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12 Days of Giveaways | Day 12

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I'm asked the same question over and over, "What brush do you use on your dogs?" Enter now for your chance to win our favorite dog brush, the Oster grooming rake.

We made it! It’s the last day of our 12 Days of Giveaways, and we’re going out with a bang.

The number one question I get is, “What brush do you use to groom your floofs?”

I’ve tested a lot of brushes over the years, and I always find myself going back to the same brush: the Oster grooming rake.

I received this recommendation a long time ago from a Great Pyrenees group on Facebook, and I always find myself going back to it.

 

Related: 5 Must-Have Tools for Grooming Great Pyrenees

 

I'm asked the same question over and over, "What brush do you use on your dogs?" Enter now for your chance to win our favorite dog brush, the Oster grooming rake.

This grooming rake is amazing. I’ve tried using other top rated rakes and brushed until the rake wouldn’t remove any more loose fur. Then I grabbed the Oster grooming rake and realized my job was only half way done.

Especially in the summer, the floofs appreciate me removing all the excess fur so their coat can function properly and keep them cool.

I’m also often asked how this compares to a Furminator. Personally, I do not recommend using a Furminator on Great Pyrenees. I’ve tried it on a few pyrs and have never been pleased with the results. Even the “thick coat” version can’t reach the depth of their coat, and it tears the fur, leaving your dog’s coat coarse and damaged.

After I used it a few times on Mauja, it took several months and a lot of high-quality conditioner to get her coat back in shape.

 

Related: Grooming a Double Coated Dog

 

I only have one complaint about the grooming rake: the handle isn’t very comfortable. When you’re brushing floofs with a lot of fur (especially three of them), you need the handle to be comfortable. To fix this, I just wrapped some electrical tape around the handle, and it has made a huge difference.

Since I love this rake so much, I wanted to host a giveaway for three winners! Yes, I’m hosting this—not the brand—because I’m certain your grooming world will be changed with this rake.

If you want to take your grooming routine to the next level, I suggest adding The Stuff to your repertoire. It’s perfect for keeping the coat smooth and preventing and untangling mats.

But now, let’s get to the giveaway!

We’re giving away one (1) Oster grooming rake to three (3) lucky winners. Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
I'm asked the same question over and over, "What brush do you use on your dogs?" Enter now for your chance to win our favorite dog brush, the Oster grooming rake.

Rufus & Coco Keep My Great Pyrenees Clean

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Pacific Northwest winters are rough, y'all. Keeping my Great Pyrenees clean and white is a daily struggle. I hate bathing them frequently because it isn't good for their fur, but they need sprucing! That's why I'm loving Rufus & Coco's Water Free Wash. #whatadogwants #petsmartgrooming #newtopetsmart #rufusandcoco #naturallyaustralian #feellikeashowdog

I love Seattle, but let’s be honest: Seattle winters are rough, y’all.

The grass in our yard is sparse–and the mud–oh my gosh the mud.

Some days, I look at the floofs’ coats, and I’m not sure if I actually have Great Pyrenees or some oddly-behaving Newfoundlands.

Great Pyrenees have self-cleaning coats, but they’re not a magic. Okay, maybe they’re a little magical. Typically, the mud dries and flakes off, but when you’re battling Pacific Northwest winter weather, the coat loses the fight.

 

Related: 5 Must-Have Tools for Grooming Great Pyrenees

 

The floofs end up a gray/brownish color, and you can easily see the specs of dirt trapped deep in their coats. I reeeeeally want to give them baths at this point, but it’s a fine line between keeping them clean and stripping the oils from their coats. Great Pyrenees should only be bathed a few times a year to prevent damage.

You know what’s even worse for their coats than frequent bathing?

Washing your dog with human shampoo.

 

Human shampoo for dogs

Your dog comes into your house absolutely covered in mud. He needs a bath.

You search and search, but you don’t have any dog shampoo on hand. So, you grab your shampoo bottle and figure it’s better than nothing.

