Discovering your dog ripped a nail off and is now limping and covered in blood can be distressing. Luckily, integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby is here to help. She explains what to do if your dog rips a nail, why dogs tend to rip nails off, and how to prevent it from happening in the future.
Last week, my family and I joined our dear friends, the Pelcher family, for dinner. They have a very sweet yellow Labrador named Thumper. We were eating a wonderful meal when Thumper limped into the dining room. He had been running and playing with our dog a few minutes prior. Mrs. Pelcher left the table to look at Thumper. I heard her exclaim that his front foot was covered in blood.
I stood up to help her examine Thumper. Sure enough, his front paw was bloody. I quickly discovered that the source was his dewclaw. It was torn and barely hanging on. I assured my dear friend that Thumper was going to be okay and asked her son to grab some cornstarch for me.
I quickly packed the bleeding nail with cornstarch and wrapped Thumper’s paw with a napkin. Mrs. Pelcher was very worried and asked if Thumper’s torn nail was serious. I explained that toenails can bleed a lot and look scary, especially on a light-colored dog. I went on to reassure her that while Thumper’s nail was painful, I could help her manage this injury for the night. Then tomorrow she could bring Thumper into the clinic so his ripped nail could be treated properly.
Unfortunately, it can be very common for dogs to rip nails off just like Thumper did. Thankfully, this is usually a problem that is fairly easy to treat and dogs typically heal well. Let’s explore this further!
What should you do if your dog rips his or her nail off?
First things first. I’m sure some people are frantically reading this article because their dog is bleeding or limping from a ripped toenail. So let’s get you and your pup some help before we dive into the details of how and why nails rip.
Once you suspect your dog ripped a nail off, there are a couple of steps you should take to help your dog. The first four can be done at home, but the last step involves making a vet appointment.
Step 1: Find the damaged nail
The first step is to locate the affected nail. Carefully examine each of your dog’s feet to look for the torn nail. Don’t forget to look at the dewclaws as well if your dog has them.
How severely your dog tore his or her nail can influence how easy it is to find the broken nail. If the dog has ripped the nail off completely, the nail will be missing, and it is likely that the affected area will be bleeding. However, a loosely attached nail may or may not be bleeding.
Remember to be careful as you look at your dog’s foot. Broken nails in dogs can be very painful and sometimes even the sweetest dog will bite as a defense mechanism.
Step 2: Stop the bleeding
Now that you have identified the injured nail, the next step is to stop the bleeding. Gently applying pressure with a paper towel, gauze, cotton ball, or your finger will help.
However, the most effective way to stop the bleeding is to use a styptic pencil or styptic powder. These are antiseptic clotting agents that will help prevent infection as well as stop the bleeding. You can usually purchase them at your local pet store, online, and sometimes from your veterinarian. Dr. Buzby’s Nail Trimming Kit also contains a bottle of styptic powder.
If you don’t have styptic powder or a styptic pencil at your house, you can use cornstarch in a pinch, like I did with Thumper. It won’t help with pain or preventing infection, but it will help the bleeding stop.
Regardless of which you use, ensure you pack a decent amount of the powder or cornstarch onto the broken nail. There needs to be enough to create a layer of protection.
Step 3: Clean the area around the ripped off nail
Once you have stopped the bleeding, carefully clean your dog’s broken nail and foot. Use a clean cloth and warm water to gently remove any debris and dirt. It is important to clean the area and keep it clean to help prevent infection.
As you wipe your dog’s paw, it is possible that some of the clotting powder will come off too. If this happens, apply more in order to prevent the nail from bleeding again.
Step 4: Place a bandage on your dog’s foot
Finally, depending on the severity of the broken nail, you may need to wrap your dog’s paw. If you are wondering how to wrap a dog’s paw, the easiest method is to use gauze, bandage material, and bandaging tape. Carefully, wrap your dog’s paw with the gauze or bandage material and secure the end of the bandage with the tape.
You will want to make the bandage snug enough to provide protection to your dog’s paw and ripped nail without falling off.
