Pets, despite the constant care of adoring owners, still get injured. A broken claw is one of the most common. In dogs, they do not retract, so it is easy for them to injure them, especially when walking. If the very tip is broken, there will be no significant problem, but if the dog breaks the claw to the point of bleeding, then he will need help right away.
Why is this happening?
There are two reasons for breaking a claw: trauma and lack of elements necessary for their growth. Moreover, it is not only about a sufficient amount of calcium, which most owners think about first. A lot depends on the dog's nutrition, especially if it is on natural food. Ready-made feeds usually contain a balanced amount of all the necessary substances, provided that the pet consumes at least the recommended amount per day. With natural nutrition, it is necessary to give complex supplements containing calcium, amino acids, B vitamins. Absolutely healthy animals also experience temporary beriberi in the off-season - in autumn and spring.
Often the reason that the dog broke the claw is an injury. They happen on walks and even at home. The pet may hit something hard or catch on something with a claw. It is also likely that damage will result from trimming. This, unfortunately, happens at home. Due to the fact that many dogs have dark nails, it is difficult to determine the length that is safe for clipping. In some cases, the animal will be hers, afraid to step on her. You can cut off the part in which the blood vessels are located. The owners should be aware that the claws of animals at the root and above are still filled with vessels, so in no case should they be cut off more than half. This is not only fraught with minor bleeding, but causes severe pain to the dog.
Dog broke a claw photo
How to provide first aid?
If, nevertheless, it happened that the dog broke a claw on a walk or it was cut incorrectly, then she may need help. In the event that there are no traces of blood and the animal does not show any anxiety, normally stepping on its paw, then it is enough just to observe for a while. It is likely that no problems will arise. It is only necessary to pay attention to the regularity of the problem. If the dog has broken a claw not for the first time, they exfoliate and slowly grow back, then you need to reconsider its diet.
In the case of a severe injury, it may be that the entire paw is damaged. Even after giving first aid, it is still necessary to urgently consult a veterinarian to check for fractures. The first manipulations, when the dog broke the claw at the root and there is bleeding, include the use of some medicines, so it is worth collecting a home veterinary first aid kit in advance.
- If the injury occurred outdoors, clean the area by rinsing and drying the paw.
- As a disinfectant, pour the wound with chlorhexidine or any other agent that does not cause burning.
- In order to stop bleeding, you can use a special hemostatic powder, which can be bought at ordinary and veterinary pharmacies. If not, then a small amount of cooking flour is fine.
- If the injury is severe, then you need to provide the dog with partial immobility before arriving at the veterinarian and clean the problem claw. It is important that there is no pressure on the injured paw and no dirt gets into the wound.
Treatment for an unfortunate broken nail includes cleaning, removing the splinters (which may require cutting the nail almost completely off), and applying antibacterial or simply healing agents. Manipulations should be carried out by a veterinarian, they are not only dangerous, but also cause severe pain to the dog, and in the clinic it is possible to apply a local anesthetic. Antibiotics may be needed if there is a possibility of blood poisoning. It is advisable to inspect the entire paw to determine if there are any cuts to the pads, bruises, or fractures. They may go unnoticed for some time.
The owner of a dog that has broken a claw should not feel guilty. These are very active and sociable animals; minor injuries cannot be completely avoided. It is enough just to pay attention to the problem with the paw in time, provide the pet with first aid and organize observation, so that in case of complications, deliver it to the veterinarian in time.
Dog owners know that their pet's nails need to be kept in order and cut regularly, but no one is safe from trouble, just like from injuries. Removal of a claw from a dog is a full-fledged operation, which is performed sterile under full anesthesia and only for medical reasons.
Declawing a dog is not practiced to satisfy requests for the convenience of owners or the safety of other animals. The structure of the dog's paw is such that when walking, running and maneuvering, the claws play the role of an additional support. Simply put, without claws, the animal will either not run or fall.
Dogs use their claws to dig the soil, this is especially pronounced in burrowing and hunting breeds. Claws are a tool of defense in a fight, which is also important. From the owner's point of view, the dog's claws are the cause of scratches and torn packages. But if you love a dog, then you need to educate it, or face the inconvenience.
