Nail Injuries in Pets

Nail injuries are a common source of foot pain for pets. Many mysterious limps arise as a result of cracked, torn, or damaged claws, and understanding the structure of the nail is key for promoting proper healing.

The Structure and Workings of the Nail

The nail is a living structure that’s comprised of a keratin shell surrounding a sensitive nerve, called the quick, which grows out from the end of the bone of each toe. In some animals, like the cat, the nails have the ability to retract, while in dogs and many small animals like rabbits and birds, the nail is fixed.

The nails will continue to grow in a circular shape, bending toward the body. In some cases of neglect, pets have been found with extremely long nails that curve into the paw, tearing into the flesh and leading to infection and severe pain. In dogs with an intact dewclaw – the claw located on the ankle that is often removed in puppies – the nail can curl around and into the pad undetected, so it’s vital that dewclaws are tended to during every nail trim.

As the nail grows, routine trimming is key, as a long, sharp nail is prone to injury if caught in carpeting and bedding. In addition, in an animal who cannot retract his claws, long nails will come in contact with the floor with each step, therefore increasing the risk of foot and paw injury. In nails that are not routinely trimmed, the live part of the nail tends to become longer over time, making a pet more prone to injury.

The live part of the nail can be likened to flesh in terms of its sensitivity and susceptibility to pain and infection. Accidentally cutting into the quick during a nail trim can result in bleeding and pain. Whenever the nail is compromised, whether it be through improper trimming or injury, the quick can develope an infection, which may then spread up into the foot and into the blood. For this reason, regular cleanings and antibiotics are a routine treatment for many nail injuries.

Injuries and Treatments

Nail injuries can occur as a result of normal activity, like play, walking or running. Signs of an injury include bleeding, limping and licking at the affected foot.

Dr. Michael Levine, DVM, offered the following information on the most common nail injuries and treatments:

• Nail cutting injuries can occur when the nail is cut too short, resulting in bleeding and an exposed quick. The bleeding can be stopped using styptic powder, or, in a pinch, corn starch. Once the bleeding is stopped, it’s important to keep the nail clean while healing occurs. The length of time required for healing can range from a few days, to well over a week. Twice daily washings should be performed using an antibacterial soap like Dial. At night, an antibiotic ointment can be applied to the nail and the foot should be wrapped with a thin layer of gauze.
• Cracking along the nail is also not an uncommon injury and it can result from less serious trauma. In cases where the crack is horizontal across the nail, trimming back the nail will resolve the problem. If the crack is across the portion of nail containing the quick, then the nail should be trimmed back as much as possible (without compromising the quick) and the injury will resolve as the nail grows out. For horizontal cracks at the base of the nail, or in the case of a vertical crack (which will often spread as the nail grows), it will require attention from a vet. Trimming or de-shelling procedures (mentioned above) are usually required for these cases to help prevent long term discomfort and infection.
• Tearing or breakage can occur as a result of trauma, whether it occurs during normal activity, or due to an accident like stepping on a pet’s foot. If the quick has not been compromised, there should be little pain or discomfort and the nail should be promptly trimmed to the point of injury. If the quick has been compromised, a visit to the vet will be required. In the meantime, any excess nail can be trimmed to lessen the amount of contact while walking, but care should be taken to avoid cutting the portion of nail with the quick.

Dr. Levine explained, “In some cases [of a broken nail], we will use a sedative to relax the pet and we’ll then trim the nail at the point of injury. This will be painful due to the sensitive nerves contained in the quick, and bandaging, oral antibiotics and pain medications are required, but the pet should be feeling better within a few days.

“In more severe cases, where the nail is cracked along its length, or if the break is right down to the bone, a de-shelling procedure will be necessary. Due to the amount of pain, we typically put the pet under for a few minutes while we remove the dead portion of the nail, leaving only the live portion that’s usually contained inside the nail. Within several days, a new nail will begin to grow, but in the meantime, bandaging is required to avoid contamination and we also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection, along with pain medications, as this is very painful for a while afterwards.”

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