Very long toenails

Question
Hello

I just got a 5 year old female pug who has been a bit neglected.  She is in fairly good heath but has very long toenails.  I've owned a pug for the last 10 years and this is my second one.  

I need to know how much of the toe nail to trim?  Some of the nails are almost curled into a circle.  I know about the live and dead part of the nail but on unusually long nails is the live part as close to the end as normal length nails?

Thanks

Answer
Since her nails are so badly over grown,. I would take her to the vet, have them cut them back. Chances are her cuticles have grown much too long as well. That means her nails will need to be cut back passed where the quick is. That's best done in the vet's office so that they can stop the bleeding and probably give her a little sedation. It sounds bad, but it really is the best, healthiest thing you can do for her at this point.
Cindi