However, it is critical to ensure that the wrap is not too tight. Tight bandages can cut off circulation, which may cause significant damage to your dog’s paw. You should be able to fit at least a finger or two inside the top of the bandage. If you can’t, the bandage may be too tight.
Also, you need to change the bandage every 24 hours. This is important because moisture under the bandage or a dirty bandage could increase the chances of infection. By taking the bandage off, you also can check the color and appearance of your dog’s toes. If the toes are swollen, cool to the touch, or discolored, this may indicate the bandage was wrapped too tightly. Contact your veterinarian promptly if you notice any of these changes to the toes at any time in the healing process.
Step 5: Make an appointment with your veterinarian
While a nail injury in dogs doesn’t usually require an emergency vet visit the instant it happens, it can be very painful and there is a risk of infection developing. For these reasons, you should always consult a veterinarian in case your dog needs pain medication or antibiotics.
Following steps 1 through 4 will help you keep your dog comfortable until you can get him or her to the veterinarian. However, I want to be clear that they are not a substitute for a trip to the vet or a conversation with your veterinary team.
What to expect at the vet visit
When you take your dog to his or her appointment, the veterinarian will likely ask you some questions and examine your dog’s injured nail. The veterinarian will base his or her treatment recommendations on the severity of your dog’s nail injury and how painful your dog is.
In the simplest injuries (i.e. a crack or chip in the nail or a break that is far from the nail base), your veterinarian will have a veterinary nurse hold your dog. Then, your dog will get his or her nails trimmed to the appropriate length. With this scenario, it is likely that your dog would not need a bandage or any medications.
In other situations, your dog may need the nail removed the rest of the way, especially if it is dangling or broken close to the base. With a loosely attached nail, sometimes the vet can quickly but carefully remove it while your dog is awake.
However, if your dog has severely torn the nail or is very painful, it is possible that your veterinarian will recommend sedating your dog to remove the nail. This is usually a fairly quick procedure, but the sedation is necessary for the safety of your dog and your veterinarian. It also helps prevent your dog from feeling pain or becoming stressed during the procedure.
Medications and monitoring at home
Depending on how severely your dog broke the nail and which nail it was, your vet may prescribe a few days of pain medication. Also, if your veterinarian notices signs of infection, such as redness or discharge from the affected area, he or she may prescribe antibiotics as well. It is very important to follow the directions closely if your vet prescribes any medications for your dog.
Finally, your veterinarian may decide to replace the bandage for extra protection. If so, he or she will give instructions on bandage care. It is possible that your veterinarian will want to see your dog again for rechecks or bandage changes. If at any point you have concerns about how the nail is looking or how your dog is acting, don’t hesitate to reach out to your vet.
Why do a dog’s toenails rip off?
Now that you know what to do if one of your dog’s nails break, we can dive into more of the “hows” and “whys” of torn toenails. Dog toenails are very similar to our fingernails, except dog nails are longer and stick out further past the toes than most human nails. So it is no surprise that a dog can injure or damage his or her toenails much like we can. A dog may rip a toenail partially or completely off, or have cracked, brittle, or bruised nails.
How often have you broken, smashed, or bent back a nail when doing different tasks? The same holds true for dogs. A dog is most likely to tear or break a nail when being active. This means that dogs who play hard, jump on and off furniture frequently, or love to dig in the yard have a higher chance of snagging a nail on something.
If a dog has separation anxiety and digs at the walls, doors, or crate in a panic, it can be easy for him or her to catch and rip a nail. Dogs can also have a bruised nail if someone accidentally steps on their paw or shuts it in a door.
Sometimes nail problems also can occur due to a nutritional deficiency that doesn’t allow the nails to form properly, thus making them prone to injury. Affected dogs may have flakey or brittle nails. The nails also might be uneven in length and texture.
What makes a dog more likely to rip off a nail?
The biggest risk factor for dogs to have a toenail ripped off is having overgrown nails. Dog with long nails are simply more likely to tear them or snag them on something. This is one of the many reasons it is so important to keep your dog’s nails an appropriate length by trimming them regularly.
