How far does the quick run down the nail?

How far does the quick run down the nail?

• A. One inch
• B. Three quarters of an inch
• C. One quarter inch
• D. Two inches

Answer: (B)

The quick is the living tissue inside the nail that contains nerves and blood vessels. Knowing how far it runs helps you trim safely. In most dogs, the quick extends about three quarters of an inch down the nail. That’s why, when evaluating how much to trim, you’re guided by stopping well before reaching that depth and trimming in small increments, especially if the quick isn’t visible. If you see pink inside the nail (on clear or light-colored nails), that’s a cue to stop trimming farther; on dark nails you have to be even more careful and trim a little at a time until you see the color change near the base. The other distances listed aren’t the typical depth of the quick, so they don’t match the common guidance.

The quick is the living tissue inside the nail that contains nerves and blood vessels. Knowing how far it runs helps you trim safely. In most dogs, the quick extends about three quarters of an inch down the nail. That’s why, when evaluating how much to trim, you’re guided by stopping well before reaching that depth and trimming in small increments, especially if the quick isn’t visible. If you see pink inside the nail (on clear or light-colored nails), that’s a cue to stop trimming farther; on dark nails you have to be even more careful and trim a little at a time until you see the color change near the base. The other distances listed aren’t the typical depth of the quick, so they don’t match the common guidance.