How to Stop the Bleeding if You Trim Your Dog's Toenails Too Short

The nail of a dog is composed of a hard toenail on the outer surface of the claw itself and a spongy material part to the interior of the toenail. The material on the interior is usually pink in color and is called the quick. The quick supports the blood vessels and nerves of each entire part of each claw. If you trim your dog's nail too close to the quick, the nail will bleed. Your dog can feel this pain, very similar to the way we feel pain when we cut our own fingernails too close to the nail bed.

If you do get a toenail too short, and the nail starts to bleed, don't panic. There are several ways to stop the bleeding.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A good pair of toenail clippers
• Styptic pencil

1. Buy a box of styptic pencils to keep on hand. Using a styptic pencil is the fastest & easiest way to stop a dog's toenail from bleeding. If you don't have a styptic pencil try one of the following home remedies.

2. One of the most common at home remedies is to make a paste out of flour and water. Use about 1tsp of flour and enough water to make a paste and stir until it becomes thick like putty. Next, get a Q-tip, dip it in the paste and dab on the nail. Wait a few seconds to see if the bleeding has stopped. If not then try repeating the steps. If the nail continues to bleed after several attempts, switch to a different procedure.

3. Using baking soda or cornstarch instead of the paste can be an effective technique. Dip the toenail that is bleeding into a dab of cornstarch or baking soda. Do not wipe the excess blood off the toenail before you dab it into the cornstarch or baking soda. The toenail will have a bloody glob of baking soda or cornstarch, but just leave the glob there. It's tempting to brush or dab the mess off but just leave it there. Attempting to remove the glob could keep the blood from forming a good solid clot and might cause more bleeding. Patiently hold the dog in your lap for a few minutes to see if the bleeding has stopped; if the toenail is still bleeding, repeat the process. If this doesn't work, try another method.

4. Another alternative is bar soap. Get a small sliver of a gentle bar soap, such as ivory, and place some on the tip of the nail. I don't like this method because sometimes the soap can sting your pet, but it's worth a try if nothing else seems to be working.

5. My favorite "tried and true" at home remedy for when I don't have a styptic pencil is a washcloth and warm water. Simply rinse the entire paw off under warm running water and then take a couple of paper towels and dry off the paw a bit. Then get a soft washcloth and dip it in warm water. Then take the washcloth and wrap the warm cloth around the entire paw that has the bleeding toenail(s). Sit down and hold the dog in your lap while keeping gentle pressure on the paw and toenail for at least 20 minutes. This will more than likely stop the bleeding.

Tips & Warnings

• Having the right pair of toenails clippers for your dog is essential to a successful outcome.
• Place the nail clippers right at the point where the nails start to curve. You do not want to go past the pink part (the quick).
• It may take more than one method to stop the bleeding, but try not to panic. The bleeding will eventually stop.
• On some dogs with white nails, it's easy to see where the quick starts, but it's more difficult on dogs with darker nails. If you're having problems locating the quick, It's a good idea to take your dog to the vet or an experienced groomer for their first nail trimming. Ask plenty of questions until you are confident enough to try it at home.

[kristara]

on 11/20/2009 Great dog care tips 5*

[static404]

on 10/24/2009 I cut my dog's toenails too short one time, and it scared me when I couldn't get the bleeding to stop. I wish I'd had your article then. Thanks for the great read.

[wesellforu]

on 9/25/2009 I use the last option first, however your other options are great also to help stop the bleeding. 5* and Recommend!

[thelankylefty]

on 9/23/2009 Great advice and very nice writing! I do this all the time to my hyper dog...he won't sit still. I will certainly give this a try...if I can catch him!!! 5* and a recommend.

[janicebutler]

on 9/18/2009 Great advice. I have a chihuahua named, ItaBita, Ita for short. She is a tiny 3.5 pound sweetie that was rescued from TWO families that did not "understand" her. How much understanding could this tiny cutie require? Go figure. She is definitely well-loved now...
Thanks for your expertise!