Just a warning- you CAN draw blood (get to the quick) with a dremel. Especially in pups- no need to trim his nails Nick, if you're walking him enough. ***hint hint***


Also, if you're going to get into the practice of doing nails at home, do some research. The guard would be FAR TOO MUCH nail to remove on a pup of Gambit's size. Take off 1mm at a time. No more. When you see dark tissue (or white-pink, it will look moist) STOP. NO FARTHER!


Once again. A puppy is far different from a dog. You can't treat a puppy like you would an adult dog. From corrections, to nail trims, to feeding. We'll all end up saying this again, I'm sure.

Now, you get to go back, and desensitize Gambit to having his feet touched. It hurts when you quick a dog. So rather then end up with an adult who is terrified of nail trims, get him used to having his feet handled. Only try for this when you in a CALM, QUIET mood. If he does not want you to, or pulls away, DO NOT CORRECT HIM. Just try again tomorrow.

 Quote: Nick Logan

I used the safety bar!!!

Use your brain and eyes not the guard unless you think your dog will always have the EXACT amount of nail needing to be removed as the guard will leave exposed.

Yeah I almost fainted.. I said something like "OMFG!" he's bleeding! aahhhhh!!! Then I remembered I needed to stay calm so I came on here for advice in case I didn't find the correct google link. You'd think someone that's been on pc's since 1985 would just use google but ah... your the experts . ..


I found a youtube video that said to use cornstarch and that's what I did. But I had to drive about 15 minutes away just to get it. LOL you should of seen me speeding to get it and then getting to the store I went to cust service to ask where it was. Then on the isle I asked an employee whom was for some reason on that isle and she found it for me. Gambit didn't even yelp or nothing. He let us hold his feet. Later on I hummed to him and held him which almost put him to sleep. Then we gave him a bath and all was well. Tomorrow is a new day and hopefully a little less adventurous.


Sorry I freaked out everyone. It wasn't stopping and I didn't know who to ask. I've been online since 1990 am an ex hacker and you'd think I'd just google my questions. Sorry I've relied on you so much as of late. I think I thought of this forum like the many other forums I'm on or have moderated.

Another piece of advice... don't wash a dog who's just had a nail quicked, unless you have more styptic powder (ideal stuff to stop bleeding, pick some up next time your at the pet store). The moisture can, (and generally will) cause the clot to break, and bleeding to begin agin.

I don't think you freaked anyone here out. We're all just a bit.... shocked.... at how silly(not the first choice of words, I'm really trying to be kind) you can be sometimes!

Google. Don't aggressively trim nails when you can't visualize where the quick is. Use a bit of common sense. Or, pay a few bucks, and let a vet or groomer handle it for you.

 Quote: Kelly Byrd

Now, you get to go back, and desensitize Gambit to having his feet touched. It hurts when you quick a dog. So rather then end up with an adult who is terrified of nail trims, get him used to having his feet handled. Only try for this when you in a CALM, QUIET mood. If he does not want you to, or pulls away, DO NOT CORRECT HIM. Just try again tomorrow.

Just to flesh this out a little more, it's in your own interest to start associating touching his paw with good things. Touch the paw, say, 'YES!', feed him a treat. over and over. After the beginning stages (judge for yourself when the dog is happy with the current stage), manipulate his foot a little bit more, and do the same 'YES!' with treat that you did before, until you're back at being able to clip his nails. Unless you'd like to spend the rest of his life struggling to get away when you touch his paw. Everybody makes mistakes, so don't beat yourselves up about it. It's how you recover that determines your success.

You can't let the dog learn that struggling means you give up. You must be patient and calm and determined to do what you have to do. Each treatment, get what you want done in as calm a way as possible, and then get all excited and give him what he wants most. It will get easier and easier as his trust builds back up.

 Quote: Kelly Byrd

Another piece of advice... don't wash a dog who's just had a nail quicked, unless you have more styptic powder (ideal stuff to stop bleeding, pick some up next time your at the pet store). The moisture can, (and generally will) cause the clot to break, and bleeding to begin agin.

I don't think you freaked anyone here out. We're all just a bit.... shocked.... at how silly(not the first choice of words, I'm really trying to be kind) you can be sometimes!

Ummm, yeah. I wish I could say I was shocked at the lack of common sense.....

Why did you give Gambit a bath?!? Dogs are not like people, they don't need baths all the time. I can probably count on my fingers the number of times I've had to wash my 10 year old dog. (Only when he rolled in something nasty or got skunked).

Yeah... let's use starch to clot up the blood, then wash it all away and use the water to open up the wound.

GUYS! Seriously, I think you need a rule that you type out anything you are about to do, before you do it - DON'T POST IT HERE! Just read it out loud to yourself, and see if it makes sense.

Am I telling you how to function as a human being? It would appear so. But I am under the distinct impression that there is a disconnect somewhere. Splice the wires in your brains back together! COMMON SENSE... IT'S A DOG. You have children, you take care of yourselves (somehow), you need to learn to manage things like this.

Ever hear the story of the boy who cried wolf? You post "emergency" and you're going to turn off the people who are still trying to help you.

FWIW, a true emergency leaves you no time to post on an internet forum. You either know how to handle it because of past research and education, or you call the vet (or e-vet).

You can read online, you can sign up for pet first aid classes, you can get yourself a good handbook and READ IT!!!

When my dog gulped down a bar of rat poison, I didn't come to a forum to see how to handle it. I induced vomiting, watch him puke it up and called poison control. On their instructions I knew he'd be oky for the night and I called my vet in the morning. If inducing vomiting hadn't worked quickley he'd have been at an e-vet ASAP.

There was no time to do anything different or to check the internet to see how to handle it.

For what it's worth, I don't think a dog will bleed out from a nail quick... but I could be wrong... Gambit appears to be quite fragile for a Malinois.

Toni (also a Mal) tore a nail completely OUT one Thanksgiving morning. What did I do? Did I post like a freak on this forum or other dog forum? Ummmm NO. I CALLED A VET!!! And what did the VET say? Corn Starch. Packed the crater full of corn starch, wrapped it with vet wrap, stuck her in a crate and went to dinner at the family's. Amazingly, the dog did NOT die.... The three pounds of corn starch and vet wrap didn't even slow her down....

Nick, if you are going to live with a Malinois, you are going to have to get used to the dog getting hurt... Toni is a walking accident. You are going to have to learn to treat some things yourself without running to the good folks here.

My suggestion?? Get a good First Aid Kit for dogs. Learn the ins and outs of vet wrap and gauze. How to wrap a paw, what to use when.... It's all common sense, but if you need help find a good first aid for dogs BOOK. Start here: http://leerburg.com/firstaid.htm

And for the Good Lord's sake, TAKE A BREATH!!! A little blood does not mean the dog is dying. A gushing artery, that's a different story... but that's not what you had here. You completely freaked out over a nail quick...

Pepper bit her tongue once and my office looked like a crime scene.

I've never felt a dog from head to toe so fast and so intently in my life trying to find something to place pressure on.

Ever stick a dog's mouth full of ice?