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My dog ripped his dew claw. He licked the scab. Should I be concerned?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | neutered | 10 years old | 56 lbs

My dog ripped his dew claw nail about 2 weeks ago. Went to the vet, got some antibiotics and ecollar. 10 days of meds all taken. I took the collar off for a few mins, long enough for him to lick at the "scab". Now it looks like this and I'm concerned. Is this a normal appearance or did the licking cause an issue?

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1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on September 1st, 2018

It looks like Scooby has ripped up part of the scab. I would gently wash the area with warm water and antiseptic soap, and put the Ecollar back on him. Keep them Ecollar on him until the area fully heals and there is no scab. Monitor the area, and if you see any signs of infection (redness, swelling, pus, warm to the touch), he will need to see a vet. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

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2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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