Out of all the nails, a dog is most likely to rip off a dewclaw (i.e. the “thumbnail”). Not all dogs have dewclaws. For those that do, the dewclaws can be on the front legs, back legs, or both. They are categorized as being either “loose” or “attached.” This refers to how closely the nail is associated with and attached to the paw. Dogs with “loose” or “floppy” dewclaws are more likely to snag them on something because they dangle further from the paw.
Additionally, dogs who have a history of toenail injuries, brittle nails, or abnormal nail growth are also at increased risk of ripping a nail off. This is because the nail is more likely to be weaker and easier to damage. Plus, nails that are growing abnormally may not contact the ground appropriately. This may change a dog’s gait and prevent the nail from wearing down normally. The result is a long nail that sticks out at a funny angle and can easily catch on something.
Why do ripped nails bleed and hurt?
In order to understand what happens when a dog rips a toenail, it is helpful to have an understanding of dog toenail anatomy Just like our fingernails, dog toenails have two main parts. The first is the outer, hard sheath that protects the nail. This is the part of the nail that you can see when you glance at your dog’s foot. It may be dark or light colored.
The outer shell of the nail protects sensitive inner part of the nail (i.e. the quick). This is where the blood vessels and nerves are located within the nail. It is the part that bleeds when you accidentally clip your dog’s toenail too short or it breaks off. The nerves in the quick are also what make a broken or ripped toenail so painful.
What are the signs a dog ripped a nail off?
You can see now that depending on how and where the toenail rips, the nail may look different and your dog may show different signs. Torn toenails generally fit into one of three categories:
- Completely detached from the foot—This tends to be the most painful since the quick is fully exposed and may be damaged as well.
- Broken but still partially attached—These can still be fairly painful depending on how much quick is exposed and how attached the nail still is. Sometimes the outer shell of the nail can push into the quick and cause more irritation and pain.
- Cracked/chipped but firmly attached—Typically, these are the least painful (or not painful at all) because more of the outer nail shell remains intact and there is a lower chance that the quick will be exposed or damaged.
Depending on the severity of the nail injury and your dog’s pain tolerance, you may see various symptoms including:
- Bleeding from the nail
- Excessive licking of the nail or foot
- The dog limping
- Discomfort when the paw or nail is touched
- A raw spot where the nail should be
- Swelling/redness around the affected nail
- A nail that is sticking out at a funny angle or dangling
- Other signs your dog is in pain
If you notice any of these signs, please closely evaluate your dog to find the source of the pain. Should you find a torn nail, follow the five steps outlined above.
How can I keep my dog from ripping a nail off?
Generally, I am in the camp of saying that prevention is the best medicine. I still believe it in this case. However, I also want you to know that accidents happen. Sometimes a dog will catch and break a toenail no matter how careful you try to be. So don’t be too hard on yourself if your dog tears a nail off.
To help reduce the chances your dog will rip a nail off, consider taking the following precautions :
- Keep your dog’s nails trimmed to the appropriate length—This one is HUGE! Nail trimming doesn’t have to be a traumatic ordeal for you and your dog. Please reach out to your vet for help, check out my Ebook “How to Trim Your Dog’s Nails Without Blood, Sweat, or Tears” or consider signing up for Dr. Buzby’s Nail Trimming Master Class.
- Monitor the toenails closely for signs of cracks, peeling, or breaks.
- Maintain your dog on a healthy, well-balanced diet.
- If your dog is prone to ripping off nails, work with your vet to figure out why it is happening and create a plan to minimize future risk.
- Use training methods to reduce digging.
- Consult your veterinarian for ideas about helping dogs with separation anxiety (or other types of anxiety) if your dog is ripping nails due to anxiety-related behaviors.
While it won’t necessarily help prevent your dog from ripping a nail off, it is also a good idea to regularly practice handling your dog all over. This can help him or her feel more comfortable and confident with you touching his or her paws and toes should a nail injury occur. Additionally, it will reduce the stress of nail trims, vet visits, medication administration, paw bandaging, or other procedures.
Stay calm! You (and your vet) can help your dog!
I know it can be difficult not to panic a little when your dog is painful and bleeding. But should your dog rip a nail, pause for a moment, take a deep breath, and remember the steps we talked about. Then calmly take action and reassure your dog (and yourself) that everything is going to be ok.
