Split claw

Hi there!

If the nail has split right down to the quick, it will need to be removed so that it grows back properly; your vet can do this under anaesthesia.

Otherwise, it’s likely to grow back weak and just keep splitting again.

Noted!

thanks

I'll keep an eye on his behaviour....

I took him out this morning; he was a bit restless but didn't get into too much mischief.

Thanks for your advice

Be careful! It’s only a minor injury, sure, and it might not come to anything, but you still need to be cautious. Last summer, Gandy hurt one of his dewclaws; it didn’t look serious, and I thought a bit of antiseptic would be enough... well, he ended up getting tetanus and was hospitalised for 10 days, followed by a month of treatment to get his mobility back to normal. At the start, because the tetanus had had enough time to really take hold, the vet only gave him a 50/50 chance of pulling through, and even then, we weren't sure if he'd be left with any lasting effects... 😔

So it’s probably nothing, especially if it’s been cleaned well and no dirt got in... but do keep an eye on your pooch’s behaviour over the next few days, just in case... 🙄

Thanks for your replies! :)

I’ve just taken some photos of his claw; the quality isn’t great because he won’t sit still. In the photo, there’s some sand on the 'quick' – I couldn't get any more after I’d cleaned it because he was too restless...

Quick question: should I stop the walks for a few days? I didn't take him out last night or this morning and he’s really bouncing off the walls.

Jango had the same thing happen,

You're doing exactly the right thing... Keep disinfecting the area and I wouldn't worry if I were you :-)

Especially since he didn't bleed :-)

Hi there,

When my Lab was a puppy, he split a dewclaw right through; the poor thing was in so much pain, but I didn't really know what to do. Other than disinfecting it, it eventually just healed up on its own.