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My dog ripped his toenail off. Is it serious? What should I do?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | Male | unneutered | 3 years and 9 months old

Hi my dog has ripped his toenail off will he be ok

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on March 15th, 2017

Ouch, poor Buster! This will be quite painful to him and is likely bleeding a lot. The problem with it is that it can become infected. I would apply gentle pressure to stop any bleeding, and then clean it with warm water and antiseptic soap. You may need to dip the area in styptic powder or corn starch to stop bleeding. I would bandage up this foot to keep it protected, and then put a sock over his foot to keep the bandage clean and dry. Put a plastic bag over the sock when Buster goes outside. You will likely need to put an Ecollar on him to keep him from chewing at the sock. You can buy one at a pet store, or you can make one at home. Keep an eye on the area, and if it appears red, swollen, warmth to the touch, or pus, then it's infected and Buster will need to see a vet. http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on February 10th, 2019

    If the toenail is not actively bleeding then you may not need to do anything else. The exposed quick can be painful so if you think Tank is painful you may want to see a vet for pain medication. Make sure Tank isn’t able to lick the nail to prevent infection and contact your vet if the nail base looks red or swollen.

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    Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on May 23rd, 2018

    Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If the nail has ripped off completely, as long as the bleeding has stopped, you can soak the foot in a solution of betadine and water (mix until you have a light brown solution) and do this 2-3 times daily for 10-15 minutes at a time. If at any time the area begins to look swollen or if there is pus present, I would have a veterinarian take a look at Coco so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. Please take the time to mark this question as helpful or not as it helps us to improve on the quality of our answers to other pet owners. Thank you kindly!

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