I thought you cut my dogs nails? Why are they still so long?

03/02/2021

Sometimes a dog's quick can become long (for any number or reasons) and make it difficult to trim the nails as short as the owner would like. We are always asked to "make the nails as short as possible". We will trim them as short as we are able without "quicking" them. That is painful and can be traumatizing for the dog. What is a nail quick? The quick of nail is the innervated, vascularized core of the nail bed. It provides nourishment to the nail which allows it to grow and aids sensation.

How to Make Your Dog's Nail Quick Recede?

The secret to keeping your dog's nail tips short is to have frequent, gradual nail trims. Consider that each time the nail is trimmed a little bit the quick should gradually recede farther and farther up into the nail bed. After trimming a small portion of an overgrown nail, generally, within seven days, the quick should have receded enough to allow you to trim off another little bit of nail again. The ultimate goal is to have the quick recede more and more so you can allow your dog the luxury of healthier, shorter, and stronger nails.