We’ve talked about how to cut your dog’s nails in the past, shorten the length of the nail, and stop bleeding if you’ve quicked a nail. What do you do if your dog breaks his nail? Unfortunately, it’s not always clear cut.
Broken nails most frequently happen when a dog’s nails are left too long. Long nails make them prone to breakage because of increased pressure on the nail, and curving of the nail which makes it easier to catch on carpet.
Although longer nails are more prone to breaking, even dogs with well kept nails can sometimes end up with a broken nail.
Assess – Can you repair?
Broken nails are tricky. Sometimes, the only thing to be done is to take the dog to the vet. A veterinarian will cut the broken nail off where it needs to be. It may bleed excessively, so the nail will then be cauterized to prevent it from opening back up later.
Sometimes though, the broken nail is a lot of excess nail and the quick hasn’t been harmed. If that’s the case, cut back to the quick. Use a dremel to smooth out the nail from there, taking care not to quick the dog.
Emergency First Aid
If the dog is bleeding excessively from the broken toenail, you will still need to take the dog to the vet, but you may need to do first-aid first. if you have it, apply kwik stop to the nail where the break is.
Even the nicest dog may bite. You may need to muzzle your pup beforehand for your safety, and for the veterinarian. Use a basket muzzle if possible, since distressed, in pain dogs may need to pant.
If you don’t have kwik stop, apply flour or cornstarch to stop the bleeding and bring the dog to the vet as soon as possible.
Broken toenails aren’t always easy to fix. You may need the help of a veterinarian unless the quick isn’t compromised.
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