Broken Toenails And What To Do With Them
Last week, we talked about how to properly trim your pet’s toenails. Broken or torn toenails are a common occurrence if the nails are not trimmed regularly and are allowed to get long.
If the torn nail is not broken completely away, it will be necessary to remove the remainder of the nail (i.e. the broken part) to prevent further bleeding and discomfort. To do this, you will need to cut the nail at the broken area or slightly above the broken area. You can do this at home, but if you are squeamish, you may prefer to see your pet’s veterinarian for this. Depending on where the break has occurred, cutting the nail may be somewhat painful for your pet.
If your pet breaks or tears a toenail, the toenail will usually bleed. You can stop the bleeding by using a styptic pencil or by packing the nail with styptic powder, cornstarch, or pressing the toenail into a bar of soap (such as white ivory soap.) If none of these items are available to you, you can use digital pressure to stop the bleeding by firmly holding a cotton ball, piece of gauze, or clean towel to the end of the broken toenail until the bleeding has stopped. It may take several minutes for the bleeding to stop completely.
If your pet has sustained a broken nail and is still limping on the leg after 1-2 days, you should consult your veterinarian. Your pet may require antibiotics or other veterinary care to control infection and pain, especially if the nail was torn close to the nail bed.
Breaking a toenail is an uncomfortable experience for most pets. In most cases, keeping your pet’s toenails trimmed properly will help to prevent your pet from breaking or tearing his/her toenails, although it is still possible for this to happen even with short nails. The important thing to remember if this happens to your pet is not to panic. Remember, this is not a life-threatening situation. Knowing what to do if this happens to your pet is half the battle, and now your are prepared to handle the situation properly if necessary.
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