A torn nail can get infected and turn a mild injury into potentially life-threatening sepsis if it goes undetected.Įven if an injury to your dog’s dew claw seems mild, a call to the vet and a trip in to have it checked are both recommended to spot a minor problem before it becomes a major one. However, it would be a good idea to make a visit to the vet.16 In brief How serious is a dew claw injury?Ī dew claw injury can range from mild to potentially fatal, depending on what happens to it and how long it’s left untreated. Torn claws are a minor injury and if there are no complications, they can be safely treated at home. Generally, the most important thing is not to panic. Wrap it tightly around the paw and secure it with medical tape, but do not make it too tight – you could stop the paw’s blood circulation! You need to change the bandage regularly, and keep a watch on the dog – he may try to chew his way through! It would be good to leave the wound open to air dry and heal, but most dogs would constantly lick it. If you don’t have any, silver nitrate wil do, and you could always make a paste of some flour – flour is the dog first aider’s best friend!ĥ. It is a good idea to apply some antibiotic ointment with a clean cotton ball. You still need to be gentle though, and if broken fragments of the nail are lodged in the wound you must not meddle with it! If your dog allows it, you may grasp the whole paw and apply firm pressure. The cloth needs to be pressed firmly against the wound. You need to stop the bleeding, and make sure you use a clean cloth for that. You need not worry, since this is natural for this sort of wound. It is quite likely that the injured toe will continue to bleed. You need to warm some water, but the water mustn’t be hot! You need to remove any debris lodged between the nail and the toe.Ĥ. Sometimes the piece is barely hanging on and it should be easy to pull it with your hand, but be careful – if you are mistaken, the dog will not react kindly to having his injured nail pulled!ģ.
The dog needs to be held gently and reassuringly, otherwise he may start to struggle.įor cutting the damaged part of the claw it would be best to use a dog nail-clipper, but a human one should do just as fine. The dog will probably be in pain and he may try to snap at you, so it is best to find an assistant to hold the dog down. The broken part of the claw needs to be cut. If necessary, shave some of the dog’s hair.Ģ. There are first aid steps you need to take at home though, since a torn nail is associated with strong bleeding:ġ. You would probably have to visit the vet in any case, so he could prescribe some antibiotics or supplements that would help your dog avoid infection. If the quick is damaged, then you should go to the vet before meddling with it. The quick is a part of the dog’s claw, but it is actually living tissue, so it would best be compared to the last phalanx of a human finger. This is a minor injury and you should not worry, but it needs to be treated to avoid complications.įirst of all, you must see the difference between the keratin part of the claw – that is the equivalent of the human nail – and the quick. Once in a while, your dog may tear his claw out.
My dog has torn a claw – what to do? Narrated from: Dog Health
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