Split Nail Injuries in Dogs

Split and damaged nails are common in dogs, no matter how healthy they may be. Though the injury may seem small, a split nail can cause a great deal of pain and discomfort to dogs and may lead to infection. However, with careful attention, you can easily treat and prevent damaged nails in your dog.

  1. Causes

    • Nail injuries like split nails most often come from catching on carpeting, flooring or plant material, and are more likely to occur when a dog's nails are overgrown. Metabolic and glandular conditions such as thyroid disease can also weaken a dog's nails, making it more susceptible to nail injuries. Some dogs simply have weak nails and are at higher risk for nail damage.

    Symptoms

    • Often a dog will yelp or bark when the injury occurs, but this is not always the case. Other signs are bleeding, limping and excessive licking of the affected foot. Upon closer inspection, the color of the nail may have changed to a reddish hue, the foot or toe may be swollen and the damaged nail may be visibly cracked or crooked. Take caution in inspecting your dog's foot, as damaged nails can be very painful and your dog may become aggressively resistant to inspection.

    Treatment

    • If the injury is severely swollen or bleeding, or your dog is resistant to be touched, take your dog to the veterinarian to receive professional treatment as soon as possible. Your vet will likely remove any damaged nail, bandage the foot and prescribe antibiotics, pain killers and/or a foot soak.

      If the injury is slight, you can treat it similarly at home. To stop the bleeding, you can put flour, cornstarch or styptic powder on the nail, then apply pressure using a piece of gauze. After the bleeding stops, trim the nail with clippers, avoiding the quick, then apply an antibacterial ointment. Brush nail hardening polish or superglue over the split nail and bandage the foot so that the dog will not lick or further agitate the wound. If your dog seems to be in pain, you should consult your vet about administering the recommended dose of aspirin for his or her weight.

    Prevention

    • For the most part, you can prevent split nails by maintaining a healthy nail length, trimming or filing your dog's nails regularly. Check your flooring for cracks and crevices where your dog's nails may catch. If your dog has weak nails, add a half teaspoon of olive oil to your dog's food every day to strengthen the nails, and apply nail hardening polish regularly.