What happens if I really cut into the quick?

[Princess10]

Princess had some of the fuzz of her tennis ball tangled on a nail. Of course she was going spastic so I had to cut the string then have tried looking closer at how it's caught. Well her nail is split at the side up & down wise, and it will most likely rip down if it gets caught again. It's a good ways up her nail but I've never trimmed them really so I don't know if it's too far up it or not. They haven't been trimmed in a couple of months I think, maybe less.

Can I just cut it off at the split and stop the bleeding (with what, I don't have quick stop)? Will it be excruciating for her? I don't want her to get it caught on her bed or something while I'm at work, god forbid. I have to drop my car off at the shop in the morning & wont have it again til Friday afternoon so I can't take her to get them clipped tomorrow (maybe someone can take me), but what if it gets caught tonight? She doesn't act like it hurts, she's just hated me examining her nails since she's first got them clipped.

[miabellaamoure]

corn starch...just dunk the paw in a little baggie of it and it'll work!

hmmm...could you take an emery board to it? File it down?

[mscat]

If you cut her nail too far it will hurt her badly and bleed. I have one that sands the nails down instead of cutting I like it because it cannot go down to the quick. You can use flour to stop the bleeding .But, If the nail is cut too far up she will cry in pain and it is awful.

[deonk1]

Can you get a picture of it? Maybe someone with more experience could tell you if you'll even hit the quick if you clip it..

A friend of mine told me that the more often you clip the nails the quick shortens.. I try to do Harley every week, but usually only do him every 2 weeks. I find then I know exactly where his quick is.

I can't really explain where you can clip it, but if I were you I'd take some nail clippers and trim a tiny piece off at a time if you're nervous... and then if you can't get any closer without being scared of hurting her use a nail file to smooth it out. Just take your time. Thats what I do with Harley when his nails get too long, personally I'd rather do one nail 3 times than risk hitting the quick.

You're right though she may get it caught if you don't do something with it.

If it bleeds I'm pretty sure I remember hearing that flour or some other powder would stop the bleeding but don't quote me on that one.. I'm not sure.

[Perrella]

Can you use a nail file on it. Each time I trim Zhoie's, I follow up with the grinder to file them, so they are smooth. You can use a regular nail file too.

[Princess10]

Ok. the light part on the side pic is the part that is/can pull away. The red on both pics is the fuzz, not blood.

I don't think there's a miracle out there to let her tolerate a file. I've been grooming her so much lately because of the fleas, etc. she's had it with me. lol.

[deonk1]

hmm... it's hard to say, her nails are quite a bit longer than what I'm used to dealing with... I'd just take your time really slowly then with the nail clippers. Maybe work a bit on it tonight, then a bit tomorrow.

Noticed you mentioned fleas... I just discovered some on Harley, which means he's likely a mess, any tips for that? I bathed him before applying Revolution on Tuesday. Wondering when I can give him a bath after the revolution to clean off any dead fleas etc. When can I allow him on my bed again (I hate bugs and couldn't stop itching for the first day after we discovered them)

[Princess10]

Originally Posted by deonk1

hmm... it's hard to say, her nails are quite a bit longer than what I'm used to dealing with... I'd just take your time really slowly then with the nail clippers. Maybe work a bit on it tonight, then a bit tomorrow.

Noticed you mentioned fleas... I just discovered some on Harley, which means he's likely a mess, any tips for that? I bathed him before applying Revolution on Tuesday. Wondering when I can give him a bath after the revolution to clean off any dead fleas etc. When can I allow him on my bed again (I hate bugs and couldn't stop itching for the first day after we discovered them)

Princess will start Advantix on Friday, I gave her a Dawn bath two days ago & she started itching again today but I opted out of giving it since you need a two day cushion on both sides for the meds to work through their hair oils. I'm also getting Capstar for her to take for the next couple of weeks & am continuing to wash & vacuum everything. They get every where, even on the pups. I pulled one out of her eye brow area after the last bath. And they've bit me a couple times. I hate these things with a passion.

[Britster]

Yeah, those nails look pretty long! I think the longer you let them grow, you can't clip them back as far... something about it being a gradual process... like you can't just cut really long nails and make them short real quickly, something like that but hopefully chimes in and explains further.

I would probably bring her into the vet if I were you, they usually charge like $5 or $10 for a nail trim. Jackson is terrible about getting his nails clipped- I can only do one nail at a time, it usually takes me like 5-10 mins per nail. lol. Because he's so squirmy with it... but I've slowly been getting better. Otherwise, I leave it to the professionals, as much as he HATES it!!!

[Princess10]

They are long, but aren't much longer than her last trim. I always think they looked so long because they're always covered up. Maybe they've hardly took anything off the last couple of trims because her quick is so long. I can't see, or at least she wont let me.

I'm going to take her to get them clipped unless she let's me in a bit. dd just got home so she's wired. And I think I'm going to phase out the tennis balls. She's been stringing them out if I don't pay attention to her asap out of frustration. I'd like a reason to try some of ADB's squeaky balls or some new Cuz balls anyways.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Princess10

They are long, but aren't much longer than her last trim. I always think they looked so long because they're always covered up. Maybe they've hardly took anything off the last couple of trims because her quick is so long. I can't see, or at least she wont let me.

I'm going to take her to get them clipped unless she let's me in a bit. dd just got home so she's wired. And I think I'm going to phase out the tennis balls. She's been stringing them out if I don't pay attention to her asap out of frustration. I'd like a reason to try some of ADB's squeaky balls or some new Cuz balls anyways.

This is Jackson's problem too... every time he gets them cut, it usually seems they grow back sooo fast, like within a week, they seem to need to be cut again. I've always been really bad about keeping up with them until recently!

[Princess10]

Well last night I was too paranoid that she'd catch it on something that I just risked cutting it off. I got a baggie of flour & held her treat in my mouth to keep her attention. Then snip! The end of the break was literally right below the quick, which I could see. The noise scared her but I just let her down.

I'm taking her Monday to get the rest done. This boutique I've been taking her to does them for $4 on Mondays, so I can't beat that. Plus they are very accommodating to her anxiety. I think I just better go much more frequently.

[gracielove]

A septic stick that that men use to stop bleeding will work on a dog's nails. You can buy them where ever shaving supplies are sold. I trim my dog's nails between groomings and always keep one on hand just in case.

[LunasMomma]

Glad it's worked out! Yes, having them trimmed more often is a good thing My girls' get done every two weeks and their nails grow so quickly!

[Patti]

Glad you were able to cut some off and will get the rest done at the boutique. I once accidently cut Cali's nail to the quick and she has never forgotten it. It has taken me 5 years to get her to the point I can cut 2 at a time.