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My dog's nail bleeds at top near skin after walks, no pain. Why?

Updated on September 23, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Pug | Male | neutered | 2 years and 2 months old | 12 lbs

Hello, my dog (pug) top of his nail keeps bleeding. Where the nail meets the skin at the top. He doesn't seem in any pain with it and is well in himself. It usually bleeds when he has been walked. What could it be?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

Veterinary Technician

Published on January 2, 2020

It is possible there is a wound, tumor/growth, infection or even tear in the nail bed there. It would be best to bring Dougie to your vet to have it examined, especially if this has happened more than once, or has been ongoing a while.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on May 31, 2017
This photo is not very clear what we are looking at but it could possibly be your dog's dew claw? Which is a claw that is on the inner wrist area of a dog. It can sometimes get caught on things and can get cracked or torn off. If your dog will allow you to look at the area, you can see if there is a cracked or torn toenail here. If it is too painful for you to touch, then it is quite likely that is the issue because these torn nails can be quite painful. A visit to the vet is needed if that is the issue because we sometimes need to trim the nail back if cracked or remove it altogether if it is partially torn off. Other possibilities could be a small wound or a small dermal mass that was torn and is bleeding. The vet may need to shave the skin around the area for a better view, because we can't see much in the photo here, sorry!!!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Related Questions

Why did my dog's paw bleed near the dew claw with no visible cut?

It is possible he may have caught the dew claw and injured it or he may have been stung/bitten by an insect etc. Continue to monitor for any increased pain or discomfort and keep the area bathed with salted water to prevent infection

Updated on September 23, 2025

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My dog's toenail came off and is bleeding. Does he need a vet or OTC?

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.

Updated on September 23, 2025

My dog's nail bled, still limping after 3 days. Should I see a vet?

Please don't give any over-the-counter pain medications; they can be toxic to dogs at even low doses and giving them will confound your vet's ability to treat the pain with appropriate medications. The reality is that most of these nail injuries end up getting infected, and even if there's no infection they are exquisitely painful. You can compare it to losing your fingernail completely, but then having to walk on the uncovered cuticle. Patch likely needs to have the area numbed and the remaining nail pulled, then have a very soft/cushioning bandage placed, followed by antibiotics and pain medication. Please take him in to see his vet as soon as you can for this.

Updated on September 23, 2025

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How to treat my dog's injured nail bed with dried blood at home?

Gently clean the area with warm water and antiseptic soap. Monitor it for signs of infection such as pus, swelling, warmth to the touch, and redness. Also monitor Scooby for limping, which means he is in pain. If you see any of those signs, have him seen by a vet.

Updated on September 23, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog's nail area is swollen and bleeding. Could it be an infection?

I am sorry Waffle is not feeling well. It is hard to tell based on the picture but it appears that his skin might be infected above the nail bed. It does not appear the nail is the issue. I would recommend taking Waffle to the vet to determine where the infection is coming from and get proper treatment. hope that helps

Updated on September 23, 2025

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Why does my dog lick his paw after a run and won't let me touch?

I recommend booking an appointment with a veterinarian to have Puku’s nail(s) evaluated, as it sounds like he's in pain. Pain medications meant for humans can be very dangerous (and even deadly) for dogs, so I do not recommend giving any to your pup without consulting with your vet. Your veterinarian can prescribe safe medication to help with the pain and may also recommend bandaging and/or antibiotics to help reduce the risk of infection. I hope Puku feels better soon!

Updated on September 23, 2025

Health & Wellness

Why is my dog's nail bed red and oozing pus? What should I do?

It's likely she either slightly torn the nail at the base and now it's infected or she got a puncture wound which is now infected. I recommend to have your pup examined by the veterinarian. Have her wear an elizabethan collar at all times to prevent licking. Avoid further trauma. I hope this helps.

Updated on September 23, 2025

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