What To Do If A Dog Breaks A Nail
A dog that pulls out a nail needs the exposed nailbed protected from trauma and infection. This requires a vet to gently clip away the hair, apply a semi-occlusive dressing and use antibiotics. It’s also important that the vet carefully checks for any nail remnants left behind.
A torn, broken or split nail needs to be removed completely. No matter how loose it is, never do this without a vet giving sedation. It’s far too painful, and you run the risk of your dog never trusting you again if you try. Believe me, I’ve made this mistake.
Once again, the nailbed is best protected by a dressing. This can typically be removed after 3-5 days. Then to prevent it happening again, you need to start clipping the dewclaw. Here’s how…
Trimming dewclaws is a lot easier than clipping the other nails. Here’s a good ‘rule of thumb’:
While dewclaw injuries are relatively rare, they certainly do occur. Any nail can become partially or completely pulled off, broken, split, infected, or ingrown (if not properly trimmed). Since most nail injuries are extremely painful and prone to infection (think of all the places your dog’s feet have been!), it is usually best to have them assessed by a veterinarian. He or she can remove damaged nails or trim ingrown ones (under sedation, if necessary), and prescribe any needed antibiotics and pain relievers.
A dewclaw that is attached by bone to a dog’s front foot has a definite purpose. When dogs run, their front feet often bend to the point where their dewclaws come in contact with the ground. At high speeds (especially when turning) or on slippery surfaces, these dewclaws provide extra traction and help stabilize the carpal (wrist) joint. Some dogs also use their dewclaws to help them climb trees, hold objects to better chew on them, or climb out of the water if they’ve broken through ice. The usefulness of dewclaws that are only attached by skin is less clear.
Some breeds of dogs routinely have their dewclaws removed to “improve” their appearance in the show ring. If you choose to have this procedure performed it should done when a puppy is under 5 days of age and only after the area has been numbed with a local anesthetic (e.g., EMLA cream).
An important distinction to make is whether or not the dewclaws are firmly attached to a dog’s foot. In general, if your dog has a single front dewclaw, it will be. You’ll be able to wiggle the dewclaw a little bit (mostly in a forward and backward motion), but you can feel the bones that connect it to the leg. Rear and double dewclaws tend to only be attached by skin and are much more mobile.
When it comes to maintenance, dewclaws are no different than your dog’s other nails. Dogs who are extremely active may wear down their nails, including their dewclaws, to the point where nail trims are not necessary. But for most pets who are relatively sedentary, regular trims are needed to keep their nails at a healthy length. Keep an especially close eye on the dewclaw. Since they are not in contact with the ground as frequently as the other nails, they may require more frequent trims.
Is Dog Dewclaw Removal Necessary or Safe?
“Traditionally, some dog breeders have opted to have their puppies declaws removed a few days after birth. This was intended to prevent future injuries to the dewclaws and to uphold breed standards,” says Jenna Stregowski, RVT, Daily Paws Pet Health and Behavior Editor.
However, dewclaw injuries are not extremely common in pet dogs; they more often occur in working dogs who get their dewclaws caught while running through rough terrain, she explains. “There is typically no medical need for puppies to have their dewclaws removed. In fact, dewclaws serve a purpose: they help stabilize the carpal (wrist) joint when a dog puts pressure on the front paws and can provide extra traction on some surfaces.”
Dewclaw removal in puppies is relatively simple because the bones have not fully developed and the dewclaw can be easily snipped off by a veterinarian. “Although this is painful and unnecessary for the puppy, it is fast and heals quickly. Adult dewclaw removal requires surgical amputation under general anesthesia. This is because the vet must carefully detach bone, nerve, muscle, and blood vessels,” Stregowski says. “Recovery is longer too—dogs require exercise restriction and usually need to wear an e-collar.”
Adult-dog dewclaw removal is rare, Marks adds. “We do it when its the only option we have left—if theres a permanent injury, tumor, fracture, or infection that wont heal.”
Dogs are more likely to injure a dewclaw than another toe. Thats because dewclaws often become overgrown. And sometimes, back dewclaws arent firmly attached and dangle loosely. That makes dewclaws prone to getting caught on things and breaking as your pooch pulls away.
Broken dewclaws bleed if the quick—tissue in the center of the nail that includes a blood vessel—is exposed. This can also happen if you trim too far down the nail. To stop the bleeding, Marks recommends using cornstarch. Its a crude hemostatic agent, which means itll temporarily stop bleeding. Its a good idea to keep some on hand at home and in the car, if you take your dog out and about. If your dogs nail is fractured or the bleeding continues, see a veterinarian.
Like the other toes on your dogs paw, dewclaws may also develop ingrown nails and nail-bed infections. Besides injury, Marks says another cause of dewclaw infection is when dogs excessively lick their paws—like those with allergies or anxiety. Signs of infection include a change in color, swelling, and odor. Treatment for an infected dewclaw requires antibiotics, bandaging, and usually an e-collar to keep your pup from licking the site.
To prevent injuries, its important to treat dewclaws the same as your dogs other nails. In fact, says Marks, you should monitor and trim them more often. “The rest of the nails get worn down by going for walks on cement and playing at the park. But the dewclaw never touches the ground so it quickly becomes overgrown.” With proper maintenance though, dewclaws arent usually a problem.