As always, please be careful and safe when examining and caring for your dog. Torn nails can be quite painful. And even the best and sweetest dogs can react when they are scared and hurt.
Finally, remind yourself that soon this will be a distant memory. The good news is that ripped nails are not usually life-threatening and typically heal quickly. Together, you and your vet can help your pup’s paw feel better in no time!
Has your dog ever ripped a nail off?
Please share his or her story below.
My Great Dane (9 months old) recently ripped her middle nail off – with the vet on the phone (Sunday night emergency call) he said to remove the nail if possible and then stop bleeding apply dressing and wrap it. All of which she was perfectly good for – there was so much blood as she completely detached her nail at the base of her toe. Well I have been cleaning, applying antiseptic pet spray and inhibit (advised as it’s like a polysporin but for animals) and wrapping it every 24 hours. It’s day 3 now and she still is in pain – her eyes express a lot and I can see she is sad and in pain. The wound itself looks good and is healing – so my question is how long does it take for an injury of this (there’s a hole at the base of her toe) for the pain to go away? And how long should i continue this routine? Today she has been pretty calm and tired so no bandage unless she goes outside …. Not herself by any means but it’s worrisome. I have pictures if needed. Also with this kind of injury will she regrow a nail ? Thanks!
Hi Janelle,
I am so sorry your big girl endured this painful injury to her toe. It is hard to put a definite timeline on how long it could stay painful. As long as inflammation is present, the pain may persist. You may need to reach out to your vet and ask about a pain and anti-inflammatory medication. Also, most dogs do end up regrowing a toenail but occasionally the nail bed is too badly damaged and inhibits nail regrowth. If you have any concerns about how things are going, don’t hesitate to call your vet. They can take a look at the pictures and offer guidance during this tricky recovery process. Best wishes and keep up the good work!
My 3 year old JRT has ripped her nail of her back paw it bled a lot took to vets on pain meds antibiotics for 5 days then got go back to vets after antibiotics have finished my dog isn’t crying but now limping is this normal and how long will she not use her paw for just worried she’s limping while on pain meds and antibiotics vets didn’t cover her paw I can’t touch the area as it’s painful for her.
Hi Kelly,
I am sorry your young pup has injured her paw and ripped a nail off. Most of these kinds of injuries heal very quickly and do not cause any lingering lameness. The fact that your girl is still showing signs of pain does have me concerned. Without examining her myself I can’t make conclusions as to the reason for these complications. I recommend you contact your vet and make sure they are aware of these ongoing issues. They may need to do more investigation such as x-rays. Hoping you can get the answers you need and get things back on track so your girl can make a full recovery. Best wishes to you both.
Winston our 4 year old Yellow English Lab tore off his back right foot middle nail completely. (chasing a 2 year old female….., go figure). We stopped the bleeding with bleedstop powder. Cleaned and will monitor. He doesn’t seem to be in any distress at this time. There’s no way we can keep a bandage on it as he keeps ripping it off even with a head guard on. The vet office is closed for next 2 days as they are moving the office. Will monitor. Never expected that dogs can lose a nail like this. Thanks for info.
Hi Paul,
I am sorry Winston tore his nail off (at least he was having fun!) and you are having to handle this situation at home. It sounds like you have done everything I would recommend and have things under control. While it still may be in his best interest to have the injured toe examined by your vet, I feel confident your boy will be just fine and things will resolve quickly. Hoping all is well and wishing you the best of luck.
Four days ago, our 11-year-old Chihuahua mix ripped one of his back nails completely off. There was a lot of blood, but he never made a noise and let us clean the wound. We packed it and wrapped it with some gauze. Then we put a cone on him, gave him a baby aspirin, and popped him in his carrier to rest. The gauze lasted about 20 minutes before he got it off. No matter what we did, he kept taking it off. We decided to keep the area that his nail was ripped from clean and treated it with hydrogen peroxide and antibiotic ointment. The first couple of days, when he needed to go outside, we would wrap his foot with a little plastic baggie and some painter’s tape. He didn’t seem bothered when it was on, but then again he didn’t usually have it on for more than 5 minutes. We stopped wrapping it yesterday. He doesn’t seem bothered with his little boo-boo; not favoring the foot or acting like it hurts at all. Should I keep doing what I am doing?
