Difference between revisions of "Stop a Dog's Quick from Bleeding"
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| − | The quick is the tender part inside a dog’s nail that contains nerves and blood vessels. If you cut the quick, your dog will yelp and, because of the blood vessels inside the quick, begin to bleed. If that happens, don’t panic. There are four primary options for stopping a bleeding quick: using a styptic pencil, using a bar of soap, using potassium permanganate, or, in emergencies, taking the dog to your vet.<ref>Clinical Procedures in Vet Nursing. Aspinall. Publisher : Butterworth-Heinemann</ref> The following offers instructions for how to proceed with each. | + | The quick is the tender part inside a dog’s nail that contains nerves and blood vessels. If you cut the quick, your dog will yelp and, because of the blood vessels inside the quick, begin to bleed. If that happens, don’t panic. There are four primary options for stopping a bleeding quick: using a styptic pencil, using a bar of soap, using potassium permanganate, or, in emergencies, taking the dog to your vet.<ref name="rf1">Clinical Procedures in Vet Nursing. Aspinall. Publisher : Butterworth-Heinemann</ref> The following offers instructions for how to proceed with each. |
[[Category:Dog Nail and Paw Care]] | [[Category:Dog Nail and Paw Care]] | ||
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=== Using a Styptic Pencil === | === Using a Styptic Pencil === | ||
#Gather supplies. If you’re using a styptic pencil, you’ll need it and a bit of water to moisten it with. | #Gather supplies. If you’re using a styptic pencil, you’ll need it and a bit of water to moisten it with. | ||
| − | #*Styptic pencils are relatively easy to obtain and contain an astringent that stimulates blood vessel contraction, which encourages bleeding to stop.<ref | + | #*Styptic pencils are relatively easy to obtain and contain an astringent that stimulates blood vessel contraction, which encourages bleeding to stop.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#*Styptic pencils are available from most pharmacies. | #*Styptic pencils are available from most pharmacies. | ||
#Remain calm. Hopefully you’ve anticipated this scenario, and, if you happen to cut the quick, you can calmly reach the materials you gathered beforehand. | #Remain calm. Hopefully you’ve anticipated this scenario, and, if you happen to cut the quick, you can calmly reach the materials you gathered beforehand. | ||
| − | #*The blood loss from a bleeding quick is not dangerous to a healthy dog.<ref>http://www.stjamesanimalhospital.com/trim-toe-nails-2.pml</ref> The bleeding nail can, however, look a bit alarming, especially if the dog is scrambling around and spreading blood over the floor. Know that the dog is in no danger, but act quickly to minimize its discomfort. | + | #*The blood loss from a bleeding quick is not dangerous to a healthy dog.<ref name="rf2">http://www.stjamesanimalhospital.com/trim-toe-nails-2.pml</ref> The bleeding nail can, however, look a bit alarming, especially if the dog is scrambling around and spreading blood over the floor. Know that the dog is in no danger, but act quickly to minimize its discomfort. |
#*Remember that remaining calm is important for you but also for your dog. The quick is tender and full of nerves, so having it clipped will be painful to your dog and it will be looking to you for cues about how to react. If you get panicked or frantic, your dog likely will, too. | #*Remember that remaining calm is important for you but also for your dog. The quick is tender and full of nerves, so having it clipped will be painful to your dog and it will be looking to you for cues about how to react. If you get panicked or frantic, your dog likely will, too. | ||
#Staunch the bleeding. The quick is located in the center of the nail, and you'll see blood seeping from this area. | #Staunch the bleeding. The quick is located in the center of the nail, and you'll see blood seeping from this area. | ||
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=== Using a Bar of Soap === | === Using a Bar of Soap === | ||
#Collect your supplies. If you’re using a bar of soap, the soap is the only thing you’ll need. | #Collect your supplies. If you’re using a bar of soap, the soap is the only thing you’ll need. | ||
| − | #*An ordinary bar of soap, when pressed into the claw, will form a plug that covers the quick, like putting a cork in a bottle.<ref | + | #*An ordinary bar of soap, when pressed into the claw, will form a plug that covers the quick, like putting a cork in a bottle.<ref name="rf1" /> This plug generally dislodges itself several hours later and needs no further attention. |
#Maintain your calm. Ideally you’ve prepared yourself for this situation and can calmly use the materials you have ready at hand to stop the bleeding. | #Maintain your calm. Ideally you’ve prepared yourself for this situation and can calmly use the materials you have ready at hand to stop the bleeding. | ||
| − | #*A healthy dog won’t be at risk from blood loss from a bleeding quick, but the blood can be somewhat alarming, particularly if your dog seems distressed.<ref | + | #*A healthy dog won’t be at risk from blood loss from a bleeding quick, but the blood can be somewhat alarming, particularly if your dog seems distressed.<ref name="rf2" /> Know that the dog is in no danger, but act quickly to minimize its discomfort. |
#*Remaining calm is important to both you and your dog. If you cut the dog’s quick, the dog will likely be distressed and will look to you for cues on how to react. If you show alarm or become frantic, your dog likely will, too. | #*Remaining calm is important to both you and your dog. If you cut the dog’s quick, the dog will likely be distressed and will look to you for cues on how to react. If you show alarm or become frantic, your dog likely will, too. | ||
#Hold the bleeding nail at 90 degrees to the dry soap. Gently restrain your dog to keep it still as you do this. | #Hold the bleeding nail at 90 degrees to the dry soap. Gently restrain your dog to keep it still as you do this. | ||
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=== Using Potassium Permanganate === | === Using Potassium Permanganate === | ||
