Vet Blog » nails

How can I Treat my Dog’s Injured Nail?

Dr. Eric Barchas, DVM — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:10:15 +0000

My dog got her back paw caught in the door and her
whole nail came off. Now just the quick is
showing. I got the bleeding to stop but now it is
slimy and has a bad odor. Have you seen this before
and what should we do????

Melanie
Sarnia, ON, Canada

Nail injuries are very common in dogs. They occur when nails snag on carpet or vegetation, or when a nail catches on any stationary object.

In some instances (such as the one described by the questioner), trauma to the nail causes the nail to come completely off. In other cases, the nail is torn partially off.

In either case, a trip to the vet is in order. Nails that have been partially torn off may need to be removed. Both types of injury can lead to infection. Melanie, I suspect that an infection is the source of the bad odor that is emanating from your dog’s nail. Antibiotics may be necessary to help her heal.

Also, both types of injury can be painful. Your vet can recommend pain killers to make your dog feel better.

Most nails grow back normally after nail injuries. However, in rare cases the nail grows back in an irregular fashion. This rarely harms the affected dog. However, you may have to pay special attention to the nail in question. It may require frequent trimming.

For more information on injured nails in pets, click here.

Photo hat tip: Nicci.

Do Damaged Toenails Require Treatment?

Dr. Eric Barchas, DVM — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:17:58 +0000

My dog broke her dewclaw, but it is still halfway
attached. It is very tender and she WILL NOT let
me touch it. Will it fall off by itself?…and how
long will that take? If not, is there a chance of
infection or anything else I should be aware of?

Any advice?

Dara
Oakland, CA

Torn toenails are very common. Dogs may injure nails during active play or digging. If the nail snags or catches on carpeting, vegetation or rocky soil it may tear or separate from the nail bed.

Damaged nails generally are painful. Your dog’s nail may fall off naturally. However, leaving the nail to its own devices could cause your dog to suffer for several days.

I recommend that you have a vet check your dog’s nail. He or she may be able to remove the injured portion. This will speed up the healing process. I usually perform a nerve block on the affected area before working with it–this numbs the toe and makes the process more pleasant for the dog.

Damaged toenails sometimes become infected. Your vet may prescribe antibiotics if the affected area is red or swollen. Prescription anti-inflammatory painkillers are helpful in most cases as well.

Most damaged toenails grow back normally over time. However, in rare instances damage to the nail bed prevents normal regrowth. Nails that do not grow back normally may be unsightly, but they generally are not painful and do not cause problems for the affected pet.

Should I Worry About Overgrowth on Foot Pads?

Dr. Eric Barchas, DVM — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 13:07:45 +0000

Chessy’s mommy here. I was just trimming
Chessy’s nails (something he loves oooohhhh so
much, NOT) and noticed on one of his paw pads a
growth of some kind.

It is the same color and
texture as his paw, but the shape is almost like
another nail growing out of his paw. It doesn’t
seem to hurt him when I touched it, but it is new.
I know it wasnt there the last time I trimmed his
nails (about a month ago).

He is eating, playing,
acting fine. I had him at the vet a week ago for
his rabies shot and the vet found nothing wrong
with him.

I tried googling it and found some people
mentioning similar things but no one seemed to
know what exactly it was. Is this something
common?

Of course I am freaking out over it.

P
Eagan, MN

Based on your description, I think there is no need to freak out. The types of growths that you describe are very common, and they generally are harmless.

I suspect that your dog has developed an area of overgrowth on his foot pad. These areas are similar to calluses or corns that people develop on their feet. They consist of thick, firm protrusions from the foot pad. Sometimes the growths resemble toe nails growing from the foot pad. In other cases, areas of pad overgrowth may be feathery and softer.

Some cases of foot pad overgrowth occur in response to irritation or trauma to the pad. Other dogs appear to have a hereditary tendency to develop the growths.

Of course, there is a remote chance that something more serious is going on. So, and I’ll bet you saw this coming, I’d recommend that you have your vet take a special look at the area of interest. If foot pad overgrowth is occurring, the vet may be able to trim the excess tissue back to make the pad’s appearance more normal.