Toenail Talk

You know the sound. Fluffy comes trotting across the kitchen floor and you hear the familiar clicking of her toenails. That’s the tell tail sign that they are too long and need to be cut.  The bravest pet owners will attempt this themselves, but most will not. I say this; if you are not extremely confident in what you are about to do- stop.  Here’s why.

While your dog’s toenails feel hard on the exterior, they are softer inside. In that softer area there lies a vein, commonly called the quick. If you are not sure of where this quick is inside a toenail, you have no business cutting them. If you cut too short you will cut the vein, causing your dog pain and making them bleed, sometimes a lot. This potentially sets the stage for a lifelong struggle to get your pets nails trimmed to a safe length. 

Sometimes we see dogs whose nails have been neglected. They are very overgrown, causing them to twist and curl. This is very painful for the dog as it is also twisting their toes.  In some cases, the quick grows out long with the toenail. Once that vein has grown long it is very difficult to make it recede. Often it doesn’t recede. 

Long toenails are also at risk of getting caught on something and ripped off or partially ripped. This is incredibly painful for your dog and can leave an exposed vein until it heals fully. 

So, the next time you hear that sound, make an appointment right away. Fluffy will be back to her quiet ninja self in no time and you will have peace of mind knowing that you have properly cared for your dog’s health and wellbeing, before a problem arose.  Good Owner! Want a treat?