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Dog's injured nail keeps bleeding. Is it infected from licking?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Border Collie | Female | unspayed | 1 year and 3 months old | 9.6 lbs

Two weeks ago echo injured her nail and started to bleed. By the time we got home it stopped bleeding. It didn’t start bleeding until one week later when we were playing fetch. Coincidentally we were on the way to her annual vet appointment. The vet took a look and couldn’t find a reason for the bleeding but did cauterize a small vein. It since has bled a little. She continues to lick and I am worried that it is infected or if it is a cut on the inside of paw, physical activity has been limited

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1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on September 26th, 2018

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on the picture you provided, it appears as though the toe / nail has been licked at more than I would like to see. I would recommend putting a plastic cone around Echo's neck (can pick up at Petco) to prevent Echo from licking at the area. You can also soak the foot in an epsom salt solution to help relieve the area from irritation / inflammation. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. If the toe swells or you begin to see pus around the area, I would recommend having the veterinarian take a look at Echo so that the most appropriate treatment recommendations can be made. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

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