If you accidentally cut into the quick, immediately compress the wound for at least two minutes with a clean cloth or paper towel. If the bleeding is minor, try rubbing a bar of clean, scent-free soap over it.
Thankfully, a dog's toenail will usually stop bleeding after several minutes. But that doesn't mean you don't need to act. Apply a warm soapy solution to the wound with a clean cloth. Doing so will not only clear up any blood, but will prevent bacteria from getting into the wound, minimizing the risk of infection.
Gently dip your dog's nail into the flour, baking soda or cornstarch. If the bleeding doesn't stop dip their nail once again (don't wipe off your dog's nail before dipping again) Gently compress your dog's nail with a cloth or towel for a few minutes until the bleeding stops.
Unless your dog has a clotting disorder (and you would probably already know about this), the nail will stop bleeding on its own.
Important disclaimer: If your dog's nail does not stop bleeding in 10 minutes OR if your dog has completely or partially torn off a toenail (resulting from an injury), please seek veterinary care.
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.
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.
Recovery Tips: How to Help Your Dog Heal
Generally, dogs start feeling better within 48 hours. Total recovery takes some time, as the nail needs to re-grow so as to completely cover the vulnerable quick. Generally, this takes two weeks, according to Dr.
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.
If the quick's exposure is minor, apply a dog-approved antibiotic to the nail to prevent infection. Gently wrap your dog's paw with a gauze bandage. If your pup chews or tugs at the bandage, cover it with a pet sock. Try to keep your dog calm for the next couple of days.
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.
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.
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.
Bacterial infection of the claw can occur when your dog has a small cut or scrape near their claw and then they walk on ground that is contaminated with bacteria. They can also get a bacterial infection from chewing at their nails and having the bacteria transfer from their mouth to their claw bed.
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.
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.
Additionally, it is extremely painful for most dogs. If it is not possible to have your dog seen immediately, try to clean the area, place a bandage or light wrap over the area to keep it clean and dry, put an e-collar on them to make sure your dog can't lick it, and schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
Adult dogs may be fearful of the clippers and the sound they make, especially if they had a previous bad experience (having the nail trimmed too short or “quicked”). Desensitizing older dogs to nail trimming takes patience. The process cannot be rushed.
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.
If the wound is elsewhere on your dog's body you can place your dog in a sink, bath, or shower and gently run clean water over the wound. You may want to add a small amount of mild baby shampoo, dish soap, or hand soap to the water.
As a dog owner, if you don't feel comfortable trimming your dog's nails and want to get those quicks to recede fast, you can ask your vet for help. Some vets are willing to sedate or anesthetize your dog for the purpose of trimming those nails way back.
Treatment. For more serious nail injuries, you should go to an urgent care center or the emergency room. They will stop the bleeding and clean the wound. Usually, the nail and finger or toe will be numbed with medicine before it is treated.
You also may be able to see the exposed quick. The quick is a fleshy protrusion from the end of the toe, and it may vary from pink to black in color. If you accidentally touch the quick of the toenail, your dog will likely react with pain. (Be careful – the pain may be severe enough to cause your dog to bite!)
QuikStrike Fly Bait is safe to use around children and pets when applied according to the product label instructions.