Hi Kate,
I am sorry your little pup ripped his toenail off, but it sounds like you did a great job getting things under control. These types of injuries tend to heal very quickly so it is possible all is well, and you can let your boy resume normal activities. If you have any lingering concerns don’t hesitate to reach out to your vet for guidance. I would offer one word of caution about the baby aspirin. The safe dosage for dogs is EXTREMELY SMALL and this medication is easy to overdose and can have some nasty side effects (such as bleeding). You boy is lucky to have you taking such good care of him. Take care and keep up the good work!
Don’t use hydrogen peroxide ongoingly!!! it will inhibit nail regrowth! i’m so sorry i’ve been diligently cleaning my pups busted off nail and the fully grown quick, but using hydrogen peroxide will stop the nail from regrowing !
i could use some advice to find what should i do from here? her quick is fully grown out but it’s looking crooked now and the nail has barely emerged from the base.
Hi Dustin,
You are correct! While hydrogen peroxide is great for killing bacteria, it can also kill some of the healthy tissue cells causing delayed healing. I would not recommend using it daily or for chronic issues. Without examining your pup myself, it is hard to get a clear picture of what is happening with her nail. It sounds like a visit to your vet would be best. Hoping all is well and wishing your girl the best of luck.
Hi! My Jack Russell completely ripped her back “pinky toe” about a week ago. Went to vet and was sent home with only pain meds. I can’t keep a bandage on this Houdini and she also some now still licks it with a cone on. I don’t leave a cone on her while I’m at work. It still seems red to me. Joe long does it take to start to dry up and scab over? I also do agility with her and was wondering how long before I could resume that. Vet said when she seems comfortable doing it. She’s a Jack Russell terrier and they are known for working through a lot. I don’t want her re-injure it and be out for longer. Thanks!
Laurie
Hi Laurie,
I am sorry your girl has injured her toe. Damaged nails (or missing ones) usually heal very quickly with little risk of complications. With that being said, your best chance at getting this resolved as soon as possible will probably have you keeping the cone on your pup throughout the day, consistently, until the toe is completely healed. If you can keep her from licking it, it should be healed within 7-10 days. It can take longer for the nail to grow back, but the goal is healthy tissue with a layer of “skin” covering it (doesn’t feel tacky and no moisture present). If your pup can still lick her foot with the cone on, then the cone may be too short, and you would need to go up a size. Make sure your vet is aware of these ongoing issues. They can help troubleshoot and guide you through the recovery process. Hoping you see results quickly and praying for complete healing.
Hello,
My dog Hugo broke his nail off today. My husband took him to an emergency vet and he was given a “torn nail treatment” and an injection with pain meds . They also put a bandage that was advised to take off at the end of the day. However every time we try to take the bandage off he is in a lot of pain . I don’t know what to do ! Please help
Hi Ana,
I am so sorry Hugo is painful and you are struggling to remove the bandage. It makes me suspicious that the bandage material may have become stuck to the “wound”. I encourage you to reach out to the emergency clinic or your regular veterinarian and see if they will assist in the bandage removal. Hoping all is well today and praying for a quick recovery for Hugo.
Hello,
My pup ripped his dewclaw off a week ago and the whole quick is exposed. Thank you for your great article, it has been reassuring! I’m struggling to find any information on what the healing process looks like. He’s on antibiotics and pain meds from the vet but they said no follow up necessary, The quick has gone from raw, bright red, and wet looking to kind of dry looking with black on the tip. Does this sound normal? Also, how does the nail re-grow? Does it grow from the bottom up around the quick? Does it grow out of the quick everywhere all at once? Not sure what I’m looking for and I want my boy to be happy and well.
Thanks!!
