The second way to cause quicks to recede is by trimming the nails every week. These weekly trims will “train” the quick to recede, but it's the consistency that matters! You'll likely use either scissor- or “guillotine”-type clippers. Scissor-type clippers are similar to the scissors you probably use every day.
Aim to cut at 45 and 90 degree angles. The 45 degree cut takes length off; the 90 degree cut helps the quicks recede. You can use clippers to take length off. I recommend a nail grinder or nail file for the vertical 90 degree cut to get as close to the quick as possible to encourage it to recede.
After trimming a small portion of an overgrown nail, generally, within seven days, the quick should have receded enough to allow you to trim off another little bit of nail again, according to The Everything Puppy Book: Choosing, Raising, and Training Our Littlest Best.
Most dogs need to have their nails trimmed approximately once monthly. Dogs that are frequently walked on pavement or concrete may be able to go a bit longer between nail trims, because walking on a hard, rough surface can help file the nail.
Why Does the Quick Overgrow? When you fail to trim your dog's nails on a regular basis, the quick grows with the nail. In some cases, when the nails are extra long, the quick may lengthen so much that it reaches the tip of the nail.
Taking your dog for regular walks, including on hard surfaces such as pavements, will help to shorten their claws, but may not be enough to keep them as short as they should be.
If you mistakenly cut into the quick – or vein and nerve that runs into every nail – a bloody mess could happen that damages carpets, furniture and, most importantly, your dog's much-needed trust in your home grooming capabilities.
A dog's nails should be clipped often enough that they remain short enough to not click on the ground when a dog walks. Long nails that touch the ground may cause discomfort for your dog, and potentially cause problems down the road.
Clipping down extra-long nails all at once can be traumatizing for you and your pup. The key is to gradually cut the nails back weekly until the quick also begins to recede. Once the nails are clipped to a comfortable level, you can start a regular trimming schedule.
If your pet is a senior, has arthritis or you are simply too busy to walk them often, nails can appear to grow fast because they are not worn down from walking or digging. Also in dogs with liver disease, the nails do grow faster than normal and could be an indicator of a health problem.
You can usually walk your dog within an hour after cutting the quick. Provided it was only a small cut, and you stopped the bleeding, there is no reason not to walk your dog.
What is this? 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.
Long walks can wear down your dog's nails naturally over time. In the wild, wolves and coyotes keep their nails short through digging and running after prey for hours.
Dogs could possibly cause some minor damage to hardwood floors, and in some cases, it will be more obvious than in others. For example, some people like the look of black hardwood floors, but they show scratches from dog nails more clearly than lighter floors.
Nails scratch a typical hardwood finish.
Over just a few months, your wood floor will begin to look dull and worn just because of all the scratches on the finish from dog nails. Unlike cats, dogs do not fully retract their nails, so they are always clicking on the floor when they walk.
more comfortable temperature for sleeping." Outdoor dogs in hotter climates scratched at the ground to clear away topsoil and grass that retained and radiated the sun's warmth. Removing the topsoil exposed cooler soil underneath. Scratching and turning allowed them to find a more comfortable temperature for sleeping.
The cutting blade should be closest to you, not the dog. Be sure not to cut too short, as the nail will bleed. Nails should be cut from underneath at a 45-degree angle.
Nail Trauma: If you've recently injured the area, the black spot under the nail may be a type of bruise referred to as a subungual hematoma. As a result of an injury, blood pools under the nail leading to discoloration. This type of hematoma is commonly caused by stubbing a toe or from sports trauma.
Ways to Identify the Quick
Using a small flashlight or your phone light, extend your pup's nails directly over the light. Hold the nail between your thumb and pointer finger where the nail curves. Look for a dark mass inside the nail. If your pet's nails are thin enough, you'll see the quick as a shadowed area.
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.
It doesn't hurt dogs to cut the whiskers as the hairs don't contain any pain receptors, cutting them off could create confusion or make your dog less spatially aware. It may affect their ability to judge when objects are nearby, which will make your dog a lot less confident.
When you fail to trim your dog's nails as frequently as needed, the quick grows along with the nail. In some cases, when the nails are extra-long, the quick may lengthen so much that it reaches the tip. When this happens, you won't be able to trim much nail without risking cutting through the quick.