Since the nail bed or quick is attached to bone, prevention of infection is crucial. An oral or injectable antibiotic may be advised as well. Your veterinarian may apply antibiotic ointment or powder to the exposed nail bed and bandage the foot to prevent contamination and to minimize further bleeding. What to do when a dog’s quick is exposed? Left untreated, a bleeding or broken toenail can result in blood loss, pain or infection, though it is rarely a life-threatening condition. It often requires a visit to the vet, immediately, if serious. A bandage, pain relief medications and antibiotics to stop infections are also often required.Ī bleeding or broken toenail is a very common injury in dogs. If it is broken, the broken part of the nail will be trimmed off. If it is torn but still connected to the leg, then the nail will probably need to be removed completely (it will re grow). What do you do for a Dogs broken dew claw? “It should be a non-issue within 24 hours with little to no treatment.” It still takes weeks for the claw to grow back, but that’s not a concern as long as the claw isn’t bleeding, painful, or getting infected. How long does it take for a dog’s nail to heal? Torn dew claws, where the whole claw is torn from the bone, are removed and the wound cleaned. Your vet can trim back the claw to smooth it off, clean around the area, bandage it up and let the claw regrow. Should I bandage my dogs broken dew claw?Ī break to the nail isn’t too big a deal if there is no sign of infection. 7 What should I do if my dog broke his toe?.6 How can you tell if a dog’s Claw is exposed?.5 How do you tell if a dog’s quick is infected?.4 How do you treat a broken dew claw at home?.3 What to do when a dog’s quick is exposed?.2 What do you do for a Dogs broken dew claw?.1 Should I bandage my dogs broken dew claw?. Dark nails are more challenging the best strategy is to clip a small amount off at a time while looking at the cut surface for a small gray circle warning that you are nearing the quick." If you don't want to do this at home, schedule regular nail-trimming visits with your vet. "For light-colored claws, this is easy to see as a pink triangle at the base of the nail. You'll want to cut the dewclaw within about two to five millimeters (consult a ruler) of the quick, says Dr. Before attempting it at home, ask your veterinarian to demonstrate the proper technique. Here's how far to trim the nail.īe very careful when it's trimming time. Dewclaws need to be trimmed more often to prevent overgrowth and reduce the risk of them snagging. "These nails don't come into contact with the ground when your dog is walking, so they don't wear down like the other toenails," he says. The best way to keep your dog from getting hurt again is to be sure to trim the dewclaw nails short, says Dr. Your veterinarian can make your dog comfortable during the procedure and make recommendations for aftercare.Īlbert Cabezas / 500px / Getty Images Prevent dewclaw injuries. "A broken dewclaw requires medical attention because the exposed quick-the bundle of nerves and blood vessels within the nail-is painful and can become infected." The broken nail typically needs to be cleaned and cut down above the break, which should be performed with sedation and pain medication, he says. "While it is not a medical emergency, owners should see their veterinarian for treatment as soon as possible," says Dr. Know what to do if there's blood.Ī dewclaw injury is not the same as accidentally trimming a toenail too short, and bleeding will typically not be resolved with an over-the-counter styptic powder. These injuries are uncommon and can usually be prevented by keeping the dewclaw trimmed short. It can also happen after the dog jumps off a chair or sofa, and lands in a way that bends the nail and breaks it. If a dewclaw gets caught on something like carpet or upholstery fibers, the nail can crack or tear. Related: All About Pet Insurance-What Does It Cover, and Should You Purchase a Plan? It typically gets broken or torn after a bad landing. Here's what you need to know in case this happens to your beloved pet. "The nail can be torn part-way or completely off at the nail bed." Because the nail contains a blood vessel and nerve, this injury can be very painful. Jose Arce, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and practicing veterinarian at Miramar Animal Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico. "A broken dewclaw refers to a crack or tear of the nail," says Dr. What happened? He may have broken his dewclaw, which is the fifth digit higher up on a dog's paw and equivalent to a human's thumb. One minute your dog was happily jumping off the couch-the next, he's yelping and holding up his paw.
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