How many times have you accidentally cut your dog's quick?
- Thread starter saralynn1
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- advice dog advice
@oilandgas Her dew claws don’t actually seem to grow for some reason, and never touch the ground, even when she’s lying down on a hard surface. I don’t understand it, and I do check her feet out regularly, but I’ve never had to do anything with them at all.
christlvr25
New member
@saralynn1 Vet Tech here. Don't beat yourself up, it happens!
I've been doing this twenty plus years, and just last week nicked the quick on my mom's dog. They were overgrown, which didnt help, but they're usually fine
This is why I greatly prefer using a Dremel on dogs nails. They can be loud and a bit scary, but you can take your time and acclimate them. I use a $25 black and decker Dremel. Don't buy the ones advertised for pets nails. They're usually junk
Usually a Dremel can get them shorter and smoother, and you're not doing a blunt cut which reduces the chance of hitting the quick
I've been doing this twenty plus years, and just last week nicked the quick on my mom's dog. They were overgrown, which didnt help, but they're usually fine
This is why I greatly prefer using a Dremel on dogs nails. They can be loud and a bit scary, but you can take your time and acclimate them. I use a $25 black and decker Dremel. Don't buy the ones advertised for pets nails. They're usually junk
Usually a Dremel can get them shorter and smoother, and you're not doing a blunt cut which reduces the chance of hitting the quick
deanerenata32
New member
@saralynn1 I trim my dog’s nails regularly and sometimes cut a tiny bit too much and he bleeds (he’s got black nails). To stop the bleeding, I dip that nail in plain (all purpose) flour which clots it immediately and stops the bleeding. Don’t feel bad - it can easily happen - especially if they aren’t cooperative. I’m sure you love your doggie as much as I love mine, and would never intentionally hurt them - but accidents happen. It can be very tricky.
dattaswami8
New member
@saralynn1 Touch wood I’ve never cut my dogs quick but I’m always scared I will! (I also have a yellow lab with light coloured nails- I think I’d struggle with dark nails that small!)
I only ever trim my dog’s nails when she’s happily chilling lying down and isn’t bothered by me playing with her feet. Any time she gets fidgety I give up, even if I haven’t don’t anything, or got halfway through a foot.
I follow the measure twice, cut once rule and look at the back of the nails where you can see the “hollow” bit and where the quick starts. I find it’s a lot easier to trim about half the amount I think I need to and then take off tiny slivers of nail to get it to the right length. I try to take her for a walk on concrete or tarmac afterwards to file off the sharp edges a bit.
She’s good now she’s older, lazier and doesn’t care about the clippers anymore but as a puppy it could take me 2 weeks to get round all her nails by waiting until she was relaxed enough for me to try clipping one or two then stopping when she got fidgety.
If it helps to get both you and your dogs confidence back a bit, start regularly trimming her nails but only taking the tiniest sliver off the tip- I think there’s a skill to getting the clippers at the right angle so you’re taking off the amount you want.
Hope that helps! Sounds like you’re taking really good care of your dog!
I only ever trim my dog’s nails when she’s happily chilling lying down and isn’t bothered by me playing with her feet. Any time she gets fidgety I give up, even if I haven’t don’t anything, or got halfway through a foot.
I follow the measure twice, cut once rule and look at the back of the nails where you can see the “hollow” bit and where the quick starts. I find it’s a lot easier to trim about half the amount I think I need to and then take off tiny slivers of nail to get it to the right length. I try to take her for a walk on concrete or tarmac afterwards to file off the sharp edges a bit.
She’s good now she’s older, lazier and doesn’t care about the clippers anymore but as a puppy it could take me 2 weeks to get round all her nails by waiting until she was relaxed enough for me to try clipping one or two then stopping when she got fidgety.
If it helps to get both you and your dogs confidence back a bit, start regularly trimming her nails but only taking the tiniest sliver off the tip- I think there’s a skill to getting the clippers at the right angle so you’re taking off the amount you want.
Hope that helps! Sounds like you’re taking really good care of your dog!
@saralynn1 One time, my kitchen looked like a crime scene 
chloekelley
New member
@saralynn1 I did it once on one of my Dobermans. It was years ago and I still feel bad about it! Pleased to see I’m not alone! I might get over it now.
imagebeastmarkbeast
New member
@saralynn1 Just did yesterday. She jumped when I was cutting. I felt absolutely horrible.
@saralynn1 Groomer here. You rarely need to trim the back nails. Unless the dog is old/not moving around much usually the back nails get ground down. You can snip just the sharp tip, and don't do them every time you do the front.
@stanley_4 Yeah I’ve never had to do anything to my dog’s nails because we pound the pavements for hours every day and for some weird reason my dog prefers walking on paths to grass 
@stanley_4 Go figure! I’m forever trying to point out the lush grass and how much more space to run around there is but nope! Pavement or path every time!
I’m forever trying to point out the lush grass and how much more space to run around there is but nope! Pavement or path every time!