#Get your supplies ready. If you’re using potassium permanganate, you’ll need the potassium permanganate crystals, cotton swabs, and a bit of water to moisten the swabs. | #Get your supplies ready. If you’re using potassium permanganate, you’ll need the potassium permanganate crystals, cotton swabs, and a bit of water to moisten the swabs. | ||
| − | #*Potassium permanganate is a powder made up of bright purple crystals and is the preferred method of veterinarians to stop bleeding nails.<ref | + | #*Potassium permanganate is a powder made up of bright purple crystals and is the preferred method of veterinarians to stop bleeding nails.<ref name="rf1" /> |
| − | #*It’s highly effective and the permanganate is a natural disinfectant.<ref | + | #*It’s highly effective and the permanganate is a natural disinfectant.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#*Potassium permanganate crystals are widely available on internet retail sites. | #*Potassium permanganate crystals are widely available on internet retail sites. | ||
#Stay calm. Ideally you’ve anticipated this scenario and can calmly use the materials you’ve prepared to stop the bleeding. | #Stay calm. Ideally you’ve anticipated this scenario and can calmly use the materials you’ve prepared to stop the bleeding. | ||
| − | #*The blood loss from a bleeding nail is not dangerous to a healthy dog.<ref | + | #*The blood loss from a bleeding nail is not dangerous to a healthy dog.<ref name="rf2" /> The bleeding nail can, however, look a bit dramatic, especially if the dog scrambles around spreading blood all over the floor. Know that the dog is in no danger, but act quickly to minimize its discomfort. |
#*Remember that remaining calm is important for you but also for your dog. The quick is tender and full of nerves, so having it clipped will be painful to your dog and it will be looking to you for cues on how to react. If you get panicked or frantic, your dog likely will, too. | #*Remember that remaining calm is important for you but also for your dog. The quick is tender and full of nerves, so having it clipped will be painful to your dog and it will be looking to you for cues on how to react. If you get panicked or frantic, your dog likely will, too. | ||
| − | #Moisten the tip of a cotton swab with water. It’s important that the swab be slightly moist so that the potassium permanganate crystals will adhere to it.<ref>Trauma Management in the Cat and Dog. Houlton and Taylor. Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell</ref> | + | #Moisten the tip of a cotton swab with water. It’s important that the swab be slightly moist so that the potassium permanganate crystals will adhere to it.<ref name="rf3">Trauma Management in the Cat and Dog. Houlton and Taylor. Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell</ref> |
#*You don’t need to soak the swab, just dampen it with a few drops of water. | #*You don’t need to soak the swab, just dampen it with a few drops of water. | ||
#Press the swab into the bleeding quick and hold for 30 seconds. Gently restrain your dog while you apply the swab. | #Press the swab into the bleeding quick and hold for 30 seconds. Gently restrain your dog while you apply the swab. | ||
#*The bleeding should stop fairly quickly. | #*The bleeding should stop fairly quickly. | ||
| − | #Repeat. If the bleeding hasn’t stopped, repeat the above process again, this time holding the swab in place for 5 minutes.<ref | + | #Repeat. If the bleeding hasn’t stopped, repeat the above process again, this time holding the swab in place for 5 minutes.<ref name="rf3" /> |
#*If after 5 minutes the bleeding still hasn’t stopped, contact your vet. | #*If after 5 minutes the bleeding still hasn’t stopped, contact your vet. | ||
=== Contacting the Vet === | === Contacting the Vet === | ||
| − | #Contact your vet if the bleeding continues. In the unlikely situation that none of the methods above work to stop the bleeding, phone your veterinarian for advice.<ref>http://princetonvet.net/stop-nail-bleeding/</ref> | + | #Contact your vet if the bleeding continues. In the unlikely situation that none of the methods above work to stop the bleeding, phone your veterinarian for advice.<ref name="rf4">http://princetonvet.net/stop-nail-bleeding/</ref> |
#*If the vet recommends bringing your dog in, calmly begin preparing your dog for transport. | #*If the vet recommends bringing your dog in, calmly begin preparing your dog for transport. | ||
#Bandage the paw. Do your best to bandage the paw before transporting your dog to the vet. | #Bandage the paw. Do your best to bandage the paw before transporting your dog to the vet. | ||
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#Have the vet or a professional groomer trim your dog’s nails. If you find that you have difficulty trimming your dog’s nails yourself, perhaps because you’re nervous about hurting your dog or your dog has learned to fear nail trimmings, you best option may be to try having it professionally done. | #Have the vet or a professional groomer trim your dog’s nails. If you find that you have difficulty trimming your dog’s nails yourself, perhaps because you’re nervous about hurting your dog or your dog has learned to fear nail trimmings, you best option may be to try having it professionally done. | ||
#*If your dog shows noticeable distress at going to the groomer’s or to the vet’s, you might consider asking the vet or groomer to show you better strategies for trimming your dog’s nails at home. | #*If your dog shows noticeable distress at going to the groomer’s or to the vet’s, you might consider asking the vet or groomer to show you better strategies for trimming your dog’s nails at home. | ||
| − | #*If you’re able to get more comfortable trimming the nails yourself, you may be able to avoid giving your dog the extra anxiety that may be associated with going to the groomer or vet.<ref>https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/trimming-your-dogs-nails</ref> | + | #*If you’re able to get more comfortable trimming the nails yourself, you may be able to avoid giving your dog the extra anxiety that may be associated with going to the groomer or vet.<ref name="rf5">https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/trimming-your-dogs-nails</ref> |
== Tips == | == Tips == | ||
