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Missing Toe Nail
Dear
Dr. Berg,
My
dog recently came inside with one of his toenails missing. It doesn’t seem to hurt him and he’s not
limping or anything. Will it grow back
OK? Do I need to do anything?
Thanks.
S.
S., Smyrna
Dear
S. S.,
The
toenails grow from the tip of the third bone in the toe and are usually very
firmly attached, allowing dogs to dig deep holes without losing a nail. Occasionally, however, the nail may become
caught on objects such as fencing or carpeting, and may crack or even be pulled
totally off. This will usually be
painful and bleed, since the nail bed from which the nail grows contains both
blood vessels and nerves.
If
the nail is only cracked, it will usually still be very sore, so much so that
the dog may limp or carry the paw. The cracked
nail may also bleed profusely, as those who have witnessed such an event can
attest to. The dog with the cracked nail
usually does not stand still and can make quite a bloody mess before the owner
is able to catch him.
If
your dog cracks a nail and is bleeding, try to apply gentle pressure with a
clean cloth to help slow the bleeding.
Next, you may want to try applying dry cornstarch, a dry teabag, or
pushing the nail into a bar of soap. Any
of these plus keeping your dog as quiet as possible will tend to slow or stop
the bleeding. The very best way to
arrest a bleeding nail is to use styptic powder made especially for clotting a
bleeding nail. Please note that there are
two common ingredients that are used in styptic powder: silver nitrate and ferric subsulfate. Silver nitrate will sting whereas ferrous
subsulfate will not; your dog definitely requests that you use the latter, and
so do I.
If
the loose nail is bothering your dog, it may need to be removed. I'd recommend that you check with your
veterinarian in these cases; he has the proper equipment to safely remove the
loose piece. Once the loose piece is
removed, your veterinarian may issue an antibiotic as a precaution to help
avoid an infection within the exposed nail bed.
Nail bed infections are very painful and can be extremely difficult to
cure, sometimes requiring months of soaking and special antibiotics, and
sometimes even surgery.
If
your dog returns with a nail totally missing, it may be sensitive or may not
bother him at all. In such cases, try to
keep the area clean and watch carefully to see swelling or sensitivity
develops. If there is any question, have
your veterinarian check the toe.
Sometimes
the injury that caused the nail to fall off may have also damaged the nail bed
from which the nail grows. Such damage
may cause newly grown nail to appear crooked, ridged, or even cracked. Thankfully, with most nail injuries the nail
grows back just fine and appears normal.
To
help avoid future problems with your dog’s nails, it is a good idea to
introduce him to the nail clipping experience at an early age. When he is a puppy, have a very short session
where you take the tip off of one nail, then be sure to follow this
apprehensive moment with something fun like a treat or special play. Gradually increase the number of nails until
you are both comfortable and confident with a complete 20-nail manicure.
Nail
trimming takes skill, but with patience most people find they are able to
master it. It pays to invest in a good
quality pair of nail trimmers right from the start, as they will make trimming
easier and the nails will cut cleaner without fraying. For small dogs, most any type of clipper will
do an adequate job, but with large dogs I definitely prefer a good pair of sizzors-type
clippers with padded plastic handles; these will give you better leverage when
trying to cut through thick nails. If
you are unsure exactly where to begin when cutting your dog’s nails, ask your
veterinary staff or groomer to show you how.
Remember
that even the most experienced nail trimmer will occasionally trim a nail too
short, so you should ALWAYS have your vial of styptic at the ready before you
begin. Searching for your styptic while
your bleeding dog does his best to run away from you can create quite a
mess. And, whatever you do, please
remember to apologize to your dog. You
can be sure that your dog will forgive you and will still love you, NO MATTER
WHAT!
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