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My dog's nail broke and the quick is exposed. What should I do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Female | spayed | 2 years and 8 months old | 16 lbs

My dogs nail broke and I was able to take it off. Her quick is exposed but not broken/bleeding. What should I do?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

Published on January 17th, 2018

One of our biggest concerns with a broken nail where the quick is exposed is that the dog will infect the area by licking it. In order to prevent that, I will sometimes recommend an e-collar or a having the dog wear a bootie to prevent licking. Some owners decide to bandage the area, but you have to be very careful to keep the bandage clean and dry or it will worsen an infection. If a dog has already licked a quick, I will usually recommend soaking the foot in Epsom Salts (following the instructions on the box for making it up) for 5 minutes then just drying it well. Some dogs are so painful that they will not leave a quick alone and will require pain medications. If at any time the quick is red or has a discharge or odor, then it might be infected and your veterinarian should examine it. The nail should regrow normally and should not need further treatment after that.
Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that Sunny heals quickly. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

25Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH
Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner
Published on January 22nd, 2018
One of our biggest concerns with a broken nail where the quick is exposed (bleeding) is that the dog will infect the area by licking it. In order to prevent that, I will sometimes recommend an e-collar or a having the dog wear a bootie to prevent licking. Some owners decide to bandage the area, but you have to be very careful to keep the bandage clean and dry or it will worsen an infection. If a dog has already licked a quick, I will usually recommend soaking the foot in Epsom Salts (following the instructions on the box for making it up) for 5 minutes then just drying it well. Some dogs are so painful that they will not leave a broken nail alone and will require pain medications. I do not recommend removing the nail at home because it will be very painful. The nail will fall off on its own if the blood supply has been damaged. If at any time the nail or quick is red or has a discharge or odor, then it might be infected and your veterinarian should examine it. If the nail falls off, it should regrow normally and should not need further treatment after that.
Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that Hayzel heals quickly. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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My dog's nail is pulled off and the quick is exposed. What to do?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If you can remove the nail that is remaining, I would. You can cut the quick, too, if needed. If it bleeds, thickly apply something powdered, like corn starch or flour, to clot the blood. Then place a bandage over the nail for no longer than 24 hours. You MUST take the bandage off in 24 hours and do not place it tightly. If Rex is licking the area, he could cause an infection, so monitor for any swelling, discharge, or redness until the new nail grows. You can also soak the paw in an Epsom salt bath to soothe the area (make sure it is dry before applying the bandage). I cannot stress enough that he cannot wear the bandage longer than 24 hours. Good luck and kisses to Rex!

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My dog's nail quick is exposed and drying. Will it heal okay?

Hi, provided the quick does not get infected, the nail will gradually grow back. I think just cleaning it and making sure it does not get infected will be enough. If you should notice any oozing or swelling/inflammation of the area, it could mean that the nail bed is getting infected and it is best to have Jaxon checked over. Also try to prevent Jaxon licking the wound. Hope this helps !

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My dog's nail broke at the base and is bleeding. What should I do?

Hello. This is such a common injury in dogs. Veterinarians deal with this by cutting the nail at the break & then applying an antibiotic cream mixed with a little lidocaine to stop the pain. The foot stays bandaged for a couple of days until the sensitive tissue starts to heal. From here, the nail will begin to grow out & Jack will be back to his old self. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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Is my dog's exposed nail quick dangerous after breaking and licking?

Not dangerous, but it does hurt a lot. I would recommend taking Colossus to the vet tomorrow. Some types of nail damage may need oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. You will need to prevent him from licking since it will delay healing and can lead to infection. You can cover the foot with a sock or have him wear an e-collar.

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My dog's toenail quick is exposed and raw. Does it need surgery?

Ouch Poor Max! Since the quick is exposed and raw, then yes I would recommend to have it repair by your vet. Your vet may recommend sedation so they can cut the toenail back and bandage it. They will likely also send home a pain medicine and antibiotics. I would also put a cone collar on him to prevent licking. If left untreated, it can become infected and travel into his bone on that toe. I have actually have to amputate toes in the past if they get bad enough. I hope this helps!

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