Healing Time for a Dog's Nail Injury

Many dogs will experience the discomfort of a broken nail or two at some point in their lives. Dogs̵7; nails have an outer layer, the claw, which is composed of keratin. Under the claw is a spongy layer that, combined with the hard claw, protects the blood supply and sensitive nerves contained in the quick, which runs down the center of the dog̵7;s nail. Injuries involving the quick can be very painful and are often accompanied by profuse bleeding. Accidents, illnesses, dietary insufficiency, grooming or neglect may cause dogs to suffer nail injuries.

  1. Symptoms

    • When dogs experience toenail injuries, some do not show discomfort or exhibit any unusual behavior until hours later, and their human companions may have no idea that any damage has been done. Other dogs cry, yelp and immediately indicate that they are in pain. Dogs who have injured nails may present with symptoms such as limping, bleeding, sensitivity to touch, inability to walk, visibly damaged or distorted nails, swelling or obsessive licking. After veterinary treatment and several weeks of follow-up care, the nail may start to grow. If you notice that your dog̵7;s toenails are not re-growing or are growing improperly, the site of her injury may need to be monitored by you and your veterinarian on a regular basis.

    Accidents

    • If you notice your dog is limping, check her feet and nails.

      Toenail injuries range from minor to extremely serious, and pain from the injury can last for moments or months, depending on the damage. Accidental injuries may result if a dog catches her nail on the carpet, or while playing outdoors, doing agility or other sports, hiking, climbing on rocks or running on uneven surfaces. If your dog has broken or split her nail, she will probably bleed, and her pain may persist if the quick is exposed or the nail continues to get snagged. The worst kind of broken toenail is when an entire nail is pulled off the nail bed. This is extremely painful, bleeds profusely and requires an immediate visit to your veterinarian to stop the bleeding. Your dog will also need pain medication and antibiotics. Sometimes this nail will not grow back, or if it does grow back, the new nail may be deformed.

    Treatment

    • Removing the nail at the site of the tear will alleviate much of the pain. If a veterinarian does the procedure, her expertise will make the removal easier and reduce the likelihood of infection. If the site of the injury and nail removal is kept clean and infection free, it will begin to heal. Follow through with your veterinarian̵7;s care and medication instructions, and a new nail will grow eventually. However, regrowth may take months, and your dog̵7;s new nail might be malformed. The nail begins forming at the root, which is deep inside a dog̵7;s toe. For three to four months, the new nail will grow toward the external part of the toe before it emerges and starts to become visible. The whole process for a nail to grow from its root to a proper length usually takes about nine months.

    Illness

    • Symmetrical Lupoid Onychodystrophy, or SLO, is an autoimmune condition that causes seemingly healthy dogs to suffer chronic claw problems resulting in severe pain and bleeding. Dogs may begin losing one claw, which will appear to be accidental, but eventually dogs with SLO lose all their claws slowly and painfully over a period of months. Other symptoms include secondary infections, claw splitting, receding quicks, profuse bleeding, twisted and distorted claws, an inability or unwillingness to walk, lethargy and depression. ̶0;Prognosis for nail regrowth is good, although some nails may remain deformed or friable,̶1; according to the Animal Dermatology Clinic of British Columbia. Some dogs respond well to the medication and home care regimen and may be able to stop treatment after six months. Others require long-term maintenance to stay in remission.