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Torn nail problem.

Species: Dog
Breed: mixed breed
Age: 5-8 years
my dog hooked her nail last saturday and broke the nail off very short and was bleeding alot. I took her to the vet and she had to cut the nail a little shorter to make sure that the nail grew back straight. she also had to clog the nail to stop the bleeding. Because of this we had to keep a bandage on her paw for a few days and keep it dry by putting an IV bag on it when she was going outside in the damp grass. I was wondering if you could tell me if it is ok for the paw to get wet now because she chewed up the bag and we are unable to put it on her paw now.


Online vet, Dr. Marie

Dr. Marie replied:

Sorry to hear that Angel has been going through this. I see a lot of torn nails. Fortunately it is really rare that they cause a serious problem.

If you don't have the IV bag, you can use any other kind of bag such as a grocery bag or ziploc bag. It won't look as "pretty" but it can still accomplish the goal of keeping the bandage dry.

However, if the bandage is wet at all, then it needs to come off. A wet bandage will just hold bacteria and promote infection.

In most cases, in this type of situation, it should be fine to simply remove the bandage. The bandage is mostly to keep Angel from banging the nail on something and hurting it. However, it's hard to advise you properly without actually seeing the nail.

I hope everything continues to heal well!

Dr. Marie.


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Disclaimer: Although Dr. Marie is a qualified veterinarian, the information found on this site is not meant to replace the advice of your own veterinarian. AskAVetQuestion.com and Dr. Marie do not accept any responsibility for any loss, damage, injury, death, or disease which may arise from reliance on information contained on this site. Do not use information found on this site for diagnosing or treating your pet. Anything you read here is for information only.

Customer reply:

Can you tell me how long I will have to keep the paw covered? The bandage is now off but I am not sure if I should be still cover her paw to go outside.


Online vet, Dr. Marie

Dr. Marie replied:

How does the nail look? Is it raw and open? Is she trying to lick at it?



Customer reply:

Yes she is trying to lick it but it doesn't bother her for me to touch it. It isn't tender or anything but there is still a little dried blood on it and she is trying to clean it off. She does not like having dirty paws at all.


Online vet, Dr. Marie

Dr. Marie replied:

OK. This is a really tough one for me without being able to see the nail. Keep in mind that I can't make a diagnosis or truly advise on treatment over the internet, so I will give you some general advice on situations like these.

My thought is that if she is trying to lick at it then we should keep it covered. If I have a case like this and the bandage has come off, what I usually advise my clients to do is to cover the foot with a sock, and use either medical tape or duct tape on the top of the sock to hold it on. Then, when she goes outside, if she gets the sock wet I would take it off when she comes in, wait for 30 minutes or so for the foot to dry and then put a new one on.

It sounds like the best thing you can do for her is to keep it covered tonight and then have your vet take a look at her in the morning.



Customer reply:

The bandage didn't come off on its own, when we were at the vet last saturday she told me to take it off on wednsday. So I did.


Online vet, Dr. Marie

Dr. Marie replied:

Oh, OK...I'm a little confused. If the bandage is off and she is trying to lick at it then she likely either needs another bandage on, or she may need some pain medication. It's also possible that the nail bed is infected. This can definitely cause her to want to lick at it.

Do you think you can have her seen by your vet tomorrow?



Customer reply:

Well she is always licking her paws. She uses them to clean her face like my cat does. She started doing this when I got my cat. I don't think she is actually licking at the nail. She cleans her paws everytime she comes in from outside when it is wet outside. she has been doing this for years. Like I said before she does not like her paws to be dirty.


Online vet, Dr. Marie

Dr. Marie replied:

OK then...if she's just licking occasionally she's likely ok. But if you think obsessing with it then there could be a problem.



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Dr. MarieDr. Marie is a veterinarian who practices in a busy animal hospital in Ottawa, Ontario. She created Ask A Vet Question as a resource for good, accurate veterinary advice online. Dr. Marie treats dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and rats. She has been a vet since 1999.

Is an online vet visit just as good as a trip to your veterinarian? No! But, many times, asking an online veterinarian a question can help save you money. While Dr. Marie can't officially diagnose your pet or prescribe medications, she can often advise you on whether a vet visit is necessary. You can also ask Dr. Marie for a second opinion on your pet's condition.