How to Care for a Siberian Husky's Split Toenail

Siberian Huskies are large, energetic dogs that love to play, and their exuberance sometimes can lead them to injure themselves. Huskies split toenails just like humans break their nails, and although a broken nail may cause a dog some pain, it's often an injury that you can treat at home. If your dog has torn a nail, calm him or her down then proceed to treat the nail to make sure that your pet does not injure it further.

Things You'll Need

  • Nail file
  • Styptic pencil, flour or cornstarch
  • Clear nail polish
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Gently rinse the injured nail and toe. Use warm water to wash away any dirt that might be stuck between your dog's torn nail and its toe.

    • 2

      File the injured nail. File back the nail tear until the rough edges are gone. The key is to prevent snags that could cause the nail to split further.

    • 3

      Stop any bleeding. If your dog's toe is bleeding, apply pressure on it with a clean cloth, if your dog will sit still for you to do this. If your dog is fidgety, dab the injured area with a styptic pencil or put a little bit of flour or cornstarch on it and briefly apply pressure to help it stick.

    • 4

      Rinse your dog's toe and nail, if you put flour or cornstarch on them, after the bleeding has stopped.

    • 5

      Apply a coat of clear nail polish on the damaged nail to help hold it together as it grows out. Prevent your dog from licking the polish while it dries.

    • 6

      Check your dog's toe frequently. Over the next few weeks, examine his or her toe and nail daily for any signs of infection.

    • 7

      File back the nail periodically, keeping it short until the split fully grows out.