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My dog broke his dew claw. Should I wrap it if he won't stop licking?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Male | neutered | 3 years and 9 months old | 62 lbs

My dog broke his dew claw.. I cut most of the broken part off but I didn’t want to go past the quick. I never bled or anything, but should I still try to wrap it? If so, how? He’s been acting totally normal (running around and happy) but when I’m laying down, he licks the nail pretty constantly.

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Published on September 28th, 2018

Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking. It will heal much more quickly without bandage. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Jenny, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on September 10th, 2017

    Having it removed is the only way to fix it. Your vet can provide sedation since it is painful and trim past the break. The nail usually grows back normally but by doing this you remove the pain and allow it to heal. If it goes untreated it will be painful until it grows out enough or she licks it enough to get the piece off.

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    Answered By Megan, DVM, CVA

    Veterinarian

    Published on November 14th, 2017

    Poor girl! First I would get an e-collar (cone shaped collar) to prevent her from licking the nail. Make sure the end of her nose doesn't pass the end of the cone collar otherwise she will likely be able to get around the cone. I would not give any over the counter human pain meds as most are toxic to dogs. I would also clean it with some mild soap and water if she will let you. If the nail isn't improving or if after 10 days of wearing the cone collar she still won't leave it alone, then I would strongly recommend to see if your vet can cut it back and see if she needs any antibiotics. Unfortunately, sometimes if the nails are broken oddly or split down the middle, they need to be completely removed or cut further back in order for them to heal properly. I hope this helps!

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    Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on February 19th, 2018

    Hello. It would be best to take Sweetpea to your vet. If any of the nail is still attached, it needs to be clipped off. Then the foot can be bandaged with an antibiotic ointment & a topical anesthetic to decrease the pain. The bandage will act like a sneaker to protect the raw nail bed. Oral antibiotics & pain medications may be sent home to keep her comfortable. It usually takes about a week for the nail bed to start to heal. Eventually, a new nail will regrow. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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