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Stop Your Dog’s Nails Bleeding When Trimming His Nails
Cringe – you are trimming your dogs nail and suddenly you see red and you need a way to stop dog’s nails bleeding quickly. Owning a dog isn’t fun 100% of the time – there’s always some part of dog ownership that can be exhausting, tiring, and difficult for you to even think about.
For some pet parents, this means bath days, while others find it difficult to coax their dogs to take their prescribed medication. However, most owners will agree that one of the most challenging situations you can find yourself in is getting ready to cut their nails.
Nail cutting for dogs can be complex, as you have to make sure that your pet doesn’t move too much and that you don’t accidentally cut into the veins and nerves. That said, no matter how careful you are, there’s always the risk of your dog trying to bolt or you cutting the nails too short – and the bleeding that comes after.
If your pet’s paw is bleeding, the most important thing to remember is not to panic. Being panicked will only make your dog afraid as well. Most of us have cut into our dogs’ flesh at some point or the other, so you’re not a bad pet owner just because your dog is bleeding.
Once you’re confident that you’re calm, check on your pet immediately. If there is a lot of bleeding, or your pet is in distress, contact a vet as quickly as possible. However, if the injury is minor, you don’t have much to worry about – except for ensuring it doesn’t happen again.
Stop Bleeding Dog’s Nails Fast
Before you start cutting your pet’s nails, make sure you have emergency supplies available that you can access easily. This will allow you to treat the bleeding as soon as possible, helping your pet feel better and reducing the risk of nail infections (and a blood-stained floor or carpet!).
Methods you can use to stop the bleeding include:
Styptic Powder
Styptic powder is the quickest way to stop your pet’s nails from bleeding. You can find some easily in your local pet store or through an online website, and it’s always good to have some in your pet’s emergency first aid kit.
These powders essential work as anti-hemorrhagic agents and help your pet’s blood vessels contract. They also help clot the blood from the wound and prevent bacteria from entering the bloodstream through the wound site.
How to Apply the Powder
To apply the powder, apply some to your finger and press onto the spot that’s bleeding. Or pour a little powder into a small bowl and dip your pet’s paw into it. Next apply pressure to the paw for a few seconds. And if required add more powder (especially if there is a lot of bleeding or the bleed area is large).
Check for bleeding after few seconds of continuous pressure. If there is still bleeding, you should continue to apply pressure on the area. When there is no longer any bleeding after you remove the pressure, you can remove your dog’s paw from the powder.
It’s essential to keep in mind that styptic powder will sting your pup at the initial application. So you will have to be prepared your dogs paws in place firmly. While powder is the most common form of this remedy, you can also find styptic pencils, sticks with powder on one end, and silver nitrate sticks, all of which will also work well.
If you choose to use a pencil or a stick, keep in mind that the application is slightly different. You should first dip the end with the styptic on it in clean water and moisten the tip of the pencil.
Then, gently rotate it across the cut. The combination of silver nitrate and styptic will result in quick blood coagulation, sealing the bleeding vessels, and stopping blood flow.
Quick Stop Powder to Stop a Dogs Bleeding Nails
If you’re looking to buy styptic powder for your pet, we recommend Miracle Care Kwik Stop Styptic Powder.
This is one of the best-known names in the pet-care industry. As it is made using pharmaceutical-grade ingredients.
So you can be confident your pet is getting the best care possible. The brand also offers styptic gels, styptic pads, and styptic nail caps too.
So you can choose which option works best for your needs and your pet’s temperament.
Home Remedies to Stop Dog’s Nails Bleeding Quickly
If you’ve run out of styptic, you can also make use of several common household staples to stop your pet’s nail from bleeding. These include:
Bar Soap
Use a bar of plain bar soap, dampening it first until it’s mushy. Then, push the affected nail into the soap, and apply pressure. Leave the nail in the soap for three to five minutes before pulling it out.
Cornstarch, Flour, and Baking Soda
If you have any of these kitchen staples at home, you can use them to stop your dog’s nails from bleeding. To apply, pour a measure of cornstarch, flour, or baking soda in your palm or in a container, and dip your pet’s paw into it, making sure the affected nail is completely covered.
Leave for a few minutes before removing and checking the bleed. If it hasn’t stopped bleeding, put the paw into the container once more. Make sure you don’t wipe the paw clean between the two dips. While the nail is dipped, hold a cloth or a towel to it to apply pressure.
If your pet struggles with having their paw dipped in the powder, you can also use a cotton swab to apply to the affected area. The bleeding should stop soon – if it doesn’t, apply a second coating on the nail, making sure not to wipe the area clean between applications. Additionally, make sure you apply pressure to the area with a paper towel or cloth.
Ice to Help Stop Your Dogs Nails from Bleeding
Cold can cause the blood vessels in your pet’s paw to contract, which helps staunch a bleed. Additionally, it can help numb the pain your pet is feeling.
You can try applying ice directly to the bleeding nail or wrapping it in a cloth or paper towel first if your pet isn’t comfortable with the cold of an ice cube. Additionally, the cloth you wrap around the ice will absorb blood and melting water, making clean-up easier.
What If the Bleeding Doesn’t Stop
If your dog’s nails bleeding does not stop within 20 minutes, there’s a chance the injury may be deeper than expected. Call your vet immediately for further advice.
Be Careful Before You Trim
While nail bleeds can occur even with the most careful dog owners.
It’s important to take all the steps possible to minimize the risk of you cutting too deep. In order to do so, it’s essential that you learn to identify the quick.
How to Identify the Quick of Your Dogs Nail
The quick is a vascular structure at the core of a dog’s nail bed and has tons of blood vessels within it. This means that if you nick it while trimming your dog’s nails, they’ll be in pain – and you’ll see a ton of blood. While it is possible to hit the quick by mistake, knowing where it is allows you to be more careful , so you will stay away from spots that could cause bleeding nails.
Visually, the quick is pinkish in color and located on the inside of the nail, which makes it easy to find in dogs with white nails. However, if your pet has black nails, spotting it may prove a challenge.
To make sure you’re not hitting the quick, pay close attention to the inside of the nail as you cut it. As soon as you see a circular spot that looks white-ish or greyish, you should stop cutting. That spot is likely the quick, and being able to spot it easily means you’re getting very close to it.
Trim Your Canine’s Nails Often, and a Little Bit at a Time
Don’t forget, nail cutting is an important part of your dog’s grooming routine – walking on overgrown nails can be extremely painful for your pup. So before you dogs nail get too long, consider cutting them a little bit and more often.
However, it can be a challenge, especially if you hit the quick – so make sure you’re prepared to act immediately if things go wrong and have an emergency kit at hand. Additionally, if you’re very concerned about your nail cutting skills, consider taking your pet to a groomer to have their nails done professionally.
Concluding How to Stop Your Dogs Nails Bleeding Quickly
It happens and panic sets in when our dog yelps and we see the blood. So be prepared, get your pets first aid gear so you can stop your dog bleeding nails fast should it occur.
Sources:
https://www.dailypaws.com/dogs-puppies/health-care/dog-first-aid-emergency/how-to-stop-a-dogs-nail-from-bleeding
https://wahlusa.com/pet-grooming/expert-advice/how-treat-dog-nail-bleeding-during-trimming
https://www.petmd.com/dog/grooming/how-stop-dogs-nail-bleeding