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 QuickFinder Deluxe Safety Nail Clipper by Miracle Care is a state-of-the-art grooming tool suitable for professional or home use. The built-in QuickSensor technology detects the quick (blood and nerve supply) of your dog's nail and alerts you before you cut.
In most cases, after a dog's nails are trimmed the quick will start to recede after about 7 days. Depending on how long your dog's nails and quicks are, it might take a few months before you can get their nail to the desired length.
Use a soothing voice to keep her calm as you gently rub her paws. Then focus on the toes, giving each one a soft squeeze. Next apply gentle pressure to the nail itself. If your dog becomes scared or pulls back her paw, stop for a bit and continue only when she settles down.
It lies in the center of the nail and is easily observable in white dog nails (appears pink). However, it is significantly hard to find the quick on black nails because it appears black on black nails. Therefore, you can't see this blood vessel from outside the nail.
The center of the nail will look darker when you get close to the quick, so when the middle of the nail starts to look dark (versus white), you can stop trimming. This is called the pulp, and it looks like a black spot in the middle of your dog's nail.
Over-the-counter ointments, creams, and polishes are usually effective. Severe cases may require a prescription antifungal treatment. If a black toenail is caused by an injury, the resulting spot from broken blood vessels will disappear once your nail grows out.
Anatomy of a Nail
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.
Clipping and grinding are equally efficient and safe ways to trim your pup's nails. Clippers are cheaper and less noisy, while dremels are louder and more expensive but more precise and efficient.
Correct length for a dog's nails. If a dog's nails are too long, you will hear them clack when the dog walks on hard surfaces. Deciding if your dog's nails are too long is quite simple. The claws should not protrude over the pad and should not touch the ground when standing.
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.
If a dog nail quick is exposed, clean and wrap it to prevent infection. If the bleeding does not stop, visit your vet immediately.
To shorten, cut every week. Once the insensitive nail is thinned out and isn't supporting the quick, the quick will dry up and recede. This will allow you to cut your dog's nails even shorter.
Step three: Locate the quick
Before you take the clippers or grinder to an overgrown nail, look at the nail in the light to identify the quick. On dogs with light-colored nails, the quick will appear as a darker, pinkish section within the nail.
It can take several weeks for your toenail to completely fall off. Contact your doctor if the subungual hematoma covers more than a quarter of your toenail. If you feel throbbing or intense pain near the hematoma, your doctor can use a heated needle or wire to make a small hole in your toenail to relieve the pressure.
Doctors recommend draining subungual hematomas when they cause pain or make up 50% or more of the nail. If you've also fractured your finger, doctors recommend drainage if the hematoma makes up 25% or more of your nail.
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If left untreated, a simple subungual hematoma typically grows out along with the lengthening nail plate and resolves on its own. Until the nail grows out, however, you can expect weeks to months of blue-black discoloration.