First Aid for Broken Nails on a Dog
Dog nails consist of the quick, which is the living tissue that includes blood vessels and the hard keratin. When a dog walks on a rough surface, the nails get filed down automatically. Dogs that don't spend time walking, or walk on mostly carpet, can grow out long nails. These nails can get caught in anything, causing rips and bleeding. Owners can also cut the nails too short, causing breakages. If your dog suffers from a broken nail, you should learn how to treat it properly to prevent an infection or other problems from occurring.
Instructions
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Examine the broken nail to see if it's bleeding. If it's not bleeding, hold the dog's paw firmly in one hand, and insert the broken nail into a dog nail cutter. Cut the hanging nail off just above the break. If you suspect you will cut into the quick if you remove the broken portion, take the dog to the veterinarian to remove it.
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Put a muzzle on the dog if the nail is bleeding. The dog is probably in pain and may try to fight as you apply first aid to it. If the nail is mostly broken off and is just hanging, swiftly and firmly pull it off. If it is still firmly attached, do not attempt to cut it the rest of the way off.
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Rinse the dog's paw with warm water to remove any caked or dried blood. Pour cornstarch onto the bleeding nail until you no longer see blood soaking through. Wrap the nail in a clean rag, and apply gentle but firm pressure for 10 minutes to stop the bleeding.
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Remove the rag to see if the bleeding has stopped. If not, apply pressure for five more minutes. Remove the rag and wrap the dog's paw in a bandage. Take the dog to the veterinarian to have the broken nail removed.
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Tips & Warnings
Your dog may fight you when you're applying pressure to the nail. Enlist a helper to hold the dog down as you administer first aid.
References
- Photo Credit pet dog feet paw image by Paul Retherford from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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OMG CUT SADIES NAILS AND WENT PAST THE QUICK WAS SCARED TO DEATH BUT USED THE OLD HOME REMEDY OF PEPPER AND A TEA BAG AND IT STOPPED, MY POOR BOOGAR
