A bleeding or broken toenail is a very common injury in dogs. It often requires a visit to the vet, immediately, if serious. Left untreated, a bleeding or broken toenail can result in blood loss, pain or infection, though it is rarely a life-threatening condition.
Most broken nails will heal by themselves over 1-2 weeks. However this causes unacceptable discomfort in the meantime. The loose nail is still partly attached to the injured nailbed, and even the slightest movement creates intense pain.
If your dog has a broken nail, they will most likely need to be examined by a veterinarian at some point. If there's no bleeding and it seems like a minor break, schedule a visit to your local veterinarian in the next couple of days for a closer look.
The quick connects to your dog's toe bone, which means that your dog can develop a severe bone infection if germs enter the exposed tissue. Seek veterinary treatment if your dog's broken or split nail causes severe symptoms or if you safely can't remove the damaged part of the nail.
Treatment of a broken or fractured nail
The most important thing to do straight away is to stop your dog from licking its foot or nail. Dogs and cats have bacteria in their mouth, which can cause an infection if they lick a broken nail.
Sometimes, you will see a lot of bleeding. Some pet parents actually worry that there is a broken bone, especially when they see the nail sticking out from the foot. Although it's not a life-threatening emergency, you should take your dog to see a vet as soon as possible.
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 you're looking at around $200–$300 total in costs to fix your dog's broken nail at the vet (better than the injury leading to infection!).
Generally, dogs start feeling better within 48 hours. Total recovery takes some time, as the nail needs to re-grow so as to completely cover the vulnerable quick. Generally, this takes two weeks, according to Dr.
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.
Common Ways Dogs Injure Their Nails
Trauma is most common nail problem that we see in clinical practice, often involving fracture or complete avulsion (ripping out) of the nail from the nail bed. If trauma affects the vascular portion of the nail, pain and hemorrhage will be present.
Applying a layer of Vaseline works too, as well as the waxy foot products such as Mushers Secret. If your dog snags a nail on the ice or snow outside and it is bleeding, you can apply a bit of styptic (clotting) powder if you have any, or in a pinch, a bit of cornstarch can help slow the bleeding.
Be very careful when trimming broken nails, as you could cause Lucy pain. If necessary, you may want to take her to a professional groomer if you're uncertain whether or not you could manage to treat the nail properly.
If after 30 minutes you can't get your dog's nail to stop bleeding, you should consult your vet or take them in for a visit. It's no surprise that your dog may be a little leery of future nail trims. However, with a little positive reinforcement and reassurance from you, they can overcome one unpleasant experience.
If a nail is broken or traumatized, they may lick the area later that day or the next day to help soothe the area. Excessive licking of a paw or lameness can be associated with nail trauma. Some dogs may not like the paw being handled if a traumatized nail is making the area sensitive.
"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.
Chlorhexidine is a disinfectant and antiseptic used on dogs to remove unwanted bacterial or fungal growth from the skin. It can be used for a number of reasons, from keeping wounds clean to treating skin infections.
To apply betadine on your dog, gently wipe the wound with a washcloth saturated with the betadine solution. You can do this up to twice a day for minor sores or skin infections. One great thing about Betadine is that it is completely harmless if it's ingested.
Natural antiseptics include turmeric, coconut oil, aloe vera and witch hazel. For a spicy antiseptic concoction that will also help with inflammation—and prevent licking, because most dogs don't love the smell—mix turmeric from your spice cabinet with aloe vera in a 1:1 ratio and smooth it on the scrape.
A healthy dog will not bleed to death from a cut toenail—not even close! While it is unfortunate that you've hurt your dog (which none of us wants to do), and while it may be a bit messy, this is not a serious injury. (And, if your house looks like a murder scene, you may need to take my word for this.)
The nail will bleed and your dog will cry; it's just as painful as it is for us when one of our nails breaks into the quick.
Your dog's nail quick can be exposed due to a trimming issue or lack of nutrition. Nail quicks may also become overgrown, making nail trims stressful. If a dog nail quick is exposed, clean and wrap it to prevent infection. If the bleeding does not stop, visit your vet immediately.