Removal of claws is carried out only for medical reasons:
- Injuries– during the game or on a walk, the dog can undermine the claw. Having received such an injury, the pet experiences severe pain and loses a lot of blood. Depending on the extent of the lesion, the claw may be removed completely or partially.
- inflammation splinters, cuts and other injuries can lead to suppuration in the pad or the finger itself. The difficulty is that the dog's paws are constantly mobile and do not heal well. If the infection is ignored, it spreads to deep tissues. Depending on the depth and extent, due to inflammation, a claw or a finger is removed from the dog.
- Frostbite and burns- the main danger of such injuries is the cessation of blood circulation in the tissues. After receiving frostbite or burns literally in a matter of hours, tissues die off (necrotic process). The threat is in sepsis, that is, in blood poisoning, which will spread pathogenic cells throughout the body and organs. Usually, patients with such injuries are observed during the day, if intoxication or progression of necrosis is observed, the entire affected area is cut off.
- Gangrene- if you do not go into details, the process is similar to necrosis, which is actively progressing. By the way, gangrene can occur as a consequence of frostbite.
- wrong growth claws and fused claws.
- ingrown claws.
At osteosarcoma and other oncological processes, there is a stratification of bones. Quite often, the process begins in the fingers. It hurts the dog, it spares its paws, runs less, at this time the claws grow back. If the owner did not notice the deviation in time, sooner or later, the pet breaks off the claw. Arriving at the doctor already with an injury, the dog is sent for an x-ray (according to the protocol). The picture shows that the bones are stratified, that is, an oncological process is underway. If you start treatment at this stage (while there are no metastases), that is, cut off the finger with a claw and conduct radiation therapy, there are great chances to stop the development of oncology.
Reasons for wolf claw removal
Some dogs, including purebreds, have a fifth toe with a claw on their hind and front paws. This feature is considered rudimentary, that is, inherited from wild ancestors and is called "wolf finger" or "wolf claw".
For many years in a row, dewclaws were removed from almost all show dogs. For some aboriginal breeds, they are acceptable and even desirable, but such a minority.
Not so long ago, studies were conducted in which several large control groups of tetrapods took part. According to the results of observations, it turned out that most dogs with dewclaws actively use them while chewing bones and playing games. To date, the removal of dewclaws is not prohibited, although it is condemned in countries with a developed legal system. According to the standard of most breeds, dewclaws are to be removed.
Methodology
The method of carrying out the operation depends on the goals. In any case, the operation to remove the claw is a complex and painstaking process that requires:
- Compliance with the rules of septic and antiseptic.
- Physician's experience.
- The presence of equipment, preferably a special cauter, which cauterizes the vessels during dissection.
- Preliminary examination of the dog for diseases of the heart, kidneys and liver. At a minimum, a general blood test and an examination are carried out.
- Full anesthesia, because the procedure is very painful, requires precision from the surgeon and immobility from the patient.
A dog that plucks a claw does not necessarily lose it completely. The task of the doctor is to stop the bleeding, cauterize all the vessels, and preserve the claw and finger as much as possible. If everything goes well, the caudate will need rehabilitation and care, but then the claw will grow a new one. The recovery process is quite long, but after the wounds heal, the dog does not experience much discomfort.
In other cases, when it comes to saving a limb or the life of an animal, the claw is permanently removed. If the damage affects the finger, it will also be amputated. It is unreasonable to hesitate and take risks in such situations, since the remaining infection can rise higher and then we will talk about amputation of the hand or limb.
Care after surgery
The operation to remove the claw is very painful and involves a long rehabilitation. At the junction of the claw and finger, there is a large number of nerve bundles. To alleviate the condition, the animal is constantly injected with painkillers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics.
A tight bandage is applied to the paw from which the claw has been removed., which changes 1 time in 1-2 days. During dressing, the wound is disinfected and lubricated with healing preparations.
When the incision site is initially scarred, the bandage is removed, but dog wearing a surgical collar. At this stage, the owner must take special care, as the risk of injury is high. Post-processing is carried out after each walk. Wearing a collar continues until the wound is completely healed.