Pacific Northwest winters are rough, y'all. Keeping my Great Pyrenees clean and white is a daily struggle. I hate bathing them frequently because it isn't good for their fur, but they need sprucing! That's why I'm loving Rufus & Coco's Water Free Wash. #whatadogwants #petsmartgrooming #newtopetsmart #rufusandcoco #naturallyaustralian #feellikeashowdog

Right? Wrong. Your dog’s skin has a different pH level than human skin–human shampoo is almost 200 times too acidic for your dog. Their skin is only about three to five cells thick, while ours is 10-15 cells thick.

Kind of a big difference.

 

Rufus & Coco

Rufus & Coco—Australia’s most awarded pet brand–offers exclusively all-natural products, designed to gently, but thoroughly, clean your dog’s fur.

Skeptical about all-natural claims?

Australia has some of the most rigorous product standards in the world, setting the bar high.

 

Water Free Wash

Pacific North2est winters are rough, y'all. Keeping my Great Pyrenees clean and white is a daily struggle. I hate bathing them frequently because it isn't good for their fur, but they need sprucing! That's why I'm loving Rufus & Coco's Water Free Wash. #whatadogwants #petsmartgrooming #newtopetsmart #rufusandcoco #naturallyaustralian #feellikeashowdog

When the floofs are in between baths, I’m not sure what to do. Do I wash them and potentially strip their natural oils? Or do I just let my house become even more disgusting?

There has to be a middle ground.

That’s when I learned about dry shampoo for dogs.

I tried the whole DIY cornstarch and baking powder dry shampoo trick, but I just wasn’t satisfied with results. Plus, the dogs ended up with a weird, lingering scent. I searched for other options and learned about Rufus & Coco.

 

Related: Grooming a Double Coated Dog

 

It’s safe to say that Rufus & Coco Water Free Wash has become my new secret weapon for keeping my Great Pyrenees clean in the winter (psst… if your dog hates water, give dry shampoo a try).

Pacific Northwest winters are rough, y'all. Keeping my Great Pyrenees clean and white is a daily struggle. I hate bathing them frequently because it isn't good for their fur, but they need sprucing! That's why I'm loving Rufus & Coco's Water Free Wash. #whatadogwants #petsmartgrooming #newtopetsmart #rufusandcoco #naturallyaustralian #feellikeashowdog

Water Free Wash cleans by absorbing oils and dirt in your dog’s coat, while also neutralizing odor.

Not to mention, it adds that extra poof to their floof.

Also, I have to make a quick shout out to the 3in1 Pamper Spray. It’s a great way to freshen your floof between baths. My three don’t even mind it!

  

When it’s time to use water

Pacific Northwest winters are rough, y'all. Keeping my Great Pyrenees clean and white is a daily struggle. I hate bathing them frequently because it isn't good for their fur, but they need sprucing! That's why I'm loving Rufus & Coco's Water Free Wash. #whatadogwants #petsmartgrooming #newtopetsmart #rufusandcoco #naturallyaustralian #feellikeashowdog

I am super particular about the shampoo I use on Mauja, Atka, and Kiska. They all have extremely sensitive skin (and react to a lot of things), so I’m always trying to avoid a week of dosing them with Benadryl.

Rufus & Coco shampoos are hypoallergenic, non-toxic, and concentrated–so a little goes a long way.

They have several shampoos (including a special puppy shampoo!), but my absolute favorite is the 2in1 Bright White Wash. It definitely helps keep my trio white even in the rainy season.

 

Rufus & Coco products are now available at PetSmart! Take a look.

 

Pacific Northwest winters are rough, y'all. Keeping my Great Pyrenees clean and white is a daily struggle. I hate bathing them frequently because it isn't good for their fur, but they need sprucing! That's why I'm loving Rufus & Coco's Water Free Wash. #whatadogwants #petsmartgrooming #newtopetsmart #rufusandcoco #naturallyaustralian #feellikeashowdog

5 Must-Have Tools for Grooming Great Pyrenees

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Grooming Great Pyrenees can be a challenge, but it doesn't need to be! Here are my top five must-have tools for grooming Great Pyrenees.

