Most dogs will experience at least one broken toenail during their lifetime. After all, a happy and excited pup is a good thing, but their bursts of energy can occasionally lead to injury. Whether they’ve broken it by hitting the pavement wrong, getting it caught on something, or while roughhousing with other pups, here’s what you need to know to deal with it.

Shallow Toenail Breaks

In many cases, the nail isn’t broken too far up. If there is some bleeding, but it isn’t excessive, the injury is similar to accidentally cutting your dog’s quick while trimming their nails. These breaks can usually be treated at home:

  1. The first step to treating the break is safely and calmly restraining your dog. Even sweet dogs can bite if they are in pain, so you need a partner to hold your dog still. It’s a good idea also to use a muzzle if you have one to prevent the possibility of a bite.
  2. Control any bleeding. Tightly wrap the paw and hold it for about 5 minutes. If this is not enough to fully stop the bleeding, you can use a styptic pencil to quell it.
  3. If the broken part is still attached and is not touching the quick, use nail trimmers to remove the broken piece carefully.
  4. Sterilize the injury. Once the broken part is removed, use antiseptic spray or wipes to clean the area.
  5. Bandage it up. Use gauze and medical tape to bind the injury, and pay attention to your dog to make sure they don’t rip it off. Change the bandage at least twice a day.
  6. Monitor the injury. Over the next few days, keep an eye on the broken nail for any irregular swelling or discharge. If you notice these signs of infection, visit your veterinarian immediately

Deeper Toenail Breaks

Sometimes, a nail gets seriously broken, and the quick is partially exposed. This part of the toe is extremely sensitive, liable to bleed pretty heavily, and prone to infection. If the nail has broken along the quick and is still attached, leave the broken part alone–attempting to remove it yourself could cause severe pain for your pup and could infect the toe since your clippers likely aren’t sterile. Wrap the foot as best you can to try and staunch the bleeding, then bring your dog to the vet. They will be able to remove the nail swiftly and safely so that your dog is in the least amount of pain possible. Occasionally, for extremely bad breaks, anesthesia is used to help with the pain. Afterward, the veterinarian will prescribe some form of antibiotic to prevent infection while the nail regrows over the quick.

Preventing Broken and Split Nails

Nail health is essential for your dog’s daily comfort. To keep their nails strong and healthy, make sure they receive regular trims. Allowing the nails to get too long leads to more than just annoying clicking on the hardwood floors–they force dogs to walk at a strange angle which puts pressure on their toes and can result in chronic pain. Longer nails are also more prone to splitting and breaking. Whether you clip their nails or bring them to the groomer, make sure they are regularly trimmed. Diet is also important for strengthening nails; talk to your vet to find the perfect brand for your pup to keep them happy and healthy.

One of the best ways to keep your dog happy and secure is to make sure he is well-trained. Gulf Coast K9 Dog Training is a Bradenton-based dog training facility committed to teaching puppies and mature dogs – and every pup in between.