What is the quick in a dog’s nail?

The story behind the answer

The quick is the living core of a dog’s nail, containing blood vessels and a nerve—so cutting into it hurts and bleeds. In light-colored nails, it appears as the pink area inside the translucent nail; in dark nails it’s hidden, which is why groomers trim tiny amounts at a time. The hard keratin tip is the dead, protective part you can safely clip, not the quick.

Fun fact: regular, small trims can encourage the quick to recede over time, allowing shorter, healthier nails and better posture. If you accidentally nick it, styptic powder helps stop bleeding. Memory tip: “Quick = quit”—quit clipping when you see pink.