Grooming Great Pyrenees can be a lot of work. Their coats are thick and even though they only blow their coats twice a year, they shed all. year. long.

If you’re using the wrong tools, grooming Great Pyrenees will be that much more difficult. Over the years I’ve given a lot of products a try, and here are my top five grooming tools:

 

Oster Grooming Rake

Grooming Great Pyrenees can be a challenge, but it doesn't need to be! Here are my top five must-have tools for grooming Great Pyrenees.

The Oster Grooming Rake is hands down my absolute favorite tool for grooming Great Pyrenees. I’ve tried so many rakes, and this one gets deep into the undercoat without cutting the fur. My only complaint about the Oster Grooming Rake is that the handle isn’t very comfortable. However, I just wrapped some electrical tape around the handle and it made all the difference!

I get asked a lot about using a Furminator on a Great Pyrenees or breed with a similar coat. My advice is always no. Every time I have used it on a pyr, it has cut and damaged their fur.

 

[Read more…] about 5 Must-Have Tools for Grooming Great Pyrenees

Keeping Our Home Presentable with Swiffer

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If you have a double-coated dog, how do you handle the fur? If we don't do daily brushing sessions, my home pays the price! Thankfully, Swiffer makes it quick and easy to keep our home fur-free.

Keeping Our Home Presentable with Swiffer®

This post is sponsored by Swiffer® and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share information about Swiffer products for pet parents, but we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers. Swiffer is not responsible for the content of this article.

Can someone please tell me how it can possibly be 2017 already? I don’t know about you, but I was ready for the start of a new year. It always encourages me to look back on the past year, determine my successes, and decide what I want to work on in the next year. Ah yes, those popular New Year’s Resolutions. I mentioned earlier this week that resolutions aren’t necessarily my thing. However, I always set goals for myself. Amidst the many, many goals I have, I have several that involve the fluffy butts:

  • Complete the therapy dog certification with Atka
  • Find a carting class to participate in with Mauja
  • Dabble in Rally with Atka (yes, pyrents – I’m serious! ?)
  • Get the fluffies back on a consistent grooming schedule

I used to be so good with our grooming routine. Mauja and Atka were being brushed most nights of the week. I’d turn on the TV and give them a nice brush to end the day. While grooming isn’t something they really enjoy, I have always found it relaxing. However, I’ve been seriously slacking recently and only been brushing them about once per week. My house has paid the price for that.

If you have a double-coated dog, how do you handle the fur? If we don't do daily brushing sessions, my home pays the price! Thankfully, Swiffer makes it quick and easy to keep our home fur-free. Even with daily brushing, shed happens. There’s a common saying for pet parents of dogs with double coats: “My dog only sheds twice per year. For six months in the spring and six months in the fall.” It goes without saying that with only weekly brushing sessions, pet hair envelops my home. Talk about embarrassing if someone wants to swing by the house last minute! Thankfully, I’ve developed a super quick, super easy pet clean-up routine for when I slack in my daily pet grooming.

  1. Quickly vacuum the carpeted areas a guest might see.
  2. Run the Swiffer® Sweeper® on the laminate flooring.
  3. Spot clean the muddy paw prints with the Swiffer® WetJet™, which are ALWAYS there – darn Pacific Northwest living! 😉
  4. If I have an extra minute, I’ll run my Swiffer® Duster™ over the coffee table and entertainment center to remove the fur (how does so much fur end up on the elevated surfaces?!).

Swiffer

  There are so many reasons I love using Swiffer products, but here are a few top benefits:

  • All are quick, easy, and lightweight
  • The dry cloth for the Swiffer Sweeper has grooves which trap dirt, dust, and hair.
  • The wet cloth easily dissolves dirt and grime without the hassle of a mop and bucket.
  • The Swiffer Duster showcases Dust Lock Adhesive which easily cleans all the nooks and crannies in your house for a 3x better clean than a feather duster.

