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My dog's nail bent and bled. He won't let me touch his paw!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog's nail bent sideways and bled a little. The entire nail is still attached, but he doesn't let me touch it. What should I do?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Paula Simons

Veterinarian

Published on November 24th, 2015

By your description, your dog may have a partially broken nail which can be a bit painful. You can take him to your veterinary office and ask them to cut the nail back to promote normal growth, or you can monitor the toe and see if the nail grows out naturally. Just watch for any signs of infection (redness, swelling, discharge) in the toe. Do not allow your dog to lick or chew at it. An e-collar (cone) can be placed on him until he has healed.

127Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Rodrigo Roca, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on October 31st, 2018
Hello, I am sorry to hear about your dog.

It is possible that she injured or tore her nail in some way. This can often lead to the nail being bent and cause some discomfort. If you are unable to get her to the vet, you can closely monitor the nail. It may fall off on its own. I would definitely prevent your dog from licking at the nail, as this can lead to secondary infection and further problems. If the nail begins to bleed a lot of have a colored or odorous discharge, please have her seen by a veterinarian soon.

Hope this helps, good luck!
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Debi Matlack
Veterinary Technician
Published on May 5th, 2019
Take a look at his toe, there has to be a reason why he was chewing on it. He may have gotten an insect bite or something that kicked off the chewing. You can clean the area with some mild soap and a warm washcloth, making sure to get all the soap off afterward, then a light dab of petroleum jelly to keep it moist so it doesn't crack as it dries, staring more itching. If he continues to lick it, you can pull and baby sock over the paw to cover it and use bandage tape around the top, applied loosely to not restrict circulation to the foot to keep it in place. If it does not improve, if he continues to damage the nail or toe by chewing or it gets worse, get him in to see your vet as soon as possible. There could be some underlying problem you are not aware of causing him to lick the toe and nail.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on March 25th, 2020
That's a good first step! Keep it covered tonight, and put a cone on Benji to keep him from licking his paw. You can make one at home. Then have him seen by a vet in the morning to get this treated. Do not feed him in the morning as he will likely have to be sedated to get the nail removed without pain. The vet can also prescribe pain relief and antibiotics. I hope this helps!

http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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My dog's nail is bent sideways and painful. What should I do?

I would recommend doing a light bandage wrap of the area using cast padding and an elastic bandage for now. Then in the morning have a professional take a look at it. They will have to cut the nail pretty much all the way down to where it is bent, this will cause some bleeding and mild-moderate temporary discomfort, which they can then apply the appropriate anti-coagulant, typically Quik-stop, to the area and wrap it for a couple of days until the area is no longer painful.. If there is significant swelling of the nail base then they may prescribe anti-inflammatories.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog's nail is torn and bent at 90 degrees. What should I do?

I would suggest a vet visit for Rev. These broken nails can be extremely painful. The vet office may sedate him and/or give pain meds then cut the nail flush to the paw pad. Many of these need a few days of pain medication as well. Be sure not give otc pain medications to dogs.

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My Shih-Tzu's nail is upside down and painful. Is it a broken dewclaw?

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My dog's paw toe is red and raw, and the nail is white. What's wrong?

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My dog's paw nail is bent and bleeding a little. Does he need a vet?

I would keep an eye on the area for now given that Hercules is not showing any signs of discomfort when walking and there is only a bit of bleeding. It may be there was a bit of trauma to the nail when he fell but not serious enough to require a vet visit. Should he start limping on that leg, licking that paw a lot, the paw continues to bleed, the paw becomes swollen, red, and/or warm to the touch, the nail becomes cracked in half, he becomes lethargic, or has a loss of appetite, then he will need to see a vet. I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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My dog's broken nail exposes nerves; what if he won't let me touch it?

The nail does not look infected and, even though looks broken, it can be left there as it is as new one will grow and push it forward. Part of the nail bed may be partially exposed, but not at the point where it can bleed or require any intervention. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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