How to Prevent a Broken Nail
Broken nails mostly occur in working dogs that are trained in agility or need to hike in a certain terrain on a daily basis.
The number one thing you can do is to keep the nails short.
To protect your dog’s nails from breaking, it’s possible to buy doggy boots.
Think about any occasion that would require your dog to step on uncomfortable surfaces.
Even if you are just planning a holiday and the nearby ocean is full of sharp stones. The boots also help to prevent sunburnt paws and protect sensitive skin.
A long nail is more prone to breaking than a short nail.
Dog nails should be cut regularly to prevent them from getting stuck while running. You can take your dog to the groomer if you do not want to cut his nails yourself.
I cut my dog’s nails myself and it’s not as hard as it sounds. Before you even start with the cutting, you will need to introduce the nail clipper in a positive manner.
For my dog, I use a traditional nail clipper and I will also explain the cutting process.
If you are too scared or find it inconvenient to cut the nails then you can also go for something like the Casfuy Dog Nail Grinder.
When introducing the nail trimmer to your dog, simply lay it on the ground and let your dog sniff it. Use high-value treats to create a positive association with the clipper.
The right introduction is extremely important as it will shape your dog’s future interaction with the trimmer (just like with introducing the leash or harness).
Dogs that are scared of nail clipping will growl or even snatch at you when you come around the corner with this hellish tool.
You will want to make the experience as stress-free and positive as possible.
Trimming dog nails in 3 easy steps:
Watch the video below for clear instructions. They not only use a clipper but also a grinder like the one I have mentioned above.
A broken or torn nail is extremely painful for your dog and can be prevented with regular trimming and boot protection.
If your dog hurts one of his nails, clean the wound and stop the bleeding.
Bring your dog to a nearby vet for an examination. Surgery needs to be done if small pieces of the nail are stuck in the paw.
If only a portion of the nail broke off, it will be cut down a bit and treated with bandages and medication.
You will need to let your dog rest at home and discourage him from licking or biting the paw.
Bandages will need to be changed daily and the dog will need to be taken to follow-up appointments.
Depending on the severity of the injury, the nail might grow back in a couple of weeks or will never be replaced.
(A) Vet Roberta Baxter says: The problem with broken and torn nails is that by exposing the quick they allow a route for infection into the bones of the toe. In rare cases, the toe can become so infected that an amputation is the end result. It is important, therefore, to take these cases seriously and seek veterinary attention.
(Q) My Whippet pulled his nail out while out walking. Its on his back foot and not one of his weight-bearing toes. It has finally healed and dried itself up, but it looks manky, dark, and shrivelled. Is this because he kept catching it, or is this normal for an exposed quick? Will his nail grow back and how long will it take?
At this stage, it is still relatively fragile and can be easily damaged or infected, so keep a close eye on things. If it seems scabby or oozy, then veterinary attention would be advisable, as an infection could be present and antibiotics might be needed. Usually, it only takes two to three weeks for the nail to grow down. In most cases, they do grow down normally, although occasionally they can be a little distorted.
(A) Holly Mash says: Its always a good idea to take your dog to the vet to have the nail bed checked, as sometimes they can become infected. In the meantime, keep it clean and bandaged or covered when you are outside. Bathing it in some diluted hypercal (calendula and hypericum tincture) may be helpful too.
What to do if the nail has been ripped off?
Your dog’s nail should grow back, and only in some circumstances is a vet necessary. Sometimes the nail bud can sustain harsh damage, and if this does happen the nail may not grow back at all. But, if your dog has pulled out it’s nail, normally it should grow back, the latest being four to five months. In rare circumstances, your dog may begin to bleed if they have managed to pull their nail out. In this case you may have to treat your dog’s pain by applying some pressure to the nail bud to prevent further bleeding from occurring. If however, blood does begin to run then a trip to the vet may be necessary, who will likely give the dog some medication, or will bandage up your dog’s wound, to prevent any problems, which I’m sure you wouldn’t want your dog to go through! If, however, you are still unsure whether to take your dog to the vet, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Broken Nail. How a vet fixes a broken dog nail with Dr. Dan.
So apparently, splitting a nail is a painful and debilitating injury for dogs. It’s also a fairly common injury, and getting it taken care of can cost a pretty penny. I learned all this last weekend, when my dog Oreo went outside to go to the bathroom in the morning and came back with a bloody toe.
That’s right, my regular hiking buddy ended up injuring himself while going potty, not during some epic hike. You just can’t predict these things. See how the outer toenail is darker? That’s the broken one.
