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My dog's nail tip broke off, no bleeding. Should I be worried?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | neutered | 1 year and 6 months old | 19 lbs

The tip of one of my dog's nails broke off. There's no bleeding and he didn't squeal or anything. Is there any risk or should I be concerned? I've attached a picture of his nail and a picture of what the nail on his other paw looks like. It was the whiteish part that broke off.

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

Veterinarian

Published on August 24th, 2017

I'm glad to hear that Bently didn't cry or seem bothered by his broken nail. He did get lucky that only the white part of the nail broke and not the quick (the pink/red part with a blood vessel) since that can be quite painful and bloody. There is no risk of significant pain or infection associated with breaking the white part of the nail (similar to how it is if we chip the white part of our fingernails). Since the nail is a bit ragged, there is a chance that it could break or crack further, so I do recommend either very carefully trying to trim the ragged edges or use a dremel tool. If you are uncomfortable trimming Bently's nails, try to take him either to his vet or a groomer today or tomorrow for assistance. Otherwise, there should be no reason for concern! I hope that all goes well! :-)

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Hi there and thank you for your post! Looking at the pictures the exposure of the quick is not too concerning. I would clean the nail with a little hydrogen peroxide and make sure you keep Bently off of dirty surfaces to prevent contamination of the area. I would keep him off of dirty surfaces for the next 3-5 days. If you notice the base of the nail is swollen / red / oozing I would take him in to be seen by your veterinarian for further treatment such as antibiotics and pain medications. I hope this helps! Please feel free to contact me with any other questions / concerns you may have. I am also available via consultation.

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