Cornstarch. Plain cornstarch or cornstarch mixed with baking soda also work. Place a bit of the cornstarch in your hand and dip your dog's nail in it. Apply pressure for several seconds—up to 2 minutes—then check if the bleeding has stopped.
The easiest and most effective way to stop dog nail bleeding is with styptic powder or a styptic pencil, which can be purchased at most major pet stores and pharmacies. Be cautioned, however, that styptic powder will provide an initial sting, so be prepared to hold onto the dog firmly while applying.
If you apply styptic powder or a styptic pencil to your dog nail, bleeding from a cut quick should stop within two minutes. Corn starch or flour on a Q-tip should also do the trick in a pinch. You may need to see the vet if the blood does not stop within 15 to 20 minutes.
Unless your dog has a clotting disorder (and you would probably already know about this), the nail will stop bleeding on its own.
Use a clean cloth to apply gentle pressure to stop the bleeding. This is a good time to bring out the heavy artillery – your dog's favorite treats – to keep them still. If the bleeding doesn't stop after five minutes, apply styptic powder to the exposed quick. Keep your dog as calm as possible.
The quick in your dogs nail is the cuticle-like part in the center that's rich in nerves and blood vessels. Since it's filled with blood vessels it bleeds a lot if you cut into it, and your dog will likely let out a yelp.
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.
If you accidentally cut the quick when trimming your dog's nails its best to stay calm and apply a clotting agent like styptic powder or even ice to constrict blood vessels and numb your pup's pain. Positive reinforcement and treats may help your dog overcome any fear or anxiety caused by getting their nail trimmed.
Treatment of a broken or fractured nail
The most important thing to do straight away is to stop your dog from licking its foot or nail. Dogs and cats have bacteria in their mouth, which can cause an infection if they lick a broken nail.
Cornstarch or flour will help the blood stay clotted and stop the bleeding in most cases. If the bleeding restarts, you may try this technique again. If bleeding persists despite this approach, cauterization may be necessary at your veterinarian's.
Wait for the Bleeding to Stop
Ensure the bleeding stops and the wound is clean and protected before taking your dog for a walk. Walking on a bleeding nail can cause further pain and injury.
Applying a layer of Vaseline works too, as well as the waxy foot products such as Mushers Secret. If your dog snags a nail on the ice or snow outside and it is bleeding, you can apply a bit of styptic (clotting) powder if you have any, or in a pinch, a bit of cornstarch can help slow the bleeding.
You can stop the bleeding with common household items like soap and baking soda, but it's best to use a styptic pencil or powder.
If his foot is extremely dirty, you can try rinsing it and drying it, but again, dogs are usually experiencing too much pain to allow you to do this. Wrapping the foot can also help prevent a partially torn nail from getting snagged on something and causing more pain and bleeding.
Most broken nails will heal by themselves over 1-2 weeks.
At the center of every dog nail is a bundle of nerves and blood vessels called a quick. Cutting this quick, or even applying pressure to the area around it, can cause your dog immense pain. Some breeds, such as Shiba Inus, pugs, shepherds, labs, and bully breeds, seem to have exceptionally sensitive quicks.
Not only does cutting a dog's nails too short cause them pain, but leaving them to grow too long can be even more painful. For instance, long nails can cause a dog to lose traction in their paw, making it easier for them to slip and fall, causing additional pain than that from the nail alone.
Stop bleeding by putting pressure on the area with a tissue, gauze pad, or clean cloth. The bleeding should stop after a few minutes. If the blood soaks through the gauze or cloth, add more gauze or another cloth and apply more pressure.
Baking soda is a natural antiseptic and is great to apply for those pets that have a nail injury and where there is a lot of bleeding. The baking soda will act as an agent to slow down the bleeding to the point of stopping it and will be effective at keeping the wound clean.
While Vaseline is technically non-toxic for dogs, it does not mean it is 100% safe. If over-ingested (and they will lick) it can cause an upset stomach, which can lead to vomiting or diarrhoea. Vaseline forms a barrier over your dog's skin trapping in toxins, dirt and bacteria.
After a nail separates from the nail bed for whatever reason, it will not reattach. A new nail will have to grow back in its place. Nails grow back slowly. It takes about 6 months for a fingernail and up to 18 months for a toenail to grow back.
Long claws are more prone to chipping, tearing, splitting and breaking, which can be very painful and may require veterinary treatment. As well as being prone to damage, when a dog stands or walks on a long-clawed paw it puts pressure on the wrong parts of the foot, causing pain and discomfort.