Hemostatic drugs for dogs when trimming their nails

Trimming a dog's nails is a very important hygiene procedure. Only particularly active dogs wear down their nails by digging in the ground or running on concrete or asphalt paths. Most dogs, especially small breeds, whose daily exercise is limited, need their nails trimmed several times a month. Overgrown nails are a nuisance, can deform the paw, and if a nail breaks, the open wound can easily become infected.

Dogs' nails have a unique structure: a relatively hard outer layer covers a soft and very sensitive inner layer called the pulp, which contains numerous blood vessels and nerve endings. If the inner layer is damaged while trimming the nail, the dog feels pain and the cut begins to bleed. To stop bleeding from the nail, you can use home remedies, over-the-counter solutions, or special powders with a hemostatic effect.

Home remedies

Potassium permanganate. A potassium permanganate solution quickly stops capillary bleeding. Dissolve a few crystals in warm boiled water, soak a cotton swab in the resulting solution, and apply it to the wound for half a minute. If the bleeding hasn't completely stopped, repeat the procedure, increasing the time to 3-5 minutes.

Antibacterial soap. Press your dog's paw firmly against the bar of soap, ensuring the damaged nail is completely submerged, and hold it there for 2-3 minutes. The soap will seal the wound, and the blood will stop. The soap plug will fall off on its own within a few hours. However, not all dogs tolerate this procedure patiently; it's somewhat painful. Therefore, be prepared to hold your pet's paw firmly for a couple of minutes.

Sodium bicarbonate. This method for stopping bleeding from a nail is extremely simple. Dip the dog's paw with the damaged nail in dry baking soda. The drop of blood that emerges from the wound will immediately form a clot, sealing the blood vessel. There's no need to remove this soft "plug"; it will fall off within half an hour to an hour.

Flour paste. You can seal a bleeding nail with a paste made from a teaspoon of flour and the same amount of water. Apply the paste with a cotton swab, pressing firmly onto the wound. Repeat this process 2-3 times until the bleeding stops.

Liquid pharmaceutical preparations

Of the readily available pharmaceutical medications that have a hemostatic effect, that is, they promote rapid blood clotting, stopping its release, when the inner part of the claws is damaged during the process of trimming, veterinarians often use:

• Hydrogen peroxide. A strong oxidizing agent, hydrogen peroxide, when interacting with blood enzymes, breaks down into water molecules and active oxygen. As a result, the damaged microvessel is sealed with a blood clot, while the wound is simultaneously disinfected.
• Capramine. A liquid preparation with hemostatic and bactericidal properties. It contains aluminum chloride and centimonium bromide. It is safe and easy to use. To stop capillary bleeding, simply apply a cotton swab soaked in capramine to the affected area for 1-2 minutes.
• Hemalat. A hemostatic agent based on aluminum chloride, popular in dentistry and cosmetology. It should be used in the same way as Capramine.

Important! All of these remedies should only be used when bleeding is minor. If the nail pulp is severely damaged and bleeding is profuse, self-medication is not recommended: stopping the bleeding is unlikely, and time will be wasted. The only correct course of action is to carefully cover the pet's paw with a clean, soft cloth and take the animal to a veterinarian immediately.

Special hemostatic agents for dogs

There are special powders, gels, and pencils designed to stop bleeding and disinfect when trimming dog nails.

Powders

Hemostatic powders typically contain the anesthetic benzocaine, disinfecting components iron and aluminum sulfates, the absorbent diatomaceous earth, and sulfur, which has an anti-inflammatory effect.

Directions for use:

Apply a small amount of powder to the dog's paw where blood is seeping from the damaged nail. Using a dry cloth or a piece of bandage, gently press the powder onto the wound for a few seconds. The crust that forms as the blood clots does not need to be removed.

The most popular brands:

• Show Tech. Manufacturer: TransGroom, Belgium.
• Cardinal Polvo Hemostaticо. Manufacturer: Artero, Spain.
• Fast-acting Kwik StopSafari Styptic Powder. Manufacturer: Safari, USA.
• Bio-Groom Sure Clot. Manufacturer: Bio-Groom, USA.

Fast-acting Kwik Stop Gel

Manufacturer: Gimborn, Germany.

The hemostatic agent comes in bottles equipped with a tip for precise application. The gel quickly stops bleeding from damaged microvessels in the nail, disinfects, and relieves pain.

HemoStop hemostatic pencil

This is one of the most popular products for stopping capillary bleeding. It's used in hairdressing and nail salons, and in veterinary medicine, it's indispensable for trimming dogs' nails. These pencils are made from soy wax and petroleum jelly, and the active ingredients are diatomaceous earth, a silicon compound, and iron-aluminum sulfates.

Directions for use:

Apply the pencil to the damaged nail, press lightly, and hold for 1-2 minutes. If the nail does not stop bleeding, repeat the procedure.

If you trim your pet's nails yourself, it's a good idea to have one of the hemostatic agents described above on hand. All of them are safe for animals and do not cause allergic reactions.

Read also:

• How to properly trim your dog's nails at home
• Do dogs need to have their paws trimmed?
• How to hold a dog when trimming its nails