Why is my dog's nail black after a paw infection? No fur growth.

Question

my dog had a paw infection a few weeks ago, was treated with anti inflammatory, antibiotics and a footwash, now her nail has gone black and no fur growing back, shes not licking it or limping but im concerned. Pet's info: Dog | Jack Russell Terrier | Female | spayed | 7 years old | 14 lbs

Daniel Fonza, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello and thank you for your post! The picture is certainly helpful in getting the full picture, thank you. It looks like the base of the nail is quite red and swollen. If the nail has changed colors this can indicate a bacterial or fungal infection. Sometimes these can take quite some time to resolve. I've had multiple cases where we've had to switch to several different antibiotics before we got a response. There have been some cases that do not respond, so further testing is required. Your veterinarian might want to consider culturing the nail to determine what type of infection this might be into also help him or her choose which antibiotic is most appropriate in this situation. If the nail is not improving, I would certainly consider the culture and X-rays of the foot to determine if the underlying bone structures are becoming involved. There are certain types of tumors that can affect nail growth and you may be able to pick up on this with x-rays I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I am also available via consultation

Why is my dog's nail black after a paw infection? No fur growth.

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