Hi Monica,
I am sorry your pup experienced this painful event. It sounds like you are doing everything right and that things are progressing as hoped. The damaged tissue is drying up and will eventually fall off like a scab. The new nail will grow out from the nail bed/tissue at the tip of the toe just like our nails regrow from the cuticle. And a new quick will form inside the nail as it regrows. I am hopeful your boy will continue down the path to a full recovery. Take care and keep up the good work!
hi my 9 year old mastiff pulled out a nail on her little toe she has a real phobia of people touching her feet always has she bleeds sometimes she’s not limping but don’t know what to do
Hi Sue,
I am sorry your girl has injured her toe and I understand your concern. It can be very difficult to help and fully assess the situation when a dog is nervous or has anxiety about their feet being touched. Without examining your girl, myself, it is hard to make specific conclusions. My best advice is if you are worried and think there could be an ongoing issue, please reach out to your vet. They may need to schedule an appointment to evaluate the injury or could offer some suggestions for follow up care at home.
Hi.
My Blue heeler has ripped out her nail from rear foot. Happened while we were at work. No bleeding at all. I think she must have tended to that prior to us finding her.
Seen by the vet and given antibiotics, anti-inflamitories but she is still limping days later. She wont bear weight and seems to still have pain.
How long before she will use the leg again?
Hi Robyn,
I am sorry your girl is experiencing pain and mobility issues. It concerns me that she is still having so much trouble days after the injury occurred. I do not expect my patients to have ongoing pain and lameness for more than 24-48 hours after a toenail injury. Please reach out to your vet and let them know your pup is not using the affected leg. I highly recommend you schedule a follow up appointment and consider further investigation into this issue. Best of luck and praying for a quick resolution.
my dog just ripped one of her nails COMPLETELY out i think on my steps outside. poor thing, blood everywhere. but i cleaned it, applied pressure and then wrapped it in gauze, im going to check in a couple hours when she is more calm to make sure its not bleeding. i wasnt sure about using the powder only because i wasnt sure how deep it was, but i think when i go to check it next, i will sprinkle some on just to help with infections, i hope it heals quick !
Dear Danielle,
I am sorry your pup ripped her nail off, but it sounds like you have things under control. If you have any doubts about how the toe is healing don’t hesitate to reach out to your vet. Hoping everything resolves quickly and your girl makes a full recovery.
Thank you for this helpful post — Our dog pulled his dewclaw out seven days ago by getting caught on a fence. Our vet advised home care with wrapping bandages (fresh one daily), keeping them dry, airing out the paw, and taking carprofen daily with food for pain / anti-inflammation. How long is typical to continue with bandages?
Hi Hayley,
Without examining your dog’s dewclaw, myself, it is hard to make specific recommendations. I would assume the bandages are just to keep the wound clean and dry while it heals. As soon as the wound has closed and sealed over with tissue/skin/scab then the risk of infection should be minimal. I would think you could stop bandaging as soon as you notice you have reached this point in the healing process. If you have any concerns, please reach out to your vet. You may be able to send them a picture to allow them to evaluate your dog’s dewclaw a bit better.
My 7lb Long-haired Chihuahua (Mercedez) got herself in a pickle. Which inturn got me frantic. She seemed to separate her thumb toenail from the quick. She has never let me touch her feet even from 8wks old. She is now 2yrs old. Trust me, I ALWAYS TRIED TO DAILY. I know all to well to introduce these things from an early age. However. she has never had it. So this is making both of us stressed and getting nowhere good.
Unfortunately, every single vet I called including her own cannot see her for at least two weeks.
The animal hospital is over a two hour drive plus it’s four hundred dollars to walk on the door and tell them my name before they request my credit card.
At the moment I don’t have the means to pay that. I’m still paying for a 10k bill from the last visit.
Obviously like anybody does in 2023 I turn to google. Along with many other places on the internet it also brought me here. I figured why not let’s give this a try. Maybe somebody out there has some help for me.
So far I had it wrapped for the first two days, a thousand scratches, about five bites later, and 4 people, we were able to get on a adhesive bandage on it.
Unfortunately it was starting to slide down and I didn’t want it to start to pull on the nail. So last night I took it off. She became completely ridiculous and refused for me to touch any of her feet. Never mind the one that there’s the boo-boo. I thought I was going to break her ribs. That left me without wrapping it. I quickly ordered a spray adhesive (FOR DOGS) to put on there along with a medic spray. Which will be shipped here today.
