What to Do About Your Dog’s Broken or Cracked Nail

Broken nails are a common canine injury, especially with active dogs who could snag a nail while running, playing, or jumping. While a broken nail can cause bleeding and discomfort, it doesn’t always require an emergency vet visit. 

“A broken nail is considered urgent, but not an emergency,” says Dr Taylor Stockdale, chief of ER at the Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon, USA. “A visit to the veterinarian is warranted for broken nails that don’t stop bleeding within 30 minutes of the trauma or if there are additional injuries.” If the break happens at the quick—the fleshy, pink blood vessel at the centre of the nail—it can be painful and may cause infection if left untreated.

A trip to the emergency vet is for injuries where you can’t control the bleeding or your dog is in significant pain. If, on the other hand, the bleeding has stopped and your dog seems comfortable, you can wait to call your vet for an assessment in the morning. Read on to learn more about how to stop the bleeding from a broken nail, when to see a vet, and how to prevent broken nails.

How to Stop A Dog’s Broken Nail Bleeding At Home

If your dog has broken a nail, try to stay calm. While it’s an uncomfortable and painful injury, it can often be managed at home without an immediate emergency vet trip. The first thing you need to do is stop the bleeding. Read on for advice from vets about the steps to take in the immediate aftermath of a broken or split nail. 

1. Restrain your dog

Since even the friendliest dogs can snap when they’re in pain, it’s important to restrain your dog. Keeping your dog still is also critical because a slower heartbeat will help the blood clot more quickly. 

While you examine the injured paw, have someone hold your dog in a secure hug. You may need to place a muzzle on your dog to prevent biting. You can also try distracting them with a treat-stuffed Kong toy or a long-lasting chew. 

2. Stop the bleeding with first aid

Dr Stockdale says pressure and ice are vital to stopping bleeding at home. She advises gently applying a soft pressure wrap to the foot with an ice pack held in place for 15 minutes to stop the bleeding. Here are some additional first-aid supplies that can help stop nail bleeding. You can find these items at a pet store or a regular pharmacy.

• Gauze: a clean cloth or sterile gauze can apply pressure until the bleeding stops.
• Styptic powder or Kwik Stop: this can be applied directly to the bleeding nail to encourage clotting. Kwik Stop also contains benzocaine, a local anesthetic to control pain. 
• Cornstarch or flour: if you don’t have styptic powder, place cornstarch or flour on a plate and hold your dog’s nail in it to stop the bleeding.
• Bandages: a clean sock or bandage will keep your dog from licking the wound, which can dislodge clots, restart bleeding, or introduce infection. Covering the injury also keeps blood from getting on your clothes or carpet.
• A cone or E-collar: Dr Stockdale says a cone or E-collar should be used to prevent licking for four to five days following the injury.

3. Remove the nail if possible

“If the nail can be easily grasped with tweezers, a quick and gentle ‘tug’ can be used to remove the dangling nail,” Dr Stockdale explains. However, if the nail doesn’t come off with this gentle manoeuvre, she advises pet parents to see their veterinarian for help with removal within 24-48 hours.

4. Sooth pain and provide comfort

Once you’ve dealt with the broken nail and bandaged your pup, you can focus on keeping them as comfortable and pain-free as possible. Try to restrict your dog’s movement. If the injured area is agitated, it could disrupt the clot and restart the bleeding. Also, try to keep your dog’s nailbed clean and dry. A cone and bandage will prevent your dog from licking or irritating the area.

When to See A Vet About A Broken Nail

Dr Fleur Jones, an emergency veterinarian at Veterinary Emergency Group, reassures pet parents that a broken nail isn’t always an emergency. However, she says a dog should be seen by a vet if:

• the nail won’t stop bleeding
• the dog appears to be in severe pain
• you have concerns about an infection (i.e., foul odour or discharge from the nail). 

“We have also seen pets where it may seem like it’s a broken nail, but something else is going on—such as a fractured toe or even a toe tumour,” Dr Jones explains. If your pet isn’t acting normally, she recommends a veterinary evaluation to ensure there isn’t something more serious happening.

Understanding the anatomy of your dog’s nails helps explain why getting the proper treatment for a broken nail is crucial. The hard outer shell of your dog’s nail is made of keratin. Inside this layer is the quick: a triangular-shaped live tissue that connects to the bone and serves as the nail’s blood supply. “The quick is centrally located within the nail and appears as a light pink, soft tissue,” Dr Stockdale says. 

You may notice redness or bleeding around the nail if the sensitive quick is exposed. You can usually see the quick through the hard outer surface in dogs with white nails. However, it can be harder to identify the quick in dogs with dark nails.  

What Treatments Will a Vet Perform?

While the specific treatments for a broken nail will vary depending on the severity of the injury, Dr Jones breaks down what to expect at the vet:

1. They’ll trim or remove the damaged portion of the nail. Trimming the nail is a crucial step to prevent the accumulation of dirt or bacteria, which can lead to infection. It also keeps the nail from pressing painfully on the quick. Dr Jones says vets will cut the nail at the base and then apply Kwik Stop to stop bleeding.
   
2. They’ll clean the area. Your vet may clip the fur around the nail. They will also clean the injured area with an antiseptic solution to prevent infection.
   
3. They’ll offer pain relief and/or sedation. “This can be very painful for pets, and sometimes we aren’t able to cut the nail without injections of pain medications or sedation in the hospital,” Dr Jones says. This is rare but sometimes necessary.
4. They’ll give your dog a cone or E-collar. Your dog may be sent home with a cone to wear for a few days while the nail heals. This prevents them from licking and chewing their paws and causing an infection.
5. They’ll prescribe medication if necessary. Dr Jones says vets usually don’t need to send medications home unless they’re worried about continued pain or infection. Your vet may prescribe pain meds or oral antibiotics if infection is a concern. They will also give you instructions on keeping the wound clean and dry.

How Much Will A Vet Visit For A Broken Nail Cost?

Generally, the cost of treating a broken nail will be £80 to £250 (possibly more). The total cost will depend on the severity of the injury and the medications required. The final price will be higher if sedation, X-rays, or follow-up visits are needed.

Most pet insurance policies will help cover the costs of treating a broken nail. However, insurance won’t pay for routine nail trimming or grooming. 

How to Prevent Broken Nails In Your Dog

To avoid a nail from breaking in the first place, try the following preventative steps:

• Feed your dog a healthy diet. Poor nutrition can lead to brittle nails. Your veterinarian can offer guidance on choosing healthy commercial dog food. Additionally, you may be able to strengthen your dog’s nails with biotin supplements, fish oil, or bone broth. 
• Trim nails regularly. Keeping nails short will lower their risk of getting snagged or broken. It also prevents the quick from becoming overgrown. Every dog’s nail trimming schedule will look different, depending on their activity level and rate of nail growth. But typically, nails will need a bi-weekly or monthly trim. If you’re uncomfortable trimming nails yourself, don’t worry. This is a routine task for groomers or vets. 
• Moisturise your dog’s paws. Combat cold weather and low humidity with a moisturising salve.

If your dog experiences frequent nail splitting or breaking, it’s wise to have them evaluated by a vet as they could have an underlying fungal infection or autoimmune disease.