Why is my dog chewing her nails? Is it a health issue or just boredom?

It looks like she is just biting off the outer shell of the nail, which can shed in some cases. Because she is nibbling them she is likely causing a little more shedding than normal. I wouldn't worry too much as long as she is not damaging the nail bed or quick of the nails themselves.

It’s possible but some dogs do show a preference for chewing on one set of nails versus another. Check to make sure there is not redness on the skin or discharge between the paw pads. If you see anything like that then it could be infected and she should see the veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi, this looks like his nail has some injury to it but I can't be certain. It appears it may have been pulled or torn and is causing him some pain. Dogs who are in pain often don't act they way they do normally. I would take her to a vet to see if the nail needs to come off or if there is an infection you can treat with antibiotics. You can try soaking it with warm water and a betadine solution to see if that provides any relief. Good luck, i hope this helps!

Hello. This could be a behavioral issue, or a behavioral issue plus paronychia ( skin infection around the nail/claws ). Even though you do not see anything unusual, a veterinarian can examine the skin, do a skin impression to see if there is a population of bacteria or yeast organisms present around the nail beds. An appropriate treatment can then be started. Often, this could also be an indication, & the only evidence of, an allergy. Allergies can come from the food or the environment & can be challenging to distinguish in cats with mild symptoms. So it is very helpful to get professional help with this. Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

He could have allergies and/or a nail infection. He should be examined by a vet to diagnose and treat the problem. Your vet can prescribe an antibiotic, anti-histamine, and/or a corticosteroid to treat. You could also soak his paws in a warm Epsom salt solution and see if that helps.

Biting or chewing of the feet can be a sign of allergies, or infection of the nail beds or other nail bed disease. I would recommend bringing her in to your vet for an examination. She may need medicated wipes or oral medications to help decrease the irritation and biting.

Some dogs and cats actually bite their nails out of stress or habit. If the nails start to bleed or show Hestia signs of discomfort, like lameness, she should be examined by her vet. Consider cutting her nails frequently to see if that deters her self-inflicted damage. If Hestia begins to display other signs of anxiety, such as urinating outside of the litter box or hiding more, talk to her vet about anxiety medications. Otherwise, just continue monitoring her because this may be a habitual behavior for Hestia.