Like every product, it isn’t perfect for all situations. Pyr fur is long and thick and when I only do weekly a brushing, there is a lot to sweep up. It doesn’t always “lock” the copious amounts of fur. However, it still does a great job of collecting the fur into an easy to manage pile while simultaneously trapping the dirt that brooms miss.

Pro tip: After running the Swiffer, simply prop it in the corner. The Swiffer Sweeper will collect all the dust and hair and disguise it until you have a moment to clean up the excess. Or if you’re like me, until you decide you’ve piled up enough fur in the corner 😉

Daily grooming helps pets and pet owners bond in many ways, and can prevent shedding, but shed happens! With Swiffer, pet parents can get a thorough clean in minutes, so pet hair mess is never an obstacle to bonding. – Dr. Evan Antin, Swiffer Spokesperson

If you have a double-coated dog, how do you handle the fur? If we don't do daily brushing sessions, my home pays the price! Thankfully, Swiffer makes it quick and easy to keep our home fur-free.
My Swiffer, a glass of Merlot, and a Great Pyrenees #PyrMomLife 😉

I couldn’t agree more and want you to experience the Swiffer products for yourself. Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a Big Green Box full of Swiffer products!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Can’t wait? Visit Swiffer to learn more about how pet parents can keep their home clean and smelling fresh with the Swiffer® Sweeper®, the Swiffer® Duster™ and the Swiffer® Wet Jet™.

In the meantime, visit Swiffer on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube and check out tips from Dr. Antin on Facebook and Instagram.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Swiffer. The opinions and text are all mine.

Getting Holiday-Ready with RELIQ

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It's Dog or Nothing | Getting Holiday-Ready with RELIQGetting Holiday-Ready with RELIQ

I’m not sure how we’re about to enter December already, but whether we’re ready or not, it’s here! With as much joy this time of year brings, it also prompts a bit of stress. The stress of finding the perfect gifts, having a recipe (not to mention an outfit) for every holiday party, and most significantly, preparing to host guests in your home.

While Great Pyrenees don’t have typical “doggie odor”, we now live in the Pacific Northwest. Pyrs may be “immune” to the typical smell, but no dog can avoid the horrid wet dog smell. Candles can help mask, or even eliminate, the smell, but unless you beat the smell at its source, it will always exist.

What’s the obvious solution to beat the smell? Give them a bath, of course. But once again, you must truly eliminate the odor. Too many dog shampoos only mask the odor, leaving you with a scented wet dog. That’s almost worse than pure wet dog smell! If the shampoo does truly eliminate the odor, it’s often full of chemicals that really shouldn’t be put on dogs or leaves your dog’s coat with a “waxy” feeling.

It's Dog or Nothing | Getting Holiday-Ready with RELIQ

Thankfully, RELIQ offers shampoos that eliminate the smell without covering your dog in harmful chemicals. Their secret – volcanic minerals and nano-science.

Unlike most pet shampoos that utilize herbal extracts and vitamins to nourish your dog’s skin and coat and eliminate the odor, RELIQ recognizes that these ingredients aren’t enough to truly eliminate the smell. Instead, they use proprietary volcanic minerals to eliminate the odor-causing bacteria and effectively clean your pet’s hair and skin. Because RELIQ completely eliminates (rather than masks) the odors, your pet will stay fresher and cleaner for even longer. No more trying to mask the smell to avoid the dreaded “b word” for as long as possible 😉

Why RELIQ?

