Why is my dog's nail growing thick and discolored like a tree trunk?

Question

My dog is a 10 yr old Pomeranian. His nail looked distorted and I took him to vet in October. They said it probably snagged on something and would continue to grow strange, but was ok. It began growing rapidly and now looks like a tree trunk (thick and discolored). It now causes him discomfort also. I took him to another vet and they said they have never seen anything like this. He is scheduled for surgery to remove the toe and nail. Any ideas what it could be and have you ever seen a cas. Pet's info: Dog | Pomeranian | Male | neutered | 11 years and 10 months old | 13 lbs

Dr. Paula Simons · Accepted Answer

Poor Rocky. I am so glad you got him into the vet and he is going to be treated. Quite often these types of nails can result from an injury to the nail bed, which can cause the toe nails to grow abnormally. This can also be caused by a tumor within the toe. It is probably best to have the toe removed but I would recommend having it biopsied once the surgery is complete. This will give a more definitive answer as to what may have gone wrong.

Why is my dog's nail growing thick and discolored like a tree trunk?

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