12/14/2025
Yesterday, I quicked a dog’s nail.
If you’ve ever been a groomer, vet tech, or veterinarian, you know this is one of those moments that truly haunts you — no matter how much experience you have.
The moment I saw it bleed, I immediately applied the proper product, applied pressure, and handled it exactly as I was trained to do. The dog was safe, cared for, and okay. Still, one of the biggest fears for anyone who trims nails is sending a dog home and worrying that they may bleed later in the car or at home. That fear sits heavy with you.
This does not happen often — which is exactly why it’s so traumatic when it does. Even with 10 years of experience, accidents can still happen. We are human. We work with live animals who move, flinch, pull away, and feel stress just like we do.
This is also an important reminder of why regular nail trims matter so much. When dogs go too long without trims, the quick (the blood vessel inside the nail) slowly grows farther into the nail. That makes it harder — and sometimes impossible — to see where it ends. When that happens, even the most careful trim can result in a quicked nail, and it resets the entire process of getting nails back to a healthy length.
Unfortunately, it can also re-traumatize dogs around nail trims, even when we do everything right — and that’s something professionals work very hard to prevent.
Please know that situations like this weigh heavily on those of us who care for your pets. We don’t take them lightly. We don’t brush them off. We learn from them, we educate, and we continue doing our best for every dog in our care.
Thank you for trusting me with your babies — and thank you for staying on top of regular nail maintenance to help keep them safe and comfortable. 🐾💛
