nail trims are okay. You can always come back and do a more thorough job another day when you are feeling more relaxed.

Limit your dogs activity for the next couple hours. Running around can disturb the fragile blood clot and cause the bleeding to start back up. Its also possible to get an infection if bacteria invades the quick, so prevent her from going outside during this time if at all possible. Keeping her paw clean and dry will set you up for success.

How to stop your dog’s nail bleeding with styptic powder:

Apply the styptic powder with a moistened cotton ball to the nail using moderate pressure for at least 10 seconds. Repeat if necessary. If the bleeding doesn’t stop in 20 minutes or so, call your vet for assistance.

It’s fascinating to me that Mother Earth has supplied us with so many natural remedies. A wildflower commonly called the Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) has many medicinal benefits, including a natural way to stop bleeding. Plus, it’s safe for dogs and humans!

HOW TO Stop A Bleeding Toenail!

Can I tell you a secret? I hate cutting my dog’s nails. The fear of hitting the quick of their nail is constant. I’ve cut them too short more than once.

So what is the best way to stop your dog’s nail from bleeding? Your first and best option is to use Miracle Care Kwik-Stop Styptic Powder. Your second best option is to use all-natural Yarrow styptic powder.