First Aid for Broken Nails on Dogs

It’s the dreaded Sunday afternoon scenario—you’re playing fetch with your dog, and suddenly they come back limping. It looks like they may have a wound.

After cleaning away the blood, you can see that your dog’s toenail looks broken.

Should you be worried about a dog’s broken nail? Is this a veterinary emergency, or can you wait to see your veterinarian tomorrow?

Let’s look at everything you need to know about the parts of a dog’s nail and what to do when your dog’s nail is broken.

Why a Broken Nail in Dogs Is a Problem

Dog toenails are very similar to people’s nails, with one major exception: they are attached to the end of their phalanges, or “toe bones.”

That means an infection (pyoderma) that gets into the nail or nail bed can potentially enter the bone (osteomyelitis), becoming much more severe. This likely explains why broken nails in dogs can be painful.

Let’s look at dog nail anatomy.

The hard outer part of a dog’s nail is made up of keratin. This hard shell protects and seals in the delicate inner portion, called the quick, which contains the blood vessels and nerves.

If your dog has clear or light-colored nails, you will be able to distinguish these parts clearly.

However, if your dog has black nails, it makes clipping them much more complicated, since you can’t see the quick inside the nail.

The nail attaches to the toe at the nail bed, and on the underside of the foot, the nail lies close to the toe pad.

Healthy toenails are not brittle and will not chip or split when trimmed with a good-quality pair of nail trimmers.

Signs a Dog’s Nail Is Broken

Most of the time, it’s clear when your dog has a problem with a toenail.

He may leave drops of blood on the floor if the injury is fresh, or you might see him licking his foot excessively. Some dogs will also limp.

However, dogs can have other toenail problems that aren’t caused by an injury.

Other symptoms of a problem might include:

• Misshapen or deformed nails

• Increased brittleness

• Discharge or crusts around the base of the nail

• An ingrown toenail

• Redness or swelling of the nail bed or paw; color changes within the nails themselves

• Biting at the nails and feet

• Moving the paw away or yelping when you touch their paw

• Split, broken, or bleeding nails

If you notice a change in your dog’s toenails—especially if multiple toes are involved—it should be checked by a veterinarian.

Beyond the toenail injury itself, there are hormonal, nutritional, and metabolic problems that can affect toenail health, and your vet can check for these.

What To Do If Your Dog Has a Broken, Bleeding, Split, or Cracked Nail

If your dog comes to you with a broken, bleeding, split or cracked nail, don’t panic. It may not require a trip to the emergency room. 

Complete the following steps:

1. Remain calm and prevent your dog from licking or chewing at the nail—this can make the injury worse. It’s a good idea to have a recovery cone at home in case of situations like this.

2. Gently clean the nail with warm water or saline solution. 

3. Gauze or a non-adherent telfa pad can be useful to apply on top of the wound followed by a light bandage. 

4. If the nail is bleeding, using a gauze pad is recommended firstly to apply pressure until the bleeding stops and a clot forms.

Depending on the severity of the nail, it may be able to heal with minimal treatment.

Sometimes, just trimming the nail or removing a piece of the broken nail is all that’s needed—just like removing a hang nail on yourself.

However, if the nail is split to the base, or if the bleeding is excessive, tenderness or pain is noted when touching the area, it’s best to take your dog to the vet for treatment. 

Any broken nails should be inspected in the future for proper growth. Sometimes, an X-ray is needed to determine if there has been any underlying trauma to the bones or joints.

The cost to have your dog’s broken nail fixed by the vet varies on how severe the injury is and whether sedation/anesthesia or additional pain medication is required.

Pet parents can expect to spend anywhere from less than $100 to several hundred dollars.

Causes of Broken Nails in Dogs

Dog broken nails have several causes.

At some point, many pet parents must deal with a dog toenail issue. It will be a lot less stressful for all parties if you know the best way to deal with it.

Let’s look at some of the most common reasons for broken nails in dogs:

• Broken, cracked, or split nails—It’s most common to see a small portion of the nail broken or split open without exposing the “quick,” or center blood vessel. There’s no blood, since only the outer portion of the nail is involved.

• Nail infection—Nail infections are generally more serious than a simple split nail. They often occur either when there has been an injury to the nail or nail bed that exposes it to infection.

  • With an infection, most dogs are uncomfortable and lick their feet frequently. The base of the nail is often discolored or red and swollen.

• Nail ripped off and fell off—Nails frequently get ripped off when dogs are outside playing. If a dog has long nails, it can predispose them to being caught and ripped off.

  • When the nail is completely gone, what’s left behind is the exposed quick. Most dogs are very uncomfortable when this happens and will lick and bite the affected foot.

• Broken dew claw—The dew claw is the small, often lightly attached nail that’s high up on your dog’s foot—usually almost to where their wrist would be.

  • A broken dew claw can be a minor issue if it doesn’t involve the quick, or major if the quick or skin around the nail is involved.

• Overgrown nail—Overgrown nails are very common and easily prevented. If the nail has not curled around and started growing into the foot, the best treatment for overgrown nails is clipping them.

  • When you clip, be careful not to cut into the quick of the nail. For long-term maintenance, it’s best to clip your dog’s nails weekly to prevent them from overgrowing.

How to Prevent Broken Nails in Dogs

Dogs can easily break a nail running through the brush, over low shrubs, and in the park. But for most dogs without a nail disorder, keeping the nails healthy and injury-free comes down to just a few basic steps:

• Feed a high-quality diet with the nutrients needed to keep your pet’s coat and nails healthy.

• Trim your dog’s nails regularly and keep them short.

• Bathe your dog regularly. Clean around their nails and nail beds often.

• Prevent your dog from chewing or biting at the nails; recovery cones can be helpful.

What To Keep in Your Dog’s Nail Kit

Having the right tools is important when taking care of your dog’s nail health.

You’ll need:

• Treats. You’ll need treats to help your dog forward to getting their nails done. Having an extra person to offer the treats can be helpful.

• A container. You can keep all your supplies in a container to make the job much easier. When it’s time to trim toenails, you will have everything you need in one place.

• Nail clippers. You’ll need a set of nail clippers, like these large, orange-handled ones made by Millers Forge. They work well on dogs’ toenails, of all sizes.

• Styptic powder. In case you accidentally cut your dog’s nails too short, you can use styptic powder to stop the bleeding. In a pinch, you can also use flour or cornstarch.

Some pups will even enjoy the process once they discover they get rewards for their cooperation!