Styptic powder...

[moonk98]

Hi everyone,
Cutting my dogs nails is a bit of a pain as he has some pink and some black. I've had them done in the vets but it's far too distressing for both him and I. I've cut them at home since. The last few times, his claws bleed where I've cut too close. Will this powder work to minimise bleeding? It's not advertised at styptic powder but wondering if it does the same thing? Want something from Pets at Home ideally as they need clipping ASAP. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Don't cut so close.

Mine also has a mix of black nails and lighter ones, with the black ones it is next to impossible to know where to trim to, it's why I usually take her to the vets.

So last comment isn't helpful.

Are you able to do more pavement walking to try and wear them down instead? I would avoid trimming to minimise distress and infection.

My dogs nails are black and as we usually walk in forests they don't get worn down. I found using a grinder when he was sleepy at night much easier than cutting them as it only takes off a little bit at a time that I have never caught the quick.

Battle's Wound Powder is good for bleeding nails. I have a large container of it so there is always some in the cupboard and some in the first aid kit in the car.

In an emergency you can use cornflour if you have it in the kitchen. Worked brilliantly on the ghastly day when I cut a black claw too far down.

I find with the dark nails it’s better to snip a tiny bit every day till you reach the length you want. Less chance of a bleed. The quick seems to retreat a bit each time you snip so you can get to the length without the risk. I keep a stiptic pencil, from the chemist for shaving nicks, handy just in case but don’t usually need it doing the little & often method.

Exactly @darklane - if you're regularly over-cutting and hitting the quick you need to adjust your technique first and not be so gung-ho about getting the nails as short as possible on the fist snip. Trim less at a time but more frequently.

Thanks everyone. I trimmed the black ones ever so slightly and will do so every few days. He's an old doggy now, he's 13 this year (Bichon). He's already on supplements for his arthritis so we don't take him out as often now as it usually ends in limping and being a bit sluggish for a few days (though he has constant run of the garden). Thanks for your help

If you're regularly catching the quirks it doesn't sound as if they actually need cutting

There’s a FB group. Nail maintenance for dogs. Look up the alternate cut line. Aim to take tiny confetti bits rather than one cut. Or dremel, file or scratch board.
Wolfhound one has bloody big thick black nails!!