It's Dog or Nothing | Getting Holiday-Ready with RELIQ

Aside from complete odor elimination, RELIQ products have several other benefits:

  • Gentle, easy-rinse formula
  • Natural, fortifying vitamins and minerals
  • Safe for dogs who lick their fur post bath (I’m looking at you, Mauja)
  • Natural relief of itchy skin
  • Moisturizes skin and coat
  • Environmentally-safe
  • Groomer-friendly formula to avoid dry, blistered hands

RELIQ also offers 5 different scents, each with a unique purpose. While all 5 scents contain the key minerals eliminate odors and promote healthy skin/coat, you can then pick a formula specifically for your dog’s needs. For example, I choose different formulas for Mauja and Atka. Mauja is currently using the Lavender formula for a calm mind and Atka uses the Green Tea formula for a deeper clean.

Helping Mauja’s Itchies

It's Dog or Nothing | Getting Holiday-Ready with RELIQ

If you’ve been following us recently, you know that Mauja has been dealing with some horrendously itchy skin, which is causing rashes all over her belly. We are still working with the vet to try and figure out the source of her recent itchiness, but it was recommended to try bathing her in an oatmeal shampoo to alleviate her discomfort. Not only could I not find one that smelled nice, but it didn’t seem to work very well.

After a few failed attempts, we tried the RELIQ shampoo because it is said to be extremely nourishing. While it hasn’t solved her itchiness since we don’t know the root of the problem, it has definitely been more effective in offering relief than any oatmeal shampoo we’ve tried.

Beyond Shampoo

It's Dog or Nothing | Getting Holiday-Ready with RELIQ

RELIQ offers several other products for keeping your dog healthy. My current favorite is the Light-Activated Odor Eliminator for Dogs. If you have a Great Pyrenees, you know they shouldn’t be bathed very frequently. However, there is no avoiding the wet weather this time of year! If Mauja and Atka are getting a bit of wet dog smell, I’ll spritz them with the Lavender Odor Eliminator. Unlike other products on the market that only mask the odor due to large particles, he nano-enhanced minerals are able to break through the odor molecules and instantly dissolve them.

For dog’s with really itchy, red skin, RELIQ has a Skin Solution product to fight the microbes that lead to skin allergies and hot spots. This is actually our next step with Mauja. Since we’ve loved the other products so much, I’m hoping the Skin Solution can help her itchiness even more.

It's Dog or Nothing | Getting Holiday-Ready with RELIQ

We’ve also been using the Ear Solution as a natural alternative to traditional ear cleaners. Since it is a non-alcohol formula, it doesn’t have the typical chemical smell associated with ear solutions. As much as Mauja and Atka hate their ears being cleaned, they tolerate the RELIQ Ear Solution more than others we have tried. I think they don’t mind it as much because the lack of chemicals makes it a non-stinging solution.

Holiday-Ready Thanks to RELIQ

As we’re preparing to have guests in our home over the next month, I plan to keep plenty of RELIQ products, specifically the Odor Eliminator Spray on hand to keep the fluffies smelling fresh. If I’m going to put a lot of effort into keeping the house clean and smelling nice, I don’t want it to be tainted with scented wet dog smell!

Ready to try RELIQ products yourself? Use code “ITSDOGORNOTHING” for 30% off your RELIQ purchase!

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It's Dog or Nothing | Getting Holiday-Ready with RELIQ

Disclaimer: I received the product mentioned above and compensation in exchange for my honest review. Don’t worry – an advertiser will never influence the content of this blog and It’s Dog or Nothing only shares products we love and believe in.

Great Pyrenees Info – A Beginner’s Guide

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Have you thought about adding a Great Pyrenees to your family? Here's a basic guide to determine if a pyr might be a good fit!

 

History

The Great Pyrenees, or Pyrenean Mountain Dog, is an ancient guardian breed that originates from the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain, although many believe they can be traced even further back to Siberia. These dogs were bred to handle the dangerous task of guarding flocks of sheep and other livestock on the steep mountains from predators, all without human intervention.

Paintings and literature depict Great Pyrenees at least 2,000 years ago, however often under a different name. In 1675, the Great Pyrenees became a royal court dog due to their beauty, elegance, and majestic appearance by King Louis XIV.