He was probably chasing a squirrel. I can picture it now, my dog launching off a boulder in the yard in pursuit of a furry red blur. But I didn’t actually see the injury happen. My friend later told me about her dog breaking a nail by simply catching it on a board while running across their deck. Dog injuries are tough to avoid. However, one thing I did learn from this experience is that it’s important to clip your dogs nails on a regular basis. If they’re too long, they’re much more likely to catch on something and possibly break or split.
Anyway — Oreo’s nail break happened on a Saturday. The toenail — which was on his front, right outside toe — was still intact when he came indoors, but it was split down the middle. We didn’t know what to do, so naturally, we Googled it.
From multiple websites, we learned that Oreo would probably have to have his nail removed, and to do that, we should go to a veterinarian and have him put to sleep for the painful procedure. Our regular veterinarian’s office was closed until Monday, but since he didn’t seem to be in much pain (he was able to sleep, and he was eating), we decided we could wait. (It costs much more to take your dog to the emergency veterinarian. We’ve learned from experience.)
Sometimes nail breaks don’t require a trip to the veterinarian. If the nail is only broken part way up, sometimes you can cut off the broken part and staunch the bleeding, and the nail will eventually grow back. However, we could tell that Oreo’s nail was split right to the skin, and likely farther.
Later, I mentioned the injury to my co-worker Julia, who has raced sled dogs for years, and she said it’s one of the most feared common injuries among dog sledders because it can “bench” a dog for the season.
Throughout the weekend, Oreo started to limp on the foot with the broken nail. On Monday morning, I brought him into the veterinarian and sat on the cold, sterile floor of the office while Oreo fell asleep with his head on my lap, submitting to the effects of anesthesia. I covered him with a blanket while the veterinarian inspected his toenail, then quickly ripped the whole thing off with his bare hands.
Talk about a surprise! My shock and disgust must have been displayed on my face because my veterinarian looked up at me and apologized for not giving me more warning. Then he said something along the lines of, “It’s hard to see that and not to think of how it would feel to rip off your own fingernail.”
After picking off a bit of remaining nail, the veterinarian explained that what remained — that little pink nub at the end of his toe — was the “quick,” and that the nail would eventually grow back over the quick. However, in the meantime, that little pink nub would be sensitive. Hitting it on things would hurt. But eventually, it would dry up a bit and be less sensitive.
In other words, Oreo shouldn’t be hiking on rocky, rooty paths. Easy walks on smooth paths would be OK.
The good news is that dogs nails grow back a lot faster than human nails. It usually only takes two to three weeks for a nail to grow back down and cover the quick, according to many online sources. Oreo on the car ride home, looking rather sad.
In contrast — one time I hiked Katahdin in boots that were too small for me, and I stubbed my toes so badly that both of my big toenails turned black and fell off. (Yeah, it wasn’t pleasant.) And it took them months to grow back. I feel bad for everyone who saw me in sandals that summer.
The veterinarian wrapped up Oreo’s paw, which was bleeding a bit from the recent trauma. I then asked him if I could give Oreo any pain killers. (It looked so painful) But he said that Oreo wouldn’t need them, that the most painful part was over. Apparently, it’s more painful to leave the nail on there once it’s broken because the nail is loose and rubbing against the quick. Oreo sleeping that day.
With another shot, we woke Oreo up. Wide-eyed, he followed me to the car and I drove him home, led him to his dog bed, tucked a blanket around him and worked from home, watching over him. He slept like a rock. The cats, Bo and Arrow, which are normally his arch nemeses, approached his sleeping form a few times that day, as if expressing some concern. Maybe they just missed terrorizing him.
That evening, we fed him chicken jerky and unwrapped his paw. Oreo licked the exposed quick, which the veterinarian said was fine. Apparently dogs don’t really hinder the healing process of a nail because the quick is so sensitive they only clean it gently.
After just two days, Oreo was pretty much back to normal, though he isn’t running around as much as he was before. He avoids the woods, where roots and sticks can easily hit his paw, but he’s enjoying the lawn. The veterinarian sent us home with a special cleaning solution, which we dilute with water then hold Oreo’s paw in a few times a day. He doesn’t seem to mind.
The veterinarian bill was about $225, which is honestly not that much compared to the other Oreo-related costs we’ve incurred in the past four years he’s been in our family. Nevertheless, it cost a whole lot more than the band aid I would have put on my broken nail.