What can you put on a dog’s broken nail? Surprising Answer

5 Tips for Treating Your Dog’s Broken Nail — Please Consult Your Vet First

If your dog has broken the nail down to the quick, you need to get to the vet’s office for proper treatment, possibly with your pet under sedation. It’s a painful injury.

Try the 5 tips below only if the nail wasn’t broken to the quick.

The idea is to remove the remaining piece of nail (the piece of nail that’s dangling) to prevent further injury and to allow for proper healing and regrowth of the nail.

Some people report using pet nail clippers to cut off dangling piece of nail just above the point where it is broken or torn. This might make a clean cut in the nail that will increase the chances of the nail growing back properly.

However — and this is a big however — Dr. Pippa Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS, says this would not necessarily be a wise thing to attempt.

“It is unlikely you’ll be able to trim the nail back without cutting the quick — which is extremely painful and results in bleeding,” Dr. Elliott advises. “Therefore, this is best done under sedation, unless the crack is at the tip of a very long nail.”

Removing the nail may cause your dog’s toe to bleed, especially if the breakage occurred at the quick of the nail.

Make sure you have your pet emergency kit out:

A styptic pencil or powder applied to the wound will stop the bleeding almost immediately. It contains a cauterizing agent that seals the wound.

If you don’t have a styptic pencil or powder, you can apply some regular flour or cornstarch to the wound and compress with a towel for a few minutes until the bleeding stops.

Bathe the paw in warm water, and be sure that all traces of dirt and debris are gone.

Spray a pet antiseptic on the toe — this will disinfect the area and relieve any discomfort from the open wound.

If the wound bleeds again, apply pressure or use a styptic pencil or powder.

Dogs don’t like having their paws bandaged, so this can be a tricky procedure.

You can try wrapping the paw in a loose-fitting bandage, using first-aid tape to hold in place.

Another method is to place a clean sock on the paw and tape it into place. A sock often works better than a regular bandage because it’s less restrictive for the movement of the paw, which makes it more likely that your dog will not pull it off.

If your dog pulls the bandage or sock off, you may want to place a plastic cone (Elizabethan collar, or “E collar”) around the dog’s neck for a few days until the wound heals.

Change the bandage or sock once daily to check the healing process and to keep the area clean.

Remove the bandage and bathe the paw in warm water.

Check the paw for the following signs of infection:

Swelling of the toe

An oozing pus discharge

Bleeding that may or may not be mixed with pus

If you see signs of infection, take your dog to the vet immediately. Your vet will most likely prescribe antibiotics to clear up the infection.

If the wound is healing as it should, place a new bandage or sock on the paw. If your dog is wearing an E collar, after 2–3 days, the wound should be healed to a degree that your dog will not lick it and the E collar can be removed.

Remember to follow your vet’s instructions — exactly.

In this video, Dr. Candy Olson, DVM, explains more about a dog’s broken nail:

How to Fix a Dog’s Broken Nail

You know when you give your dog a bath how its best to have everything you need set up beforehand? This practice is even more important when preparing to mend a dogs broken nail.

Here are Myers tips for a doggie first aid kit in this situation:

A good pair of nail trimmers in the right size to fit your dogs nails.

2″x2″ gauze squares.

A roll of self-adherent bandage material.

Styptic powder to help stop the bleeding. Cornstarch or flour works well, too.

Make this a two-person job: one to comfort the pooch, and another to take action. Heres what Myers recommends:

Use the trimmers to either trim off the broken bit or cut through the nail above the injury to remove a partially bent or broken claw. This hurts! So provide extra pats for your pup.

After the cut, stem the bleeding by firmly pressing the styptic powder directly onto the cut edge of the nail, either by packing it into the cut or placing the nail into the powder container cap. This process is messy, but its okay.

Fashion a small bandage with gauze squares and adhesive material. “Ive also seen some great bandages by MacGyver-esque pet parents who stuffed one athletic sock inside another so the inner sock was balled up to provide padding around the toes, then secured the outer sock to the leg with duct tape,” Myers says.

Clean the dogs fur—but not the wound itself—with pet-safe hydrogen peroxide.

More serious injuries need veterinary care. You might also prefer to let the experts handle your dogs broken nail if youre uncomfortable with the process or hes scared or doesnt want you messing with the area.

Myers says treatment for a dogs broken nail might include:

A regular exam, correction of the injury, and full nail trim.

Antibiotics and/or anti-inflammatories to reduce the risk of infection and ease discomfort.

Possible need for sedation if the pup is frightened or the injury repair requires cutting off the nail above the injury close to the dogs toe.

Vet costs average between $50–$80 for the exam and supplies, perhaps an additional $20 for the full nail trim, $20–$60 for medication, and up to $100 for sedation. So youre looking at around $200–$300 total in costs to fix your dogs broken nail at the vet (better than the injury leading to infection!).

The Importance of Grooming and Nail Trims

Long, untrimmed, and brittle nails can all cause havoc in your fur friend’s health, and can also lead to a painful injury or trauma including broken nails. To keep your pet’s paws at their best, regular grooming, even throughout the winter months, can stave off any problems related to skin, coat, and nail wellness.

Broken Nail. How a vet fixes a broken dog nail with Dr. Dan.

Torn toe nails can be very painful if the break or tear involves the sensitive quick area. The quick is the pink part of the nail nearest the toe that contains the vessels and nerves. Other than being painful, broken nails involving the quick can also bleed a lot. Here are some tips to help control the bleeding and reduce the pain of a broken nail.