My question is…
Can I put that spray on the exposed quick/broken thumbnail???
Like my game plan is to clean the area and spray that adhesive everywhere around that area. Google says yes. But I’d like to be sure.
She’s not bleeding. I have the doggy cone of shame on to prevent her from licking it.
But there’s no way I can put a bandage on her.
And I cannot get to her vet for a couple weeks.
(Scheduled appt for 21st 2023 @10am.)
Soooo…Can I clean it and put the liquid band aid on? Would that be sufficient until the 21st?
Someone Anyone PLEASE HELP!!!
Thank you so much inadvance ♥︎ ♡
Hi Carrie Ann,
I am sorry you are in such a difficult situation with your pup. Without examining the broken nail, myself, it is hard to make specific recommendations or know what is safe for Mercedez. From personal experience, liquid band aid stings quite a bit when placed on even a small scratch or cut. I can only imagine how painful this might be for your dog with an exposed quick from her dew claw. If it is a product made specifically for dogs, then maybe it will not have that effect, but I am not familiar with the spray you mentioned. Your best bet is to have your vet take a look at the injured nail and let you know what action needs to be taken. I am glad you have an appointment scheduled. I understand how frustrating it can be that you have to wait so long. Hoping all is well and your sweet girl is on the mend. Best wishes.
hi my dogs dew nail has come right off she seems okay not crying or fretting but it is a bit red and swelling, should I take her to the vet? I’m just financially struggling at the moment..
Hi Amanda,
Usually, I would not be concerned if your pup is acting normally and there is no bleeding. But if you are seeing some swelling it might be a good idea to have your vet take a look. You may be able to take a picture of the dew claw, send it to your vet, and see if they think it needs to be examined.
My pup has ripped her claw right out she is bleeding when walking around is this normal she is not showing signs of pain she is a miniature sausage dog and she is 11 months
Hi Debbie,
Bleeding is definitely not normal although it would be expected after ripping a toenail off. I recommend you use the tips and advice from the article to try and get the bleeding stopped. If you still have any concerns or the bleeding has continued, please contact your vet right away.
Our 4 yr old schnauzer’s nails were pretty long and very thick. We had him groomed less often during COVID. He has now lost all but 1 nail on his front paws. He shows no signs of injury – no pain, limping, or bleeding. We simply find this odd looking hard, curved chunk of nail on the floor, almost like it was an outer shell. There are little nails growing in. Is this normal?
Hi Kathy,
What you are describing has me quite puzzled! This definitely doesn’t sound normal. It might be a good idea to have your dog evaluated by your vet. He could have an endocrine disease or other issue contributing to his toenail loss. Hoping you can find some answers and wishing you both the best of luck.
Hi, I took my four-years-old chocolate lab for a walk as everyday during the morning and the afternoon for no more than 10 min. This morning was -10 Cº, no snow (I live in Canada). She was fetching the ball as usual and I noticed after around four rounds she came back with no ball, and looked at me as if something was wrong, then she begun to lick her paws and that’s when I noticed two nails were broken one on each front paws and the same exact nail on each. I use to trim her nails once a month, but this last month I skipped the usual date so I’m aware they were longer than usual. It’s not the first time though she has them a bit longer but this is the first time they got broken like that. My only guess is that cold weather might have had a roll on this?
Hi Frank,
I am sorry your pup was having issues with breaking toenails. Yes, I would guess the cold temperatures had an effect on how brittle her nails were. Did they heal up ok? Hoping all is well and your girl is back to living her best life.
my siberian husky has been licking at his front paw for over a week now, and at one point it got swollen so we took him to the vet. the vet we took him to examined his paw & said there’s nothing wrong with it. dog hasn’t stopped licking the paw but does it less & is still active. today he went to the groomers & while the groomer was trimming his nails, his entire nail came off from his back paw & there was another nail growing under it. the groomer disinfected it and wrapped it up & we will take our dog to another vet tomorrow. my dog is still licking his front paw & the nails there seem to be very red.
im afraid the nails on his front paws will come out too. the last vet said there were no signs of infection. im really worried, will my dog be okay?
