How do you know how to avoid hitting the quick with a Dremel pet nail trimmer?

[Alden_Cornell]

I just got a Dremel 7300 pet nail trimmer and my dog likes it MUCH better than clippers.  One aspect I am concerned about is how to know when to stop.  Most of my dog’s nails are black and it’s hard to know just where the quick is.  I’m very worried about going too far.   Does anyone know any tricks?  Thanks

Alden Cornell
Molokai Hawaii

[boxer39]

Our one year old boxer broke his nail on his back foot. We got the bleeding to stop and have it covered. He chews the dressing off and gets it bleeding again. We repeat. Also we think we need to clip the nail so it doesn't catch or bother him while walking but don't know how far to clip it off. There isn't any hanging its the whole nail. Any advice would help.

[Margot49]

You're welcome. So much easier to understand when you can see photos.  You can see the *quick* in those photos, that spot in the pulp of the nail.
I so much prefer using a Dremel over clipping.
Good luck.

[Alden_Cornell]

The link you gave was excellent!  Tons of detail and pictures that made it very clear.  Thank you Margot.

[Margot49]

It's rather hard to explain all this but you can see the quick inside the nail pulp (a spot) as you Dreme.
Here is a good link with photos that may help you more.
http://homepages.udayton.edu/~jmerenski1/doberdawn/dremel/dremel.html

[Alden_Cornell]

I saw your reply after I posted a reply to Ghilly.  Your idea is very interesting and certainly seems like another very good reason to use a Dremel rather than clippers.  I took a look at my dog's nails and I see what I think are the spots you mention but I'm not sure because on her one white nail where I can plainly see the quick, there is a spot on the tip of her nail that is about 1/8" from the quick.  Do you usually see the spot your are talking about that far from the quick?  Thanks very much.

[Alden_Cornell]

Thanks for your suggestion.  I tried it but for some reason my dog’s black nails never became translucent.  I did learn something valuable in the process of some very gentle testing on my dog’s white nails.  She is calm and cooperative at first but then she starts to pull her paw away when the sander starts to gets near the quick.   This seems to be a big advantage with the sander since she can be in the driver’s seat and warns me when I am getting too close.  Before, with clippers, there was no early warning she could give.  If I misjudged, I’d wound up nicking the quick.

[Margot49]

If you are using the Dremel,  no problem telling when you get to the quick.  If you do the nail so you can see the bottom of it as you grind it, you will be able to see the *spot* inside the nail that is the quick/vein.  When you get to that, stop.  I always keep styptic powder or liquid handy. If it bleeds a little, I put a dot of that on the spot. I would much rather Dremel nails than use clippers.

[Alden_Cornell]

Thank you Ghilly, good tip and I'll try that.