Why are broken nails such a problem?
The nails of dogs consist of a central collection of blood vessels and nerves that are called the quick. The quick is covered by a layer of hard material called keratin, which surrounds these sensitive structures to protect them. The quick is living tissue while the keratin is not. That is why trimming the tip of the nail is not painful for your pet but exposing the quick is uncomfortable. The quick is also attached to the bone, so any damage to the quick can lead to an infection in the bone, which is very serious.
There are normally 5 toes on each front foot and four on each rear foot, but sometimes an extra nail called a dew claw is located higher up on the foot. All nails except the dew claws are worn down when the dog walks on hard surfaces such as the sidewalk, but normal wear may not keep nails short enough, making it necessary to trim your dog’s nails. Dew claws do not bear weight so they need to be trimmed more frequently and are more susceptible to breaking.
First Step: Stay Calm After You Cut Your Dogs Nail Too Short
The first thing you need to remember after you cut your dogs nail too short is to remain calm. You’ll know you’ve cut too far immediately, your dog will likely pull away from you and let out a yelp. If you panic you’ll make your dogs fear worse, so try your best to remain calm. The bleeding is going to look much worse than it actually is. The calmer you remain the calmer you can keep your dog, and the easier it will be to treat the bleeding.
Most nail trimming accidents are minor and can be treated at home. If you have another person available enlist their help; another set of hands will make the process much easier.
How to Stop Your Dog’s Nail From Bleeding?
Every dog parent is concerned about cutting their dogs nails too far and reaching the dogs nail quick. It is the section of the nail with nerve endings and blood flow, and the nail could bleed if it gets clipped. Sometimes, even the most groomed pet professional mistakenly cut the nails too short. Here are a couple of suggestions if the nail bleeds right after the cutting session.
There is no need to panic or become agitated. Try to have a calm tone with your dog without realizing that something wrong is happening. Make your pup lie on the floor calmly to prevent blood from leaking everywhere.
The moment you see your dogs nail bleeding. Grab a nearby dry cloth. Place a slight pressure against the nail, hold it for 2 minutes. A blood clot will form after 2 to 3 minutes by applying direct pressure against the wound.
A styptic powder is an anti-hemorrhagic powder capable of quickly reducing bleeding. It is readily available at any pharmacy or pet store. Things you need to do:
If you dont have styptic powder handy, then natural remedies are a good option. Make a baking soda paste by adding water and applying it gently to the dogs wound using a cotton swab.
The blood can be stopped by having an icing session as it contracts the blood vessels and slows down the bleeding.
If after trying every possible measure the bleeding continues, take bandages and wrap the wound to facilitate clot formation, thus healing the dogs cracked nail. It prevents the pet from licking the injury and any further harm. It maintains a good blood flow, leading to the formation of blood clots sooner.
HOW TO Stop A Bleeding Toenail!
You did everything right as you prepped to trim your dogs nails. You looked for where your dogs nail starts to curl and narrow, you steadied her paw with your hand, and you cut at a slight angle. But your dog jerked her paw at the last second, and now her nail is bleeding. Dont worry, it happens to everyone. Heres how to stop that bleeding quick.
Like every other part of your dogs body, her toenails are supported by living tissue that produces the hard nail material. This is why her nails continue to grow throughout her life. Part of that living tissue is blood vessels and a nerve, and this duo is often referred to as the quick. Damage to the quick, whether from catching a nail in a fence and ripping it or from having the nail cut too short, results in pain and bleeding. If you have ever ripped a fingernail or badly stubbed your big toe, you have an idea what this feels like.
Generally, you can easily tell where to trim your dogs nails by looking for where the nail starts to curve and narrow. With white nails, you can even see the pink quick and easily avoid it. Some dogs, however, grow very thick nails that dont taper at the ends, making the quick harder to identify. Or, If nails arent trimmed regularly, the quick will start to grow out too, meaning the next time you trim your dogs nails the quick might be easier to hit accidentally.