How To Stop a Dog's Nail From Bleeding
You did everything right as you prepped to trim your dog's nails. You looked for where your dog's nail starts to curl and narrow, you steadied her paw with your hand, and you cut at a slight angle. But your dog jerked her paw at the last second, and now her nail is bleeding. Don't worry, it happens to everyone. Styptic powder, which is available at most pet stores, can stop the bleeding and there are common household items that can help as well. Here's how to stop dog nail bleeding.
Why Do Dog Nails Bleed?
Just like human nails, dog nails are supported by living tissue that produces the hard nail material. This is why nails continue to grow throughout life, even after you trim them. Part of that living tissue is blood vessels and a nerve, and this duo is often referred to as the quick. Damage to the quick, whether from catching a nail in a fence and ripping it or from having the nail cut too short, can result in pain and bleeding for your dog. If you have ever ripped a fingernail or badly stubbed your big toe, you have an idea of what this feels like.
Generally, you can easily tell where to trim your dog's nails by looking for where the nail starts to curve and narrow. With white nails, you can even see the pink quick and easily avoid it. Some dogs, however, grow very thick nails that don't taper at the ends, making the quick harder to identify. And if dog nails aren't trimmed regularly, the quick will start to grow out, too, meaning the next time you trim your dog's nails, the quick might be easier to nick.
Stay Calm
If you do nick the quick and your dog's nail starts bleeding, don't panic—even if your dog yelps. Keeping calm will help your dog stay calm and allow you to deal with the bleeding nail much more quickly and effectively. Soothe your dog, if needed, and hold on to her paw so she doesn't take off and trail blood around the house.
Ideally, you should already have supplies on hand to help with a bleeding nail. If not, consider having equipment ready next time, including stypic powder.
Use Styptic Powder to Stop the Bleeding
Styptic powder is the best and quickest way to stop a dog's toenail from bleeding and is available at any pet supply store or online. Kwik-Stop is one of the best-known brand names, but there are others available, too. Another option is to purchase sticks with styptic powder on the end.
Cover the bleeding: Place a small amount of stypic powder on your finger and press the powder onto the bleeding. Alternatively, if the container allows it, you can pour some powder into the lid of the container and dunk your dog's nail into it.
Apply pressure: After covering the nail with powder, apply firm pressure to the nail for several seconds. If the bleeding fails to cease, repeat step one.
Make sure to hold your dog still during the application, as the styptic powder will sting slightly when first applied.
Styptic Powder Alternatives
No styptic powder on hand? Several common household materials can help in a pinch.
Bar Soap
Grab a plain bar of soap and soften it so it's slightly mushy. Press your dog's nail into the soap and hold in place for 3–5 minutes or until the bleeding stops.
Cornstarch
Cornstarch, whether on its own or mixed with baking soda, can also work. Place a bit of the cornstarch in your hand and dip your dog's nail into it. Apply pressure for several seconds—up to 2 minutes—then check if the bleeding has stopped.
Ice
Ice cubes can also help to slow bleeding, since the cold temperature causes the blood vessels to contract, resulting in less bleeding. Icing your dog's toe will also numb the pain. If your dog objects to the ice, wrap the cube in a paper towel or thin cloth to act as a bit of a barrier. This will also help to absorb any blood or melting water.
Reward Your Brave Pup
Once the bleeding has stopped, it's time to do damage control to make sure this experience doesn't taint future nail trims. Release your dog's paw, then pick it back up again and tell her how perfect she is. Do this a couple of times, gently massaging her toes and holding her paw for varying amounts of time with lots of praise. This is to remind her that when you handle her feet, it's a good thing.
If you aren't done trimming all of her nails, keep going. But make sure to ramp up your usual praise-and-reward schedule. For example, if you normally give her a treat after each paw is done, reward her for every other toe. If she is really upset, you can even reward her after each nail. Your goal is to overwrite the bad experience of having a nail clipped too short with the positive experience of an otherwise routine nail trim.
If you are stressed about continuing the nail trim, take a deep breath and persevere. You can do it! Even if you just take the slightest amount off the tip of each nail, you are still doing your part to help your dog remember that nail trims are okay. You can always come back and do a more thorough job another day when you are feeling more relaxed.
Take it Easy
After the nail trim is all over, limit your dog's activity for the next couple of hours. Too much activity can disturb the fragile blood clot and cause the bleeding to start back up. It's also possible to get an infection if bacteria invades the quick, so prevent her from going outside for a while, if at all possible. Keeping her paw clean and dry will expedite the healing of the quick.
Prepare for Next Time
Though accidents can happen, there are some ways to prep for the next trim that may help you avoid another painful nick of the quick:
Purchase some styptic powder and keep it close by when trimming nails. If nail trim day rolls around, and you forgot to pick some up, have one of the home remedies on hand.
Liberally reward your pup during nail trims to make them a positive experience for your dog.
Play with your dog's feet regularly, including handling individual toes, so your dog will be less twitchy in the future.
Make a schedule for trimming nails, and stick to it. To keep dog nails looking their best, trim them once a week or every other week.
If your dog's nails are overgrown and you can't identify the quick, err toward only clipping a little bit off every couple of days. This will help to gradually encourage the quick to recede, mitigating the risk of causing your dog to bleed.
Need a professional? Many dog groomers include nail trims in their regular menu of services and are nail trimming experts!