Dog Paw Problems: 7 Most Common Issues and What to Do About Them
Dogs spend most of their waking hours standing on their paws and nails. As such, any issues with their nails can be extremely painful and limit their ability to move around. Therefore, it is extremely important to take care of dog nails. Regular nail trimming prevents the nails from becoming overgrown and gives you time to spot any signs of unhealthy nails before the problem worsens.
Yet to look after your dog’s nails properly, you need to understand dog toenail anatomy. Without this knowledge, you can end up hurting your dog or damaging its nails. Here we look at dog nail anatomy in depth so you can help keep your furry friend’s nails in check.
Pick up any of your dog’s paws and you will see four dog nails extending from each. All dogs have these dog paw nails, often referred to as dog claws. Some dogs also have a fifth nail known as a dewclaw. Instead of extending from the paw, dewclaws are slightly higher up the leg on the wrist.
Both dog paw nails and dewclaws are surprisingly similar to human nails. They are all made of a strong protein called keratin. Dog nails also have nerves and blood vessels running through them just like human nails do. These nerves and vessels are located in the inner part of the nail known as the quick and are very sensitive. In contrast, the claw part of the nail is not sensitive at all.
Despite these similarities, dog nails tend to be thicker and stronger than humans. They’re also positioned on the end of the toe bone and have a hooked shape. This is because they serve a different function than human nails. We solely use our toenails to protect the tips of our toes. Comparatively, dog nails are used for running, digging, and stability.
Dog toenail anatomy is straightforward to understand. Every nail is made up of two distinct parts: an outer part known as the claw and an inner part known as the quick. Here we look at how these two parts are distinct from one another and the function of each.
The claw is the visible part of the nail. It is this section that is made from keratin and it is what helps with running, digging, and stability. Because of how hard this part of a dog nail is, it also protects the feet and paws from injury. There are no nerves or blood vessels here, so you can safely trim or grind away this outer layer without causing pain.
Although many people don’t realize it, there are nerves in your dog’s nails. They are concentrated in the underside of dog nails, a part known as the quick, along with blood vessels supplying the nail. They need the nerves and vessels to provide nourishment to the claw and facilitate healthy growth.
This part of the nail is extremely sensitive. If you cut the quick accidentally when trimming, you cut straight through these nerves and blood vessels! So you must ensure you’re always careful when trimming your dog’s nails. You can see the dog nail quick through the claw if your dog has white toenails and easily avoid trimming too low. But where is the quick on a dog with black nails? It’s still in the same place, you just cannot see it! Pay extra caution to avoid a painful experience for your dog.
How many nails do dogs have? Well, this all depends on the breed. All dogs have at least four dog nails on each paw, but some also have a fifth dewclaw. The dewclaw is considered the thumb of a dog’s paw and sits further up the wrist. They can be found on the back legs, front legs, or both.
Stability is the overarching role of the dewclaw. It helps to stabilize the wrist joint when dogs are running and increase their agility. They can also get better traction on slippery services. However, they are less functional than regular dog toenails and can be removed within the first five days of life. Nevertheless, vets only recommend removing the dewclaw unless it is injured or diseased. It still serves some purpose and is best left intact.
Keeping dogs’ nails healthy is extremely important for overall well-being. As dogs are on their paws for most of the day, issues in this area can have a large impact on their quality of life. But what do healthy dog nails look like? Here are a few things to watch for.
When dogs’ nails grow, it is the claw part that gets bigger and bigger. As we have already mentioned, this part of the nail has no nerves or blood vessels and so can easily and painless be trimmed. This is a must for healthy nails, as there are many problems associated with overgrown nails which regular trimming can avoid.
Healthy dog nails should be long enough to be visible to the eyes. However, they shouldn’t extend far past the paw or touch the ground when your dog is standing on a flat surface. This is the optimal length for providing traction when running and digging without the risk of problems arising. For more information on how to trim dog nails, you can check out our step-by-step guide.
Many dogs have clear toenails, which is usually the case if your dog has white paws. The claw should be transparent and you should be able to see the pink quick growing in the center. On the other hand, some dogs have black nails and the quick will not be visible. The nails of many dogs are white in puppyhood and gradually darken with age.
While this gradually change is normal, sudden or unexplained discoloration on the underside of dog nails is a sign of illness. It can point to fungal infections, bacterial infections, or yeast infections. Most of these infections turn the nails brown or red instead of healthy white or black. Take your canine to the vet to get its nails looked at and to treat the infection.
Understanding dog toenail anatomy is a must for good nail health. The better you understand how the nail functions, the easier it is to look after them and spot issues. Below are some additional tips on how to make dogs’ nails even stronger and healthier:
Dog toenail anatomy is pretty straightforward to wrap your head around. There is a hard, strong outer part known as the claw. Inside this is a nerve and vessel-dense area known as the quick which provides nutrients to the nail. Understanding this nail anatomy is essential when trimming dogs’ nails. Always cut above the quick and keep your dog’s nails a healthy length. Your pup will thank you for it!