What Is Inside the Dog's Toenails?

The quick is visible in a transclucent nail.

If your dog has translucent nails, you can see a pinkish flesh growing inside of them called the quick. If you trim your dog's nails and notice that they start bleeding, you have cut into the quick.

The Quick

The quick contains blood vessels and nerves, similar to humans' nail beds.

Cutting the Quick

Cutting into the quick can be painful for your dog. Always trim your dog's nails at least 1 mm away from the quick.

Growth

The quick grows along with the dog's nails. If you allow the nails to grow for too long without clipping, the quick will grow closer to the tip of the nail.

Safeguards

In dogs with dark nails, it can be difficult to see the quick. One way to avoid cutting the quick is to trim the nail below the point at which it begins to curve downward.

Bleeding Aid

If you do accidentally trim the quick, you can stop the bleeding by dipping the nail into styptic powder or cornstarch. Most pet stores sell styptic powder.

References

• Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine: Clipping a Dog's Claws
• VetInfo: Dog Nail Clipping the Safe Way