How to stop dog nail bleeding is one of the most frequently asked questions in the canine hall of fame.
Nail cutting is undoubtedly the first step to dog grooming. Even though it seems all easy and effortless, it might hit you by surprise that nail trimming of dogs is one of the most dreaded and feared subject in dog grooming classes.
Let’s face it: some dogs don’t like their nails to be handled by humans. Similarly, many new dog owners feel uncomfortable while cutting dog nails as they fear they might cut the nails too short.
Usually, veterinarians and dog groomers would train you to cut your pooch’s nails. However, there are some tips and tricks to follow before you cut your dog’s nails.
Tips and Tricks To Trim Your Dog’s Nails
Trimming a dog’s nails can be a nuisance especially if you’re a new dog parent or new to dog grooming. Here are some tips to follow for a hassle-free, quick, and clean nail trim.
- Lay your dog down and provide it with some toys.
- Touch your dog’s paw playfully to manipulate while relaxing. Offer your pooch some treats and praise graciously.
- Use the guillotine type trimmers for your pooch because they are specifically designed for dogs and gives the best results. DO NOT use a knife, blade, or any other types of nail cutter for they would only hurt their paws and cause a disaster.
- Start cutting nails from the tip and keep your focus on the edge. When you spot the pink area, stop and file the nails to smooth the edges.
- Cutting dark nails is quite hectic because you cannot see the pink part. For cutting dark nails, use a flashlight or torch to estimate how much to clip.
- Cut your pooch’s nails once or twice a month depending on how fast the nail grows.
Why Do Dog’s Nail Bleed When You Cut Them
Nail trimming is an integral part of your dog’s grooming. But cutting the nails is not as easy as it seems. It takes patience and courage to do the job. Many new dog owners freak out when they spot blood oozing out of their pooch’s nails, which is normal. Even the pro groomers and veterinarians face dog nail bleeding while trimming nails.
But why do dog’s nail bleed when you cut them?
A dog’s nail should never bleed while trimming if you’re doing it right, but if they do, it means the person trimming their nails messed up and hurt the dog.
Before you start cutting your dog’s nail, you need to clear a few concepts about “dog nail quick.”
- The dog nail quick has blood vessels. Their main function is to supply blood to the dog’s nails or particularly, the claws.
- When nails are cut too short, the dog experiences some pain and bleeding.
- So in order to avoid dog nail bleeding, clip the nail tip-off without pressurizing or hitting the quick.
How To Stop Dog Nail Bleeding
No matter how much you pay attention to minutiae. Accidents and incidents are a part of life. If, by any chance, you cut your pooch’s nail too much that it starts to bleed, here are a few things you could follow to stop dog nail bleeding.
Using Styptic Powder To Stop Dog Nail Bleeding
Styptic powder is an antihemorrhagic agent that controls bleeding. It has Ferric Subsulfate and Potassium Aluminum Sulfate as active ingredients that helps in blood clotting.
Styptic powder is proven to stop bleeding in dogs and healing nail quicks within a day or two. However, the only drawback of using styptic powder is that it stings, so you need to keep your dog still while applying the powder.
How To Use Styptic Powder To Stop Dog Nail Bleeding
- Lay your dog down in a comfortable position and try to engage him in some fun stuff.
- To use the powder, grab a pinch of styptic powder in between your index finger and thumb and press it on the dog’s nail for about 20-30 seconds.
- If the bleeding doesn’t stop, take more powder, and repeat the procedure.
- Wash the affected area with warm water and Epsom salt to prevent bacterial nail infections.
- If the bleeding persists and the nail becomes swollen, you need to consult with your veterenian as it might be something serious than just cutting to the quick.
Homemade Tricks To Stop Dog Nail Bleeding
If the styptic powder is not available, you can try out these homemade tricks to stop dog nail bleeding.
Flour/ baking Soda / Corn Starch
Flour, baking soda, and corn starch helps in the coagulation of the blood and are effective options to stop bleeding.
- Cover the affected area with a clean towel or cotton cloth to stop the blood from spreading all over.
- In a bowl, add 2-3 tablespoons of corn starch/ flour/ baking soda.
- Remove the towel or cloth from your dog’s nail and dip the affected area in the bowl of corn starch.
- Hold it as it is for about 30 seconds, then remove.
Paper Towel
A Paper towel is another effective option to stop dog nail bleeding. Rather than squeezing the paw, take a paper towel, compress and apply pressure on the wound toward the paw to stop dog nail bleeding.
Ice Cube or Ice Bag
Applying ice cubes or bags to the wound might be time-consuming and tedious. But ice helps a lot in clotting the blood and stop the bleeding.
Over the paper towel, apply ice to the affected areas and apply mild pressure on the wound to stop dog nail bleeding.
Super Glue
Using super glue to stop dog bleeding sounds stupid, but it’s often used to close surgical wounds. The active ingredient in super glue is cyanoacrylate which is used to close surgical wounds. Therefore, it can be used on your canine to stop bleeding.
Just make sure your pooch doesn’t ingest any of the glue before it sets dry.
Nail Trimming Is The First Step To Dog Grooming
Although we agree nail trimming is a tiring process that takes away most of your energy and enthusiasm. But it’s imperative to a healthy dog lifestyle. Therefore, you should never neglect your dog nail trimming sessions. It is recommended to trim your dog’s nails every once or twice a month to ensure a healthy lifestyle.
To start with your dog’s nail trimming sessions, begin gently but firmly holding your dog’s paw. Always find the time which is suitable for your pooch and be patient while trimming your dog’s nails.
If the nail is cut too short, you can follow the tips and tricks mentioned in this article for added advantage. If the bleeding continues for 20-30 minutes, it means proper clotting is not taking place, and a veterinarian should be called.