Oh! How can such a small injury cause so much pain? A small tear on a tiny claw on one toe can be excruciatingly painful. The pain due to a broken nail can be so intense that it will force a large and bold dog to literally "kneel". Any breed, large or small, will limp and whine in discomfort. In addition, the bleeding that accompanies the injury further complicates the matter.
Why do claws break?
Dogs break their nails due to snagging in carpets, upholstery, grass roots, etc. Or the dog may jump off a chair or down a porch in such a way that the claw is twisted and broken. Sometimes the nails of older pets can become so dry that they become brittle and break very easily. Longer nails tend to snag and break more often than shorter ones. Regardless of the cause, a broken nail hurts and bleeds and therefore requires immediate attention.
Why does a broken claw become such a problem?
Dog claws protect some of the large blood vessels, which are lined with a layer of a hard material called keratin. Dog nails are not living tissue, so clipping them is not painful for your pet. The claws are also attached to the bone, so any damage can lead to bone infection, which can be very serious.
There are usually 5 claws on each front foot and 4 claws on each hind foot, but sometimes an extra claw is found higher on the foot. All but the extra nails are usually worn out if the dog walks on hard surfaces, making clipping unnecessary. The extra nails don't wear out, so they should be trimmed more often as they are more prone to breakage.
What to do if a dog breaks a claw?
If your dog is whining in pain and suddenly begins to limp or hold onto his paw, check that paw for claw integrity and follow these steps:
- Hold your dog safely. Have someone hold your pet while you examine the claw. Remember that even the most affectionate and kind animal can bite when it hurts a lot. Hold the dog in a firm hug, this immobilizes him and makes him feel safe.
- stop the bleeding, wrapping the paw with a bandage, gauze or towel and providing a pressure bandage. If the bleeding does not stop within 5-10 minutes, then a hemostatic pencil or powder should be applied. They can be purchased at the pet store, and in the first aid section of a regular pharmacy. If you don't have these remedies at home, try spraying flour on the claw, or holding the tip of the claw in a soap dish to help stop the bleeding faster.
- Remove the damaged part of the claw. You may need to remove a piece of the claw with scissors, but if the injury is severe enough, it's best to leave it to your veterinarian. When you take your dog to the vet, keep the injured leg wrapped in a towel.
The damaged part of the claw must be carefully removed. This procedure is often very painful, but it resolves quickly and usually does not require sedatives. Removing the damaged part of the nail will provide a good basis for its future growth.
- Protection of the root of the claw from infection. Your veterinarian will apply an antibiotic ointment or powder to the root of the claw and bandage the leg to prevent contamination and minimize further bleeding. Oral or injectable antibiotics may also be prescribed. Because the claw is attached to bone, preventing infection is key.
- Pain reduction. Without protection from the claw, delicate tissue, including blood vessels and nerves, becomes painful. Your veterinarian may prescribe pain medication for a few days to give your dog some comfort.
How can you help your dog avoid broken nails?
To reduce the chance of breaking a nail, it is important to keep all of your dog's nails trimmed. Short nails break much less often than long ones. Ask your veterinarian about the correct trimming technique for trimming nails at home.
Keep your dog's claw care on your to-do list, along with walks and baths, so you can prevent any incidents involving your dog's claws.
Many dog owners sooner or later face such a problem as a cracked or torn claw. This is very serious, because for a pet it is a lot of pain and discomfort. In addition, the wound may bleed.
If a person encounters such an incident for the first time, then he may panic and provide the wrong help, this is later can lead to infection or improper growth of the claws.
A dog can claw on a carpet, furniture upholstery, or protruding plant roots. She can also jump unsuccessfully, and the claw will bend and break from the blow. Damage is even easier to get if the dog is already old. In this case, the nails become dry, brittle and brittle. The chance of injury is even higher if the claws of the animal are long. These are more likely to cling and get injured.
What is dangerous?
The dog's claw is surrounded by large blood vessels, if broken, they can be hit by a fragment of the claw plate, hence severe pain and profuse bleeding. Claws attached to bone, therefore, there is a high probability of infection in the wound, as well as the occurrence of inflammation.