Hi Emaan,
I understand your concern for your Husky and these strange issues with his toenails. Since I haven’t examined him myself, I can’t make specific conclusions or recommendations. What you are describing sounds puzzling, and I do think it needs some investigation. I am suspicious there could be an immune mediated condition causing the problem. I am glad you are planning to take your pup for a second opinion. I hope you can find the answers you need to help restore your sweet boy’s health. Feel free to leave an update once you have more information. Wishing you both the best.
We called 4 vets, including our own. All had doctors out sick(?) and were fully filled up with other patients. They gave us the number of an urgent care clinic, they were filled up for days. The nail is still hanging there.
What does one do when they are in this situation where no care is available, even from your own vet??!!
Hi Mike,
I am so sorry you were in this difficult situation. I hope you were able to get some help for your dog. In this situation I would recommend to gently wrap the paw to keep it from further injury and plan to keep seeking help from any clinic that has the next available opening for an appointment. Unfortunately, what you are describing is common all over the country. One big issue veterinarians are facing is a lack of people who are willing to work and have the experience needed to fill the gaps. This lack of staff includes assistants, techs, and veterinarians! Since there is not enough staff to handle the workload, clinics are having to reduce the number of appointments they can see each day, refuse complicated cases such as emergencies, and decline to take new clients. These compromises hurt everyone involved, including the clinic. I hope we will see this issue start to turn itself around soon. How is your pup today? Praying all is well and the crisis has been resolved.
Yes completely ripped out a 3rd toenail while playing at the park. He wasn’t yelping I saw blood. I grabbed a cloth, wrapped his foot. He is over 100lbs so my Granddaughter got it with Tom/dog. We got home since he is well trained He laid down as I checked his foot/wound ., cleaned with soap and water, put antibiotic ointment on it once bleeding stopped, wrapped paw with cloth bandage. I gave him 2 baby aspirin. I laid beside him for awhile. Then later cleaned with qtip and peroxide then reapplied ointment. Next day I soaked paw in Epsom salt for a few mins then wiped paw softly to dry it then reapplied ointment. The ointment has a little something in it for pain. I did apply 1% cortisone ointment. When it appeared that area was healing nicely I trimmed fur back from injury to keep out germs. It’s been 2 weeks and I still check it which seems to be healing. I do soak it in Epsom salt to help keep wound area clean and I give him 2 baby aspirin a day for pain along with his usual treats. Probably go to vet soon to see if anything else needs to be done. Hope my experience helps someone else. My Tom and I are very close but I’m on a very tight budget.
Hi Joanie,
I am glad you were able to get the bleeding stopped and clean Tom’s torn nail at home. Do you still have concerns about how things are progressing? Since it has been two weeks from when the nail was damaged, it shouldn’t need to be soaked or treated at this point. It will take some time for the nail to grow back, but the underlying tissue should be completely healed, and pain medications shouldn’t be required. If you think treatment is still warranted, I highly recommend you have Tom evaluated by your vet. Also, please be careful with baby aspirin. They can cause dangerous side effects and bleeding issues in dogs. I do not recommend their use unless prescribed by your vet, and most vets avoid them in favor of other dog specific medications. I hope Tom is feeling good and can get back to the park soon. Best wishes to you both!
hi i also have a question my 11year old cocker spaniel ripped on of his front claws out when it happened he was outside then came in with blood everywhere i bathed his foot then put some dettol spray on the foot his nails are quite over grown doesent like the feet touched too much this has been 2 weeks hes not bothered but i dont want infection getting in the hole where the claw came out still bathing just to keep it clean i am unable to afford the vet bill each time
Hi Shirley,
I am sorry your senior guy ripped off a nail and you are dealing with the aftermath. I understand how financial concerns can limit our options at times. I can’t make specific conclusions without examining your dog myself, but I would suspect the hole has sealed over at this point. Usually torn toenails heal very quickly and don’t cause much of a problem. Even surgical incisions should be healed by 10-14 days afterwards. You are probably ok to just leave it alone and let your sweet boy go back to his normal routine.