Whenever you hear your dog’s nails linking on the floor, you might have thought about cutting its nails a bit. But in the process, sometimes you might have cut the quick which might have caused a lot of bleeding.
In such instances, you might have wondered “Can I walk my dog after cutting the quick?” The answer to this and many other such questions lie here. Continue reading to know more.
Does Cutting the Quick Hurt Your Dog?
It does hurt the dog when you cut the quick. Many dog owners might not know exactly what is the quick on a dog. A quick consists of blood vessels and a nerve that runs through the center of your dog’s nails.
When you accidentally cut the dog’s nail too short, you are hitting the blood vessel and injuring the nerve endings. This causes a lot of pain and bleeding to your dog. Furthermore, the dog's quick exposed can also cause an infection and complicate matters.
However, the sharp initial pain will vanish quite fast. Most of such pains last less than 20 minutes. The amount of blood loss depends on how deep into the quick the cut has been made. If you just grazed past the edge of the nail quick, then you might just see a red dot or very little bleeding. In such cases, what you would have to do is to apply some pressure on the wound to stop bleeding.
Now, if the quick cut is deeper it might leave behind a pool of blood. Your dog might whine and cry in pain. For stopping the bleeding you will need a clotting powder to help stop the bleeding. Apply the powder on the quick injury with your finger. Apply pressure on the area for a few seconds. When the bleeding stops relax the pressure.
The cut dog's quick healing time depends on the gravity of the wound. It generally takes about 2 weeks for the nail to recover. During the healing process use an antiseptic solution to regularly clean the wound. Keep the wound clean and dry and do not apply pressure on it.
However, if the pain persists or the bleeding does not stop within 20-30 minutes, immediately rush your dog to a veterinarian.
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIrCY_325CE
Is It Ideal to Walk My Dog After Cutting the Quick?
This depends on certain factors such as the condition of the wound as well as the mood of the dog.
You can take the dog out for a little walk only after the bleeding has stopped and the wound has dried. Also, check whether the pain has receded for the dog before taking him out. Give the dog the necessary medications and treatment. Let the dog take some rest.
Give special attention to how the dog is walking before taking him or her out. If you see the dog's nail cut too short causing limping subsequently led by yelping and licking the affected foot, you have to cancel the walk since your little friend is probably in pain while walking.
However, if you do not notice any problems or inconsistencies in the dog’s walk, then you might as well take him for a short walk. But before that, apply doggie bandages so that the dog’s affected paw is protected from dirt and contamination from the ground.
What Is the Process to Walk Your Dog After a Cut Quick?
When you have accidentally cut the quick, you must ensure that the dog does not have any activities which will put a strain on the injured nails. If you decide on going on a walk with your dog, you must keep the walk small and light. A walk around the neighborhood is fine, but no long runs are recommended for the dog until the quicked nail get fully healed
Put bandages on and disinfect the injured nails after and before the walk. Remember, you must keep the hurt paw clear of the germs from the walk. Thus, disinfection with an antiseptic liquid is extremely necessary.
Where Can I Walk My Dog After Cutting The Quick?
Some of the Places You Must Avoid Taking Your Dog if You Cut the Quick
A cut quick can already be a painful experience for your little friend. Contamination might lead to an infection. Thus, you have to keep a watch out for areas that can infect the wounded paw or might put the pain in pain or pressure. Some of the places to avoid walking your dog after a cut quick are:
- Rough or uneven terrain can cause your dog’s paw to twist or turn, causing pain or discomfort.
- Dog parks which might lead to any contamination from fecal matter and urine.
- Running on mountainous terrain.
- Areas with dirty water should also be avoided. Some examples are puddles, swamps, muddy trails, streams, or lakes.
Is It Okay If I Bathe My Dog After Cutting the Quick?
If the cut dog quick is not serious, then you can bathe your dog. Bathe the dog in clean water to avoid contamination. While giving a bath, only make sure to use a gentle, no-tear shampoo to avoid stinging and pain. Do remember to dry and disinfect the nail after the bath with a clean towel.
Also, if your dog is still experiencing pain, then giving him or her a bath might prove to be a traumatic experience for the dog. Thus, only take your dog to the bath after they had some treats or played a little with some toys, which might remove their mind from the pain in their paws.
However, if your dog shows any sign of pain or irritation in their paw, immediately remove them from the water.
Takeaway
Here we discussed what happens if you cut a dog’s nail too short. The quick gets exposed causing pain and bleeding to the dog. Thus, it is advised to use proper nail cutters to cut the nails of the dog to save your little buddy from injury.
Can I walk my dog after cutting the quick? Yes, you can if the bleeding has stopped. However, keep the walk short and away from contaminants as much as possible until your dog’s nail is healed.
