Posted 2014-02-07 9:54 PM Subject: Dog with bad nail
Expert
Posts: 2276 Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :)
So Marty came to me from the pound with a nail that grew around up into his nail from lack of care. We had it cut and it seemed fine. A couple weeks later he is sore on that foot and the nail is growing funny so I take him to the vet and they said sometimes when a nail gets injured it may grow back funny and need clipped down a few times to make it come back normal. So they clipped it way down almost off and it seems to be growing back normal but tonight I notice him licking at it again. Is there a possibility it is something in his foot that is making it hurt? It seems like as soon as it grows back it gets sore. I feel so bad for the poor guy...any advice on what to do for him? Do we just keep clipping it off to see if it gets better?
Posted 2014-02-07 10:35 PM Subject: RE: Dog with bad nail
Ms. Manners
Posts: 1820 Location: Oklahoma
I know several great dog folks who swear by using a dremel to "trim" their dogs' nails. It works great because you can do it more often than traditional trimming, there are no sharp edges, and it cauterises as it works (if needed). Dogs get used to it pretty quickly and I prefer it to nail trimmers. Just a simple hand-held dremel will work perfect. Then you could do your own weekly maintenance on the nails. Check the toes to see if it is infected or hot. I have known folks to put a bootie on the paw to stop the licking, which may just be a habit by now. It wouldn't hurt to voice your concern to the vet.
Posted 2014-02-07 10:41 PM Subject: RE: Dog with bad nail
I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864 Location: In the Hills of Texas
Our cattle dog split her nail and it took quite a while before it started to grow properly and it seemed to be sore for a long time. I use a dremel tool weekly on all of our dogs nails. You can buy one specific for dogs for $25.00 or a better one with more power for under $50.00.
Posted 2014-02-07 10:47 PM Subject: RE: Dog with bad nail
Expert
Posts: 2276 Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :)
I'm gonna have to look into the dremel!
It doesn't seem to be sore, he is walking fine and when I touch it, he doesn't pull away or seem bothered by me messing with it and it looks fine. It may just be a habit now. Who knows how long he had his nail in his foot like that. He was in the pound for a couple months before I got him so I'm sure he was licking it that whole time, maybe before. He just got done with his second round of antibiotics so I'm thinking there shouldn't be any infection left if there was any.
Dog with bad nail
