Hold your pet's food and gently push down with your thumb at the base of the nail. This will cause the nail to extend slightly, making it easier for you to see the nail. Trim the nail at a 45-degree angle so that they newly cut nail is flush with the floor. There is a blood vessel, in each nail, called the quick (figure 1). Do not cut the nail so short that you cut the quick, always cut just the excess nail. the pinkish colour of the quick is easy to see in pets with light-coloured nails.