What Happens if I Cut My Dog's Toenails Too Much?

Dog owners must monitor their dog's nails to ensure that they do not grow too long. If a dog's nails are left unattended, they can curl under and grow into the dog's paw pad, a painful condition. If you decide to cut your dog's toenails yourself, pay close attention to the amount of nail that you clip. Veterinarians provide helpful tips to dog owners who clip their dog's nails.

  1. The Quick

    • Live nerves and blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the toenail extend into the nail. These nerves and blood vessels are called the nail's "quick."

    Cutting the Quick

    • If, while cutting your dog's nails, you cut into the quick, you will have cut these nerves and blood vessels. This causes the nail to bleed and causes pain to the dog. In the future, your dog may become anxious or uncooperative the next time you try to cut his nails if he begins to associate the sight of the nail clippers with pain.

    Veterinarian Recommendations

    • Veterinarians recommend cutting a dog's nail no closer than two millimeters to the quick. You can see the quick through a light nail, but if the dog has a dark nail, you must make small cuts until you see a pink/gray that appears at the top of the cut surface of the nail. This is the quick.

    Stop Bleeding

    • If you accidently do cut into the quick, rotate a styptic pencil containing silver nitrate over the cut or apply clotting powder to the cut. These actions should help to stop the blood flow.

    Necessity to Clip Dog's Nails

    • Even dogs that get a lot of exercise and grind their nails down on pavement when walking or running have an inner nail, called the "dew"; the dew generally doesn't wear down this way. If the dew grows too long, it can start growing into the dog's paw; veterinarians remind dog owners to check all the dog's nails and cut the nails as needed.