Below is a video with an example of the consequences of an untreated broken claw in time:
First aid
In the vet. first aid kit must be present disinfecting(for example, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, brilliant green), hemostatic(styptic pencil or regular baby powder; flour can also be used if these are not available) and painkillers(ibuprofen, naprokfen,) funds.
With cracked claws
- rinse the wound with clean water;
- treat with peroxide;
- stop the bleeding.
There is nothing more you can do on your own, so after first aid take your dog to the vet!
ATTENTION: do not neglect a visit to the veterinarian, this can turn into serious consequences - from infection to amputation of the phalanx on which the claw is cracked!
If it is half broken or a piece has fallen off
- rinse the paw with purified water - this is necessary so that dirt does not get into the wound, because it is important to prevent the development of pus;
- treat the wound hydrogen peroxide;
- further process green;
- if there is blood after she broke it, stop the bleeding using bandage, gauze or towel as a pressure bandage;
- remove the part of the claw that has been damaged, it can interfere with the pet, cause him discomfort or even pain;
- apply a swab with ointment "Levomekol" and bandage your paw.
If uprooted
- wash the wound;
- treat with peroxide;
- stop bleeding;
- tie a bandage on the paw to prevent infection;
- contact your veterinarian.
For any of these injuries after first aid it is necessary to apply an antibiotic ointment or powder to the root of the claw and bandage. Such dressings should be changed about three times a day for a week or two.
If the dog has torn off the bandage and is constantly trying to lick the wound, then there are two options. First- put on a special cone for the pet, which does not allow the tongue to reach the wound. Second- fasten the bandage around the neck, and put on a tight sock on the paw, bandaging it with an elastic bandage.
ATTENTION! When you give first aid to a dog that has injured its claws, it is unlikely that it will sit still. Usually the pet breaks out, runs away, sometimes even tries to bite the owner. No matter how kind a dog is, its behavior at the moment of severe pain can be unpredictable.
Be prepared for such a course of events, with any procedure, especially causing discomfort and pain, hold your pet in a tight hug. That way he won't be able to escape and, most importantly, he will feel safe.
Check out the video on how to stop a dog from bleeding from a claw:
How to avoid problems?
Taking care of them should be a must. Trim your nails regularly to reduce the risk of breaking or breaking them. To do this, select a nail cutter suitable for your dog at the pet store.
The structure of a dog's claw is much more complex than that of many other animals. and, especially, than the structure of a human nail. If you do not go into details, you can divide it into a claw bed, or, in other words, a pulp (inner layer) and a keratin sheath, which is outside.
When undercutting, it is very important not to touch the pulp, but to cut off exactly the outer layer, while parallel to the floor, so that the dog can walk comfortably.
If your pet's nails are uncolored, then it will be easy for you to determine the boundary of the layers, and therefore to carry out a high-quality undercut. You can see the pulp by laying the dog on its back and looking at the paw from the inside.
If they are colored, then this boundary may not be visible, which complicates the process. Remember that only the keratinized tip of the claw should be cut off, trying not to touch the soft tissues.
IMPORTANT! If you still touched the pulp, then immediately treat the wound. It is easy to notice the damage - the claw will begin to bleed, and the pet will break out due to the pain caused.
You will have to practice for a while before the procedure begins to be carried out by you properly and is perceived by the animal calmly. Of course, if you are afraid of the sight of blood ( being inexperienced, you can hit the capillaries), you are afraid of harming your pet by doing something wrong, then it would be best to contact a specialist.
Cutting frequency
It depends on the lifestyle of the animal. If your dog constantly walks on hard surfaces, such as asphalt or paving stones, then the claws on the paws grind off on their own. It remains only to follow so that there are always a few millimeters between them and the floor. If you have a dog that rarely walks on such surfaces, then the procedure should be carried out more often. The same can be said about the winter periods.
If the correct and high-quality care of the claws is not provided, then they can cause pain in the joints, because claws interfere with the correct setting of the paw, as a result of which chronic diseases of the joints, injuries of the fingers and the claws themselves are provoked.
Remember that to fix these consequences will be hundreds of times harder rather than prevent them!
