This article was reviewed by Natalie Punt, DVM and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA. Dr. Natalie Punt is a Veterinarian and the Founder and CEO of mPet- a smart phone app for pet owners to store, manage and transfer their pets medical records and health information. She specializes in small animal emergency and general medicine and veterinary practice economics. Dr. Punt holds a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from The University of California, Davis, an MS in Biochemistry from The University at Buffalo, and a DVM from Western University of Health Sciences.
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The quick is the part of your pet’s nails that contains the blood vessels and nerves. Most domestic pets, including dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, and other rodents, all have quicks in their nails. Since the quick is a very tender spot, your pet will likely cry out in pain if you cut it. Additionally, the quick will start to bleed, but don’t worry. You can stop the bleeding with common household items like soap and baking soda, but it’s best to use a styptic pencil or powder.
Variation: You may find it easier to scrape the nail against the soap, which creates a thin soap barrier over the quick. Rub the soap over the quick several times to create a soap coating. This should stop the bleeding.
Variation: If you don’t have all 3 of these powders, you can try just using one. Dip your pet’s quick into plain baking soda, baking flour, or cornstarch, or apply the powder to the nail with a wet cotton swab.[6]
Variation: You can also use styptic powder, which has the same astringent properties as a styptic pencil. To use the powder, pour a small amount into your pet’s cut nail. Then, dip the nail in the powder for 2 minutes before checking to see if the bleeding has stopped. If the nail is still bleeding, you can hold it in the powder for up to 5 minutes.[12]
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