What Causes Nails to Break
There are a few common causes of broken nails in dogs:
Chewing or biting nails can lead to cracks and splits. Dogs may chew their nails if they are anxious, bored, or have a compulsive disorder like OCD.
Getting the nails caught on surfaces like carpeting, grass, or furniture can cause tears and breaks, especially if the dog tries to pull away. This is more likely with overgrown nails.
Blunt trauma from hard impacts with floors, doors, or other objects can split nails down to the quick. This usually happens when dogs jump down from heights.
Other causes include brittle nails from nutritional deficiencies, fungal infections, or repetitive trauma. Aging dogs may also develop more brittle nails that are prone to cracking.
In some cases, broken nails result from underlying illnesses like cancer or autoimmune disease. But most often it is simply from the nail getting caught or hit against a hard surface. Regularly trimming the nails can help prevent breaks.
Signs of a Broken Nail
There are several signs that may indicate your dog has a broken nail. The most obvious sign is bleeding or discharge coming from the nail. According to PetMD, discharge from the nail could range from a watery red fluid to thick and crusty depending on severity. Another key sign is limping or holding the paw up, signaling pain and discomfort. Dogs may also excessively lick, chew, or bite at the nail if it is damaged. Finally, visible cracks or splits in the nail can be indicative of a break. However, VCA Animal Hospitals notes that sometimes there are no visible signs, and the break occurs up inside the nail bed.
How Much it Hurts
How much a broken nail hurts a dog varies depending on the severity of the break. A nail that is cracked but still partially attached may only cause mild discomfort. However, a nail that is completely torn off can be very painful for a dog.
If the quick (the blood vessel inside the nail) is exposed, this likely causes significant pain for the dog. The quick is very sensitive and exposure to air and touch can cause pain. According to VCA Hospitals, a broken nail with exposed quick tends to be extremely painful for dogs.
Even if the quick is not exposed, a broken nail is likely tender and sore around the nail bed. The dog may be hesitant to walk on the paw and lick or bite at the area. There may be throbbing pain that persists for some time after the initial break. According to The Wildest, while not as severe as an exposed quick, broken nails are quite painful for dogs.
Overall, the level of pain from a broken nail can range from mild discomfort to severe, ongoing pain, depending on how much damage there is to the nail and quick. Exposed quicks tend to be the most painful.
Treatment for Broken Nails
The treatment for a broken nail will depend on the severity of the injury. For minor breaks, gently cleaning the area and bandaging the paw is often sufficient. Start by trimming any jagged edges of the broken nail with sharp nail trimmers to smooth it out. Then clean the area thoroughly with soap and water or an antiseptic wash to prevent infection. Pat it dry and apply a light bandage, wrapping gauze or self-adhesive bandage material around the paw [1].
Your vet may prescribe oral pain medications like meloxicam or tramadol to relieve discomfort as the nail heals. These anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics work to control pain and inflammation. Follow dosage instructions carefully. You may need to give the medications for several days after the injury [2].
In some cases, the damaged part of the nail may need to be trimmed back further, especially if the quick is exposed. Your vet can humanely trim and cauterize the nail to stop bleeding and prevent infection. Only cut as much as needed, since trimming into the quick will be painful.
For severe breaks where the nail is partially or fully torn off, surgery may be required. The nail can be reattached or permanently removed by a veterinary surgeon. This also allows examination for any underlying damage to the toe. Surgical repair ensures proper healing and prevents future problems.
Recovery Time
The recovery time for a broken nail depends on the severity of the break:
For mild breaks where the nail is partially cracked or torn, recovery is usually 1-2 weeks as the nail grows out. Moderate breaks that expose more of the quick may take 2-4 weeks to fully heal. Severe breaks that require surgical extraction or treatment of the nail bed can take 4-8 weeks to heal completely.
During recovery, it’s important to keep the area clean and bandaged. Restrict activity to prevent further injury. Pain medication may be needed to keep the dog comfortable. Check for signs of infection and follow up with the vet during the healing process.
Preventing Broken Nails
There are several things you can do to help prevent your dog’s nails from breaking:
Regular nail trims are essential for preventing broken nails. Keeping your dog’s nails trimmed to an appropriate length will help avoid cracking and splitting. Long nails are more prone to getting caught on things and breaking. Aim to trim your dog’s nails at least every 2-3 weeks.
Providing scratching posts and surfaces for your dog to safely scratch and wear down their nails can also help. Place scratching posts around your home and yard made of rough surfaces like sisal, cardboard, or wood. You can also find special scratching mats. Allowing your dog to regularly scratch can file down their nails.
Avoid rough play with your dog on hard surfaces. Hard floors or cement can put a lot of pressure on nails if dogs jump, skid, or scrape their paws. Take playtime to grass or carpeted areas as much as possible.
Check out this article for more tips on preventing broken nails: How to Prevent Dog Nails from Splitting
Lifestyle Changes
There are some important lifestyle changes to make while your dog’s broken nail is healing according to VCA Animal Hospitals. It’s important to limit your dog’s activity to prevent further injury to the nail. Try to keep your dog rested and calm, and avoid any strenuous exercise or playtime. It’s also critical to keep any bandages clean and dry. Change bandages frequently to avoid contamination or irritation. Follow all instructions from your veterinarian, including administering any prescribed medications and restricting specific activities.
Signs of Infection
A broken nail that becomes infected will show certain symptoms. The main signs to watch out for include:
- Increased swelling and redness around the nail and nail bed
- Pus or a foul odor coming from the nail
- Increased pain and limping on the affected paw
According to PetMD, discharge or crustiness around the base of the nail could indicate infection. The nail bed may also appear swollen. Betterpet notes that bacterial infections often cause dog nails to become red, swollen, and warm to the touch.
As WagWalking describes, other signs of a bacterial claw infection include a swollen nail bed, limping, pus coming out of the nail bed, discolored claw, and soft or deformed nails. If the dog is excessively licking at the paw, it likely indicates pain and infection.
It’s important to look out for these symptoms and have a veterinarian examine the nail if infection is suspected. Left untreated, the infection can spread and cause further complications.
When to See the Vet
If your dog’s nail is torn completely off or hanging by a thread, take them to the vet immediately. Significant bleeding that does not stop after 10-15 minutes of applied pressure also warrants an emergency vet visit, according to VCA Animal Hospitals. Additionally, signs of infection like swelling, redness, oozing, or foul odor indicate a vet visit is needed to treat the infection.
For less severe broken nails, it’s okay to monitor the dog at home initially. However, if there is no improvement in the nail after 48 hours or if signs of pain or infection develop, the dog should see the vet for further treatment, advises PetMD. It’s important not to wait too long with an untreated broken nail, as it could lead to a more involved infection or injury.
Prognosis
The prognosis for a dog with a broken nail is generally good with proper at-home care or veterinary treatment. Most broken nails will heal well over the course of a few weeks as long as the injury is properly cleaned and protected from further damage. Prompt veterinary attention minimizes the chance of complications like infection or permanent nailbed damage.
According to PetMD, “As long as the nail has not curled around and started growing into the foot, the best treatment for overgrown nails is clipping them.” Keeping the nail trimmed after it begins growing back will prevent ingrown nails and other problems. With proper care such as cleaning, bandaging, preventing licking, and monitoring for signs of infection, complete healing can be expected within 4-6 weeks.
In most cases, a broken nail causes mild to moderate pain that resolves within a few days as the nail begins to regrow. While the experience can be very distressing for dogs and their owners, the prognosis is good. However, it’s important to follow up with a veterinarian if signs of infection develop.