 

Appearance

The Great Pyrenees is a regal dog who is predominately white, although some have coloring on their bodies. Per the breed standard, Great Pyrenees may have badger marks in various shades gray, brown, and tan on their face and covering up to 1/3 of their body. The double dew claws on the hind legs are also a classic breed characteristic.

Height at the withers is 27-32 inches for males and 25-29 inches for females. Weight should be proportionate to the size and structure of the dog. Typically, Great Pyrenees will range from 90-150 pounds at a healthy weight.

The Great Pyrenees is considered a medium boned breed (for reference, a Newfoundland is well boned and a Mastiff is heavy boned). This means that a 120-pound pyr could appear to be the same size as a 150-pound Newfoundland. A Great Pyrenees should not be overly lumbering or light—the dog’s proportions are most important.

[Read more…] about Great Pyrenees Info – A Beginner’s Guide

Zilch, Zero, None: A Mat-Free Pyrenees

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about keeping your Great Pyrenees (or other giant breed dog) mat-free!

Zilch, Zero, None: A Mat-Free Pyrenees

Today is the last day of the A to Z Challenge. Can you believe it? I’m sure you all are sick of hearing from me 6 days a week. I’d certainly be sick of me 😉

We have one last super quick post to wrap up the challenge. Mostly, we wanted to offer a giveaway for another favorite grooming product: The Stuff.

Dogs with long coats, especially long double coats, are highly susceptible to mats. Regardless of how much brushing you do, they’re bound to happen. Mauja and Atka tend to get them behind their ears every now and then. Cutting out a mat isn’t recommended – I’ve seen far too many injuries from people trying to remove mats. Thankfully, there’s a better way.

The Stuff

Yes, this stuff is really called “The Stuff”. The Stuff is a leave-in conditioner and detangler to remove and prevent tangles. Not only does it condition the coat, but it is also formulated with silicone to repel dirt and dust. The Stuff is a non-toxic, hypoallergenic formula to prevent any possible reactions.

I absolutely love The Stuff.

I use it on wet and dry fur to keep their coats soft and shiny. If they do develop a mat, I simply spray it with The Stuff and then use the Safari De-Matting Comb to finish the job.

Easy peasy!

Okay, I’m not going to ramble on about this product and how much we love it. It’s the end of a long, taxing challenge so I’m just going to jump straight to the good stuff – the giveaway!

Would you like to try The Stuff on your dog? Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win!

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about keeping your Great Pyrenees (or other giant breed dog) mat-free!

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Rake the Undercoat [GIVEAWAY!]

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about how to rake that pesky undercoat!Rake the Undercoat

Guys, I really don’t know why it’s taken me so long to really mention this here on It’s Dog or Nothing.

I link to this product all the time, yet I’ve never spent much time on it.

Today, we will be talking about my absolute favorite tool for raking the fluffies’ undercoat: the Oster Grooming Rake.

When Mauja started to get her adult coat, I decided to use the Furminator for brushing. I had purchased it for our lab/husky mix and it was absolutely ah-mazing. Unfortunately, I was not so thrilled when I used it on Mauja. The Furminator just ripped and tore her fur giving her the appearance of split ends!

Needless to say, I was not pleased and began the search for a better way to remove the pesky undercoat. After being completely disappointed with a few grooming rakes from our local pet store, I stumbled across a discussion on grooming tools in one of the Great Pyrenees Facebook groups I’m a part of. There were a ton of recommendations, but the one that stood out to me most was the Oster Grooming Rake.

I ordered it that day and have never looked back!

What I Love About the Rake

  • It doesn’t scratch the skin. There was a brush I used to use (not a rake) with metal bristles. Atka absolutely hated when I used that brush. It took me far too long to realize that he didn’t like the metal bristles scraping his skin. Can you blame him?
  • Fur cutting is minimal. My biggest complaint with the Furminator was that it cut their fur and made them look uneven. The Oster grooming rake gets out the dead undercoat with minimal cutting. I definitely notice a difference using this rake!
  • It works. If you have a dog with a long, thick, double-coat, you know how difficult it can be to find appropriate grooming tools. I tried so many rakes that just untangled the outer coat and left the undercoat to mat.

