My dog's nail bent and bled. He won't let me touch his paw!
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
My dog's nail bent sideways and bled a little. The entire nail is still attached, but he doesn't let me touch it. What should I do?
4 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on November 24th, 2015
By your description, your dog may have a partially [broken nail](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/broken-nails/) which can be a bit painful. You can take him to your veterinary office and ask them to cut the nail back to promote normal growth, or you can monitor the toe and see if the nail grows out naturally. Just watch for any signs of infection (redness, swelling, discharge) in the toe. Do not allow your dog to lick or chew at it. An e-collar (cone) can be placed on him until he has healed.
127Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on October 31st, 2018
Hello, I am sorry to hear about your dog. It is possible that she injured or tore her nail in some way. This can often lead to the nail being bent and cause some discomfort. If you are unable to get her to the vet, you can closely monitor the nail. It may fall off on its own. I would definitely prevent your dog from licking at the nail, as this can lead to secondary infection and further problems. If the nail begins to bleed a lot of have a colored or odorous discharge, please have her seen by a veterinarian soon. Hope this helps, good luck!
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on May 5th, 2019
Take a look at his toe, there has to be a reason why he was chewing on it. He may have gotten an insect bite or something that kicked off the chewing. You can clean the area with some mild soap and a warm washcloth, making sure to get all the soap off afterward, then a light dab of petroleum jelly to keep it moist so it doesn't crack as it dries, staring more itching. If he continues to lick it, you can pull and baby sock over the paw to cover it and use bandage tape around the top, applied loosely to not restrict circulation to the foot to keep it in place. If it does not improve, if he continues to damage the nail or toe by chewing or it gets worse, get him in to see your vet as soon as possible. There could be some underlying problem you are not aware of causing him to lick the toe and nail.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on March 25th, 2020
That's a good first step! Keep it covered tonight, and put a cone on Benji to keep him from licking his paw. You can make one at home. Then have him seen by a vet in the morning to get this treated. Do not feed him in the morning as he will likely have to be sedated to get the nail removed without pain. The vet can also prescribe pain relief and antibiotics. I hope this helps! http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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