My cat has gunk deep in his nail bed. Is it serious? How to clean?

Question

My cats has feces stuck deep in his nail bed. He is very clean and even wipes his paws before exiting the litter box, but still has gunk stuck in where it's too deep for me to comfortably clean out. Should I be concerned about this buildup and is there any way I can easily and safely clean his nails out?

Jessica Keay, DVM · Accepted Answer

I would be concerned that this could be something other than feces. Sometimes infections of the nail bed with bacteria or yeast can make the nail bed look dark red or brown in color. I would also be concerned if it is indeed feces that the presence at the nail bed where it pulls under the skin when the nails retract could cause an infection. I would recommend a visit to your vet if you are unable to clean this area to be sure it isn't actually an infection and to clean the nails if needed.

My cat has gunk deep in his nail bed. Is it serious? How to clean?

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