My cat's toe nail is bent and bleeding. Is her toe broken or bruised?

Question

My cat was stuck in a tree and when we got her down her toe nail is completely bent sideways and has been bleeding. Is her toe most likely broken?

Dr. Davis · Accepted Answer

No not necessarily. The nail can pull out or get broken where it attaches and the toe may be just bruised. I recommend cutting the nail near the base so that it doesn't get caught on things. Have some styptic powder available to put on it in case you get into the area that may bleed. This can be painful so bring her to your veterinarian if you are unable to do it. Her toe will be sore but should heal fine. If she's lame on it your veterinarian can prescribe pain medication. Generally a broken toe in a cat is not put in a splint or bandage it's just left to heal on its own. There is no safe human pain medication for cats. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

My cat's toe nail is bent and bleeding. Is her toe broken or bruised?

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