Your dog will need to see a veterinarian to treat the infection, but as long as they seem otherwise healthy, it can generally wait 24-48 hours to be addressed. They are also not too happy about having the area touched or examined. The base of the nail is often discolored or red and swollen.

With an infection, most dogs are uncomfortable and lick their feet frequently. Some dogs are also prone to fungal infections, which can occur at the base of the nail. They often occur either when there has been an injury to the nail or nail bed that exposes it to infection. Nail infections are generally more serious than a simple split nail. Once this rough portion is removed, most dogs will go back to being frisky again. Often, the split portion of the nail can just be trimmed away using a nail clipper-just be careful not to accidentally cut the quick of the nail.Ī more patient dog will allow you to either file or use a Dremel tool on the rough portion of their nail.

These torn toenails are rough and snag on things, and they may be uncomfortable for your dog.įortunately, these are also the easiest nail problems to fix, and most times, they will not even involve a trip to the veterinary hospital. Some dogs have brittle or overgrown nails, and others are just prone to injury. There’s no blood, since only the outer portion of the nail is involved. It’s most common to see a small portion of the nail broken or split open without exposing the “quick,” or center blood vessel. These are some of the most common types of dog toenail injuries: Broken, Cracked, or Split Nails You will probably at some point have to deal with a toenail issue, and it will be a lot less stressful for all parties if you know the best way to deal with it. Types of Dog Nail Injuriesĭogs can injure their nails in many ways. Beyond the toenail injury itself, there are hormonal, nutritional, and metabolic problems that can affect toenail health, and your vet can check for these. If you notice a change in your dog’s toenails, especially if multiple toes are involved, it should be checked by a veterinarian. Moving their paw away or yelping when you touch their paw Redness or swelling of the nail bed or paw color changes in the nails Other symptoms of a problem might include:ĭischarge or crustiness around the base of the nail However, dogs can have other toenail problems that aren’t caused by an injury. They may leave drops of blood on the floor if the injury is fresh, or you might see them licking their foot excessively. Most of the time, it’s clear when your dog has a problem with a toenail. Healthy toenails are not brittle and will not chip or split when trimmed with a good-quality pair of nail trimmers. The nail attaches to the toe at the nail bed, and on the underside of the foot, the nail lies very close to the toe pad. However, if your dog has black nails, it makes clipping them much more complicated, since you can’t see the quick area inside the nail. If your dog has clear or light-colored nails, you will be able to distinguish these parts clearly.

This hard shell protects and seals in the delicate inner portion, “the quick,” which contains the blood vessels and nerves. The hard outer part of a dog’s nail is made up of keratin. This likely explains why dogs can be in pain when they break a nail. Dog Toenail Anatomyĭog toenails are very similar to people’s nails, with one major exception: they are attached to the end of the “finger bones.” That means an infection that gets into the nail or nail bed can potentially enter the bone, becoming much more severe. Should you be worried? Is this an emergency, or can you wait to see your veterinarian tomorrow? Here’s what you need to know about the parts of a dog’s nail and what to do about your dog’s bleeding or broken nails. After cleaning away the blood, you can see that your dog’s toenail looks broken, and there’s a good amount of blood. It is the dreaded Sunday afternoon scenario-you’re playing fetch with your dog, and suddenly they come back limping. The following content may contain Chewy links. PetMD is operated by Chewy.

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