Dog nail question

[lgmcfarland]

Quick question: several days ago my dog had a bad tear just under his nail. I did not notice nail damage but the tissue just under was very raw, I applied antibiotic cream for several nights and thought it was growing back. Now the nail is loose and looks like it is breaking off from his toe. It does not appear tender, he is not limping but he is not running like his normal self. Should I tape it? keep applying antibiotic lotion? Have my vet check it? Or is most likely like a human toe nail that is growing back and therefore pushing the other nail off?

 

[chickenlittle21]

Have the vet check it

 

[MrFluffyandGirls]

I would clip it down as close to the quick with out touching the quick if the dog will allow it. That way there's no chance it'll snag on something. It'll probably fall off and a new one grow in. Just keep the antibiotic on it or even give it a good spray with blue kote. It's probably still touchy so your dog knows if it gets to active it'll hurt again.

 

[cassie]

Clip it. That is what the vet would do. A loose nail is painful.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Very hard to tell from the photo... is the damage in the pad of the toe, or in the nail itself?

If it's the nail itself that's cracked, best thing to do is to cut it off below where the crack is. It'll be very painful (so make sure you have someone who can hold the dog in place while you do it) but that's how my vet handles it - stypic to stop the bleeding and then bandage it up for a day, and it should be clotted enough at that point.

If the damage is in the pad, I'd keep an eye on it... it might need vet treatment or may heal on it's own.