Broken Dog Nail

From LoveToKnow Dogs

A broken dog nail can be quite painful, and this can make it difficult to remedy the situation. Share some recent visitors' requests for advice.

Visitor Wonders how to Deal with a Broken Dog Nail

My dog broke his nail right on the quick and it bled, but he will not let us touch his paw. I put some hydrogen peroxide on it to clean it up, and my vet wants to put him to sleep in order to cut the nail. Should I just let it be and wait until it falls off?

He is deaf, and has never liked anyone playing with his feet. Since he is deaf, we are unable to comfort him by talking to him like we do with our two other dogs.

The last time he was put under anesthesia, it took him three days to come out of the stupor and I hate to see him go through this for one nail. I can't wait to hear from you.

Thanks~~ Susie

Expert Reply

Hi Susie,

One of my own dogs once tore a nail and had to have it completely removed. I worry that your dog may do more damage to himself if the nail catches on another surface. The open quick also stands a chance of becoming infected, so I do recommend that you have a vet remove it.

Some dogs just don't react well to anesthesia. I don't know how big your dog is, but if it previously took him three days to recover from anesthesia, there's a good possibility that he was over-anesthetized. How confident are you in your current vet, and is this the same person who performed the previous procedure? Remember, it's okay to get a second opinion from another vet.

Best wishes for your dog's recovery.

~~ Kelly

Nail Cut to the Quick

Hello,

My husband accidentally cut the quick of one of our dog's nails this morning. We used styptic powder to stop the bleeding. I am wondering how quickly the nail will heal, and how long I should wait until I take him for a walk on the sidewalk?

Thanks~~ SKelly

Expert Reply

Hi SKelly,

Nipping the nail quick seems serious when you see how much it bleeds, but these things tend to heal very quickly. I'd refrain from walking him on rough, hard surfaces for a day or two, and then you should be able to resume normal walks. If the nail happens to open up again, just use more styptic powder and confine him to his crate for ten to fifteen minutes to give a chance to seal again.

Thanks for your question~~ Kelly

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Comments

Hi Megan,

If it's not bleeding profusely, you may be able to avoid a trip to the vet. The main thing is to watch for signs of infection such as a foul odor, swelling or a pus discharge. If you can avoid this, that tip is going to grow out and then you'll be able to remove the part that's hanging. Now, I'm not a vet, so you want to consider that. Still, I've been through this before, and some I have had to take to the vet, and others healed well on their own. Just keep an eye on the nail and you'll be able to tell what you need to do.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

i was reading the recent submission about taking your dog in to the vet, my dog just today broke off the nail somewhat, where it is still on him barely but has caused him to bleed. i cleaned all blood off the injured area.. my concern is that we dont have the money to take him to the vet right now.. but i put a bandage gauze around his paw to keep it from getting snag.. so would it be ok if i let the nail fall out on its own.. If so what will be the out come afterwards.. please please please get back to me as soon as you can

-- Contributed by: MEgan(Worried and concerned)

Hi Wrinkles,

Panalog is a good ointment for situations like this, and you may be able to find it at Petco. They also have the Banfield vet there, so you may want to let someone take a look at that toe. What you need to watch for is redness, swelling and pus discharge. If you see any of that, take your dog to the vet right away.

Thanks for your question, and I hope that toe heals without any problem.

-- Contributed by: Kelly
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