My dog's nails click when walking. How to make the quick recede?

You will need to use the Dremel every 2-3 weeks until you get the nails back to the length you want them. When the dog is standing still, the nails should not touch the ground if that gives you an idea of appropriate length. The quick will recede over time. When you are using the Dremel look at the nail and when you start to see a black dot in the nail, that is the quick and you should stop until the next time you trim. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Just like people, dogs' nails are constantly growing. Some dogs require nail trims as often as every 2 weeks, but if a dog spends more time walking on concrete, they may be able to go several months between nail trims. Concrete acts as a bit of a nail file, so the abrasive surface can help to file nails on dogs of all sizes. Since you're nervous about clipping Kiki's nails, you may want to try using a Dremel to help file them. Some dogs are afraid of the loud noise, but others are more agreeable to this than clipping - the only way to find out is to give it a shot. Since you're uncomfortable clipping her nails at home, the only other option is to continue taking Kiki either to a groomer or a vet every few weeks/months to have her nails clipped. There's a blood vessel (often referred to as the quick) inside of each nail, which is what can bleed if it's nicked. You can use styptic powder from the pet store to help cauterize any mild bleeding that may occur, which is the same thing that your vet would likely use. More intensive cautery is rarely needed for nail trims. It's extremely uncommon for vets to intentionally cut the nails back short enough that they'd all bleed because this is extremely painful and largely considered to be unnecessary. Sticking with frequent trimmings is enough to gradually help the quicks to become a bit shorter.

The quick can be tricky to find, especially if the nails are darker. If it has been some time since the nails were last trimmed, which is likely it sounds like, then the quick will be longer. The best bet is to trim the nail as close to the pad as possible because it sounds like you probaly can not see the end of the nail. If you can see the end of the nail there is typically an overhanging bit from the top of the nail. It is typically safe to take this off without worrying about the quick as it is in the whole portion of the nail and then you can work back from there. If the nails are lighter in color you can sometimes see where the quick is by looking at the side of the nail. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

That is what is known as the quik of the nail. It the sensitive portion that contains the nerves and blood supply. The nail have been broken and the protective shell has been separated from the quik. It is painful and can bleed a lot. Typically they have to be sedated and have the quick trimmed back so it will not be exposed further and be painful to allow the nail to regrow.

You can use a nail grinder instead of clippers; these are designed to "file" the nails down rather than cut them and they dramatically decrease the risk of bleeding during a nail trim. Sometimes the noise and or sensation is just as bothersome if not more so than trimming the nails, but it does give you a safer option at home if you are afraid of cutting them too short. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/wahl-premium-nail-grinder Thanks for asking PetCoach!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Clipping their nails is needed to shorten them and walking them outside usually keeps them shorter and may delay the need for clipping though clipping is always still going to be needed. Good luck and have a great day!

Great question! You can cut them yourself, and I would get some dog nail trimmers from the pet store. Take a look at Nala's nails, and can see a clear part and a pink part. The pink part is the quick, and if cut that, it will be painful to her and it will bleed a lot. It's always best to cut a little a time to avoid the quick than cutting too much at once. Now some dog's nails are black, and you can't see the quick on those nails. It's best to cut a little bit off in that case. If you accidentally cut the quick, you can put styptic powder or cornstarch in the palm of your hand, and hold the nail in it to stop the bleeding. I will put a link to a website that has pictures to help you cut Nala's nails: https://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/outreach/Pet-Health-Topics/categories/procedures/dogs/clipping-your-dog's-claws