How to cut dog nails with quick?

Whenever you hold your beloved dog and feel the softness of its paw pad, you are often accidentally scratched by its long nails. At this time, trimming the nails becomes a headache for pet owners and a task they have to face. Especially for those dogs with obvious blood lines (quick) in their nails, the trimming process seems to be a cautious "adventure". The slightest mistake may cause the dog to be injured. Looking at their eyes dodging because of pain, the owner's heart is also full of heartache and self-blame. How to safely and effectively trim dog nails with blood lines is not only a technical job, but also a concrete manifestation of the pet owner's care for the dog. ​

The structure of dog nails is significantly different from that of humans. Understanding this structure is the basis for safe nail trimming. Dog nails are composed of a hard keratin shell and blood lines containing blood vessels and nerves inside. The blood lines are like the "lifeline" of the nails, providing nutrition and sensory conduction for the nails. For small dogs and dogs with light-colored nails, the blood lines are usually clearly visible and appear in pink strips; while for dogs with dark-colored nails, the blood lines are hidden under the thick cuticle and are difficult to distinguish, which greatly increases the difficulty of trimming. In addition, the nail growth rate of dogs of different breeds and different living habits is also different. Dogs that often go outdoors and like to run have their nails worn out faster due to friction with the ground; while dogs that exercise less and live indoors for a long time have their nails more likely to grow too long, and the blood line will extend as the nails grow. ​Before trimming the nails, adequate preparation is the key to ensuring a smooth process. First of all, you need to choose the right tools. Common dog nail clippers include scissor-type, plier-type, and nail grinder. Scissor-type nail clippers are suitable for most dogs and are flexible to operate; plier-type nail clippers have greater power and are suitable for large dogs with harder nails; nail grinders are relatively gentle and are suitable for dogs that are sensitive to sound and afraid of scissors. In addition to nail clippers, hemostatic powder or coagulant cream is also essential. Once the blood line is accidentally cut and bleeding occurs, it can stop bleeding in time.

Secondly, choose a quiet and comfortable trimming environment to prevent the dog from being frightened. You can interact with the dog before trimming, soothe it with a gentle tone, feed it with snacks, let it relax, and build trust in the trimming process. In addition, the owner's own mentality is also very important. Stay calm and patient, because dogs can keenly perceive the owner's emotional changes. If the owner is nervous, the dog will also become uneasy. ​

During the trimming process, the correct operation method is the core to ensure the safety of the dog. For dogs with light-colored nails, carefully observe the position of the blood line when trimming, start from the tip of the nail, and cut off the transparent part little by little. The length of each trimming should not exceed 2 mm to avoid cutting too much at one time. During the trimming process, you can gently hold the dog's paw in your hand, fix the nail to be trimmed with the thumb and index finger, and support the paw with the remaining fingers. This can not only ensure the stability of the operation, but also prevent the dog from suddenly withdrawing the paw. For dogs with dark nails, since the blood line cannot be seen directly, be more cautious when trimming. You can adopt the principle of "small amounts and multiple times", only cut off a very small part of the tip of the nail each time, and then use a flashlight to illuminate from under the nail to judge whether it is close to the blood line by the light transmission. If you find that the color inside the nail becomes darker or a shadow appears, it means that it is close to the blood line, and you should stop trimming immediately. ​

Even if you are careful, you may occasionally cut the blood line. Once bleeding occurs, the owner should not panic, but take prompt measures. First, press the bleeding site with a clean cotton ball or gauze for 3-5 minutes. Generally, slight bleeding can be stopped by pressing. If bleeding still continues after pressing, sprinkle hemostatic powder or apply coagulant cream on the bleeding site, and then continue pressing. During the process of stopping bleeding, gently comfort the dog to prevent it from struggling due to pain and panic. After stopping bleeding, observe whether the dog's paws are swollen, inflamed, etc. If there is any abnormality, seek medical attention in time. In addition, this accident may make the dog afraid of trimming its nails. The owner will need to spend more time and patience to help it rebuild trust through gentle caressing, rewarding snacks, etc. Regular trimming is an important measure to keep the dog's nails healthy.

Generally speaking, dogs kept indoors need to trim their nails every 2-3 weeks, while dogs who often go outdoors can extend the trimming cycle appropriately. Regular trimming can not only prevent the nails from being too long and affecting the dog's walking and activities, but also prevent the blood line from becoming longer as the nails grow excessively, increasing the difficulty of subsequent trimming. At the same time, in daily life, the owner can observe the dog's nail growth and walking posture. If the dog's nails are found to drag on the ground, licking paws frequently, or limping, it may mean that there is a problem with the nails and needs to be checked and trimmed in time. ​

Trimming the dog's nails with blood lines is an interaction full of love and trust between the pet owner and the dog. Every careful operation and every gentle comfort is a protection for the dog's health and happiness. Although this process may encounter difficulties and setbacks, as long as we arm ourselves with professional knowledge and treat the dog with patience and love, we will be able to complete this task smoothly. Looking at the dog's happy running after trimming its nails, we will understand that all efforts and efforts are worth it, because their health and happiness are our greatest wish.