My dog's broken nail is bleeding and he's shaking his paw. What to do?

Clip the nail carefully. If there is bleeding, gentle pressure and some Quik Stop powder or plain cornstarch should stop it. Clean daily with a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution. A dab of a triple antibiotic may be applied if necessary. Monitor for redness, swelling or lethargy. If she won't allow you to clip the nail, she may need to be seen by your veterinarian. Clip the other nails a bit to prevent snagging.

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.

It sounds like he broke his dewclaw - most of the time the nail will need to be removed so it won't cause chronic irritation or infection. If you're unable to pull it off at home because he is too painful or because it is still attached you will need to see your veterinarian. Sometimes sedation is required if the nail is not completely broken and the nail is clipped very close to the base. If Otis seems comfortable and the nail is not bleeding this is not necessarily an emergency - you could wait until your vet is open and make an appointment. You should keep him from licking the area until then and he may need to wear an e-collar.

I think it would be best if you take him to the vet for a wound clean-up, and exam whether there is more than just a stripped nail. Your veterinarian will likely want to bandage the paw and give your dog pain medicine and an antibiotic so that the bacteria in that area cannot cause an infection.

Poor Max! Apply cornstarch to the broken end. Be careful as broken nails can hurt and dogs may bite due to pain. Depending on how the nail is broken, Max may need to see his veterinarian today as these sometimes need to be removed. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions!

Gently wash the area with warm water and antiseptic soap. Keep it clean and dry, and monitor for signs of infection. If you do see infection (redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, pus), then have Snuggle seen by a vet.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It looks like Kusion broke his toenail and now the pulp of the nail is exposed. This is likely painful and he is licking it a lot causing the color change of the fur around the nail. I would take him to the vet to cut away the broken part of the nail and get him antibiotics and pain meds to prevent infection and give him comfort. You can also soak the foot in epsom salt bath until you can get to the vet. Good luck and kisses to Kusion!