When grooming your canine friend at home, one of the most difficult tasks you will be faced with is trimming of the black nails. This happens because it isn’t quite that simple to find the quick on black dog nails. This can worry make you worry that the dog will get hurt in the process. If this is a problem you’re often confronted with, then this article is for you.
So Where Can You Find the Quick on Black Dog Nails?
The quick is actually the blood vessel that will provide the nail with its needed blood. It is pink in color and very easy to identify in white dog nails, being situated right in the center of the nail. The issue is that in the case of black nails, this quick is way harder to find because it is black, almost the same color as the nail. This causes the blood vessel to be almost invisible from outside of the nail.
In this case, you will have to locate the actual pulp to find the black quick easier. The pulp is a soft tissue that will help you decide where you should stop cutting as it is located right in front of the quick. It will have a circular appearance and is just a bit less dark than the dog nail. When you’re cutting black dog nails, you should try to make multiple small cuts as opposed to one big cut, to avoid any unwanted accidents.
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How Can You Locate the Pulp?
- The process has to be started with a tiny cut on the nail. The nail should be white at the clipped end.
- The first cut will have to be followed by yet another small cut and you should see if you see a black area in the center of the nail. As soon as you notice this dark area you will have to move to the next step. Until then, keep making very small cuts.
- When you see a black area in the center of the nail, you should know that you just found the pulp. As you make another small cut you should see the pulp become clearer. You will have to stop trimming as soon as you see the pulp.
Remember That It Won’t Be Easy To Find The Pulp
If the end of the nail isn’t very clear, it won’t be very easy to find the pulp. This is why you should try to get a smooth and clean finish to make sure you avoid unwanted accidents on black dog nails.
There are some factors that will make the cross-section crumbly. One very common reason for a crumbly cross-section is using a bad dog nail clipper. You can also make things pretty difficult if you cut the harder dog nails slowly and tentatively. The chances of an accident are also increased in this case because the hesitation of the owner will lead to the dog developing anxiety. This is why you should be very assertive and quick while going for a dog nail trimming.
What to Do if You Cut Through the Quick
According to experts, it isn’t uncommon for dog owners to cut too far when trimming the nails of their dog, even though they might be very careful. This is why you should consider getting styptic soap or powder before you actually start the cutting process. If you notice that you have cut a small piece of the quick, just add the styptic powder right on the damaged nail. This will help pug the blood vessel which will ultimately stop the bleeding.
Keep in mind that if the dog notices blood when you’re cutting its nails, session the pet might be reluctant to go through this again on the next grooming. To counter this, try to condition the pet by offering them a lot of treats and having a lot of patience.
Why Do You Need To Cut the Black Dog Nails to the Pulp?
The main reason behind this is to force the quick to recede. When trimming the dog nail just slightly, this quick will keep growing longer and longer. This will ultimately lead to you not being able to cut the dog’s nails as short in the future. This is why you will have to try to cut the black dog nails as close to the pulp as possible, to make the quicks recede.
There are also some people that believe it isn’t wrong to leave your dog’s nails to grow long. This is far from true because the nails that grow too much can cause all kinds of health issues to the dog.
Common Problems of Long Dog Nails
One of the main reasons why you would want to cut the dog’s nails is to keep the pet healthy. When you ignore the dog’s nails and they grow too much there are a few things that can go wrong. The experts at Devoted Dog World say that dogs that have long nails aren’t able to run, and in some instances even walk properly. Below you will also find other very common problems with long dog nails:
- Ingrown nails leading to infections – Dog nails that are too long can become ingrown. In this case, they will not only be extremely painful, but they will also be more prone to developing infections.
- Unnecessary stress on spine and muscle –Long nails will cause dogs to move unnaturally and have an improper walk. An abnormal gain will put unwanted stress on the spine and the back muscles and even on the legs of the dog, which might cause serious harm in time.
- Injuries to the joints – The nail of the dog is attached to the paw bone. A nail that has grown too long will put a lot of pressure on the joints and bones of the pet. This will lead to some pain but in time, it can damage the joints of the animal.
How Often Should I Cut My Dog’s Nails?
According to PetAssure, the nails of a dog should be cut every 3 to 4 weeks depending on the dog. There are even dogs that have long quicks, that might require to have their nails trimmed at ever shorter intervals. As a general rule, most dogs will need to have their nails cut every two weeks or so.
If you don’t remember when was the last time you trimmed your dog’s nails, a great rule to follow is to never let the nails of the dog touch the floor. This is why you should always try to groom your poop as soon as you hear clicking sounds on the floor.