What I Don’t Love About the Rake

While it doesn’t hurt Mauja and Atka, it definitely hurts me. After almost every brushing session, my hand is bright red and I usually end up with a blister or two. When things get really bad, I’ll put on a glove to keep it from destroying my hand!

Hey, Oster – we’d really appreciate it if you added a comfort grip to the handle! 😉

Other than the discomfort when brushing for long periods of time, I don’t have anything negative to say about it. For that reason, I want to offer a giveaway so one of you can try it for yourself!

Enter using the widget below to win an Oster Grooming Rake!

Have you ever tried the Oster Grooming Rake? Do you have another rake that works wonders for the undercoat?

I am not being compensated to talk about Oster and the giveaway is being hosted by us here at It’s Dog or Nothing!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about how to rake that pesky undercoat!

Quick Avoidance

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about avoiding your dog's quick.

Quick Avoidance

Have you ever accidentally nicked your dog’s quick?

I have and I felt like the absolute worst dog mom in the entire world.

I was trimming Mauja’s nails, which she never had a problem with. Just as I went to cut, she heard something and jerked her leg. Even though the nail clippers had a “safety stopper”, it was just enough for me to cut the quick.

She yipped, I squealed, and my carpet turned red.

I freaked out.

I had never done that before. Even with Kaeto’s combination of white and black nails (which are the WORST to cut), I had managed to avoid it. Poor Mauja.

Since it was the first time I had ever done that, I really wasn’t sure what to do. I grabbed some paper towels to add pressure to the exposed nail and grabbed my phone for a quick Google search. What did we ever do without the internet?

After some quick research (see what I did there?), I found 5 ways to stop the bleeding. Thankfully, I had a few of the required materials at home.

  1. Baking soda, flour, or cornstarch. The first time I cut Mauja’s quick, this is the method we resorted to. I didn’t have anything fancy to stop the bleeding, but I did have cornstarch in my pantry! Grab a small amount and press it onto your dog’s nail, holding it there as the wound clots. The nail will most likely be sensitive, so ensure you’re gentle as you wait for it to clot.
  2. Styptic powder. After Mauja’s incident, this was the first thing I purchased. Since it contains ferric subsulfate (which contracts blood vessels and stops bleeding), I figured it would be more beneficial than cornstarch. It also contains Benzocaine to alleviate pain from minor cuts. One of the most popular brands of styptic powder and the one that we purchased is called Kwik Stop. Thankfully, I haven’t had to use it yet!
  3. Styptic pencil. This is a popular method for stopping the bleeding, but many contain silver nitrate which can really sting. Since Mauja is now hesitant about her paws being touched, I don’t plan on trying this one and causing any extra fear. However, it seems like it would be a great option for a travel/first aid kit due to the convenience.
  4. Soap. Well, a bar of soap. I came across this method before finding cornstarch, but much to my surprise, we don’t have any bars of soap! I’d imagine that most people do so this could be a good option if you don’t have any of the above materials. Simply drag the damp bar of soap across the nail and wait for the blood to clot.
  5. Gauze, bandage, and a sock. If you don’t have anything on this list, these tools can definitely work in a pinch. Mauja would not stop trying to lick her nail – every time I got it to clot, she’d lick and it’d start bleeding again. We finally resorted to putting some gauze and a bandage over her bleeding nail (which was one of her rear dewclaws), putting a sock over that foot, and then lightly taping the sock in place. She hated me, but it worked 😉

If none of the aforementioned methods work for your dog and bleeding persists for over 30-60 minutes, call your vet. They will be able to help alleviate the bleeding and make your dog more comfortable.

Most importantly, if you nick the quick make sure you suck up to your dog with some extra snuggles and a special treat. Both necessary for forgiveness 😉

Have you ever cut your dog’s nail too short? How did you stop the bleeding?

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about avoiding your dog's quick.