How to Cut Dog Nails Without Bleeding

Medium
5 - 20 Minutes
1 Month

Introduction

Susan has a solid black dog with solid black claws, which make it hard to see the quick of the nail when she clips her dog's nails. The quick is a bundle of nerves and blood vessels contained in the dog's claw. While the tip is like a toenail and is dead material that doesn't hurt when it is cut,  the closer you get to your dog's toe, the more likely you are to run into the nerve and blood supply contained in the nail. 

If you have a dog with white nails, you can easily see the quick, which appears as a pinkish or reddish line in the white nail. It is easier to make sure you avoid this when clipping your dog's nails. If your dog has solid black nails, or a mixture of both, then determining how far back to trim your dog's nails can be more of a challenge. You may want to err on the side of caution, to avoid cutting into the quick of your dog's nails, which will cause intense pain and bleeding. However, you do need to trim your dog's nails effectively. Domestic dogs' nails do not wear down the way they do in the wild, where feral canines dig dens, look for prey, and travel many miles daily over rough terrain, which wears claws down. Our domestic dogs rarely have the opportunity to engage in the activities that are required to naturally wear down nails and require their owners to regularly clip them, usually every 2-4 weeks.

Dog's Perspective

When you cut your dog's nails you need to firmly hold your dog's paw, even putting pressure on his paw and toes to spread the toes and access the nails. This is uncomfortable for your dog and feels funny, so he may not be especially cooperative. And this is before you actually start clipping nails or worse, before you accidentally cut the quick! 

When you cut your dog's nails it will not hurt, providing you do not hit the quick, however, the pressure can feel rather uncomfortable. Most dogs do not like being restrained by their foot and may resist. To make matters worse, if your dog has accidentally had the quick of their nail cut before, he has experienced bleeding and intense pain. This negative experience can make some dogs very resistant to having their nails trimmed. You may need an assistant to help hold and distract your dog while you trim his nails and work calmly and carefully to create a positive experience. Treats never hurt! The right tools and techniques will avoid having your dog’s nails bleed when trimming and avoid the associated pain.

The Tools and Techniques Method

Effective
0 Votes
Nail Clipper
Step
1
Be prepeared
Have sharp nail clippers that are the right size for your dog, a cloth to apply pressure if needed, as well as a styptic or cornstarch to stop bleeding readily available before you get started. Work in a well lighted area. Use reading glasses if available for a magnified view. Inexpensive reading glasses are available at drug stores.
Step
2
Use good tools
Do not use human nail clippers, use either guillotine clippers or scissor/plier type clippers for dogs. Use good quality, sharp nail clippers that are in good condition, and sharpen or replace cutting blades periodically to ensure the edge is sharp and free of any damage. Dull blades crush nails, which is uncomfortable and may cause your dog to move.
Step
3
Secure dog
If your dog is cooperative, position him in a comfortable spot where you can easily see nails and access them. If your dog is liable to move, have an assistant hold him by putting their arm under and around the neck, and comforting him while you pick up his feet to clip nails. You want to avoid having your dog move while clipping nails. Provide a non-slip mat to make your dog feel secure and avoid movement.
Step
4
Prepare foot
Gently apply pressure to each paw to separate toes. Look for the pinkish quick on white nails, so you have an idea what area to avoid. Trim hair away with scissors if it hampers your vision or interferes with your tool. Hair dulls cutting blades.
Step
5
Cut carefully look for the quick
If you can see the quick on white nails, leave some space between where you cut and where the quick begins so as not to cause pain or bleeding. If your dog has dark nails, cut off a little at a time, and examine the cut end. When you start to see a white spot in the center of the cut nail it indicates where the quick is starting.Do not cut further.

The File Instead Method

Effective
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Dremel
Nail File
Step
1
Use a Dremel
Get a Dremel-type nail grinder or use an emery board. Many grinders come with a guide to prevent you from trimming nails too short. Follow the product instructions carefully for the size of your dog's nails.
Step
2
Acclimatize to tool
Get your dog used to the sound of the Dremel. Associate it with treats, and work slowly until your dog is not frightened of the noise, or the sensation, so your dog holds still when working with the Dremel.
Step
3
Prepare
Work in a well lighted area and use reading glasses for a magnified view if necessary. Push hair away from nail and tool so it does not get caught.
Step
4
Apply Dremel
Apply the dremel gently to your dog's nail, with no pressure, for a few seconds at a time. Then pull the tool away, as the friction can cause heat which becomes uncomfortable. Move to different nails so as not to work on any one nail and cause too much friction at one time.
Step
5
Stop before reaching the quick
If your dog has white claws you will see where the quick is and know to stop prior to reaching the quick. If your dog has dark nails, you can check filed nails periodically. Stop when you see a white spot in the center of the nail, or when nail material starts getting soft, to avoid the quick.

Caution & Considerations

  • Use only nail trimmers and grinders designed for use with dogs.
  • If you accidentally nick the quick of your dog's nail, apply pressure with a clean dry cloth to stop bleeding and relieve pain.
  • Apply a styptic stick or powder, cornstarch or flour to stop bleeding.
  • You may need to bandage or put a sock on the paw to prevent your dog from licking his paw and causing bleeding to start again.
  • Don't forget to trim dew claws if present. These claws are located part way up your dog's legs and tend to grow in a circle.  If not trimmed they can dig into your dog's leg or catch on furniture of underbrush and rip.

Conclusion

Trimming your dog's nails is a necessary evil; most domestic dogs do not wear them off naturally and long broken nails can get snagged in carpet, furniture, or terrain outside. 

If you nick your dog's nail quick while trimming his nails, he will be sure to let you know--it hurts! A lot! Your dog will likely yelp and pull back his limb, and then the blood will start to flow. Although your dog is not in any mortal danger, it will seem like an awful lot of blood, and if your dog escapes from you there will be bloody footprints all over your house. It can also be difficult to stop the bleeding from a nail and if your dog licks at the sore foot he can start it bleeding again, even after you have it stopped.  

It is best to avoid bleeding nails in the first place. Be careful when cutting nails not to cut too short, locate the quick on lighter colored nails as a guide, or check nails as you slowly cut or file away small amounts, looking for a white spot indicating the beginning of the quick. Use sharp, high-quality tools designed specifically for dogs. Teach your dog to stay still, or have an assistant help restrain your dog so he does not move while nails are being clipped. Make sure you have a good view where you're working to avoid causing your furry friend to bleed.

Success Stories and Grooming Questions

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