In addition to all of the above, it is imperative to take control of the dog's nutrition. To strengthen the claws, as well as the bones, coat and general condition of the dog, it is necessary to give it raw meat, bones, milk, cottage cheese.
Instead of cottage cheese, it is not recommended to give glazed curds. like many dog breeders do. You can replace fresh cottage cheese with hard cheeses or cheese. Be sure to include vitamins in her diet. Even with a fully balanced diet, some vitamins may be lacking.
IMPORTANT! In the cases listed below, do not hesitate to treat and contact the veterinary clinic!
- An animal cannot step on its paw for more than an hour.
- Can't stop the bleeding.
- During processing, unpleasant discharge appears.
- If the dog whines strongly, it does not allow the wound to be treated.
- If the case is so serious that, obviously, you can not do without surgical intervention.
Useful video
Conclusion
Generally, broken or cracked nails are not uncommon. If you are the owner of the dog and have taken into account all the measures described above, then in case of such an incident you will already know how to act.
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Dog owners sometimes face the fact that a four-legged pet has broken a claw. Even a small injury is accompanied by severe pain. The animal whines, limps, loses its appetite, refuses to walk. What to do if the dog broke a claw and whether it is dangerous - we will consider in the article.
Is it dangerous if a dog breaks a claw?
The claws of four-legged friends serve as protection for a number of large blood vessels. They consist of creatine and do not belong to the category of soft living tissues. Claws can be trimmed without harming the animal, but this should be done carefully and competently. If the owners of dogs do not monitor them, the likelihood of injury to the claws increases. If the vessels are affected, there is a risk of severe bleeding and infection. The animal in this case needs the help of a specialist.
When a dog breaks a claw at the root, there is a threat of infection of the limb bone. This is a severe case that can lead to pet disability and even death. You can not wait until the injured place heals. It is necessary to contact the veterinarian, who will prescribe a set of measures for the treatment of the pet.
First aid
If the dog broke the claw to the blood, the paw should be carefully examined. The animal will break out, may bite, so you need to hold it tightly, trying not to cause discomfort.
- The first step is to stop the bleeding. The injured paw is bandaged so that the bandage stops the bleeding. If it continues to flow, the broken claw is treated with a hemostatic agent. Such pencils and powders are sold in veterinary pharmacies. In their absence, ordinary flour, hydrogen peroxide, a solution of potassium permanganate or a soap solution, in which the tip of a broken claw is held for five minutes, will do.
- When the blood stops, you need to remove the broken piece with scissors. This is a painful procedure, so it must be done quickly. It is needed so that the damaged claw can grow quickly without causing inflammation.
Then the wound is smeared with brilliant green. If there are injuries on the paw pad, a cotton swab with levomecol is applied to them. To prevent the pet from licking wounds, a protective collar must be put on the neck.
What Not to Do
You should not try to handle a broken claw yourself if there is heavy bleeding, the animal cannot step on its paw and whines loudly. In such cases, the dog should be taken to the veterinarian immediately. He will be able to professionally remove a piece of the claw and prescribe a course of drugs that prevent suppuration and relieve pain. These are antibiotics and painkillers.
An elastic bandage is applied to the fracture site, which must be constantly changed within ten days. You can put on a tight sock on the bandage so that your four-legged friend does not take it off.
How to prevent injury
Dogs usually break their nails when they are too long. To avoid this, claws need to be trimmed regularly or made so that they grind down on walks. Do not think that their scrapping is a rare injury. It happens often and sometimes ends badly. It is better to spend money and time on visiting a specialist who can accurately trim the claws than not treating the pet.
If the dog lives in an apartment, they grow quickly, can twist and grow into the paw pads. In aging animals, the claws become brittle, exfoliate, and become covered with burrs. When running and sudden movements, they instantly break or are uprooted. There is a high probability of damage to blood vessels. It is important for owners to respond immediately and take action. Otherwise, the dog will lick the wound and prevent it from healing. There are severe cases in which you have to remove the entire finger.
Watch your pet's claws and do not allow them to grow too much. It is possible, but it is better to entrust the procedure to a trusted veterinarian who will carry it out carefully, without pain and complications. Regular "dog manicure" will save your pet from injuries and all the problems associated with long claws.