Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

My dog's dew claw is cracked and he chewed it. What should I do?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Male | neutered | 5 years and 3 months old

My dog cracked his dew claw playing, and had since chewed away the karotin exposing the quick. What should i do

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

Published on November 18th, 2018

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This can be quite painful. I recommend you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They can consider removing the dew claw to take the source of pain away or it can be treated with pain medications and antibiotics for instance. In the meantime, keep him from being able to reach it as he will likely want to lick or chew at it which can make it a lot worse. You may use an e-collar for that purpose. Good luck!

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Image profile

    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on November 17th, 2016

    Ouch poor Niles! It's good that the quick is intact with no bleeding. I would keep him from licking or biting at it by putting an Ecollar on him. You can get one from a pet store, or you can make your own at home (I will put up a link on how to make one at home). You can also try to trim it back yourself if it's cracked horizontally, but avoid cutting the quick. http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

See More Answers

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I have a 4 year old kelpie x. Today he lost a jew? dew? or due? claw nail leaving a very painful looking red stub. Can you please advise on immediate treatment and future expectations. Sorry no photos as I have bandaged the paw to stop him licking th
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Poor Max! if you are referring the the "thumb" nail that is the dew claw. If they tear or break that nail, the treatment is to cut it back to the pink vein or quick. If the nail has already been torn off to the pink vein and there isn't any residual nail hanging off then bandaging it for 3-5 days should be enough. Sometimes we do prescribe oral antibiotics and pain medications. The nail will grow back, which is a slow process. If there is still nail hanging on then it should be cut back as that is a constant source of pain. I wish Max the best!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Meibel damaged her dew claw today. It didn’t seem to hurt her all day and it never bled though I can see a dark pulp. But she is licking it a lot. I will take her into the vet but can I do something for pain in the meantime?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! There is unfortunately nothing you can give for pain that is over the counter. What you can do though that may help prevent further injury and pain is to keep her as quiet as possible and to try to keep her from licking at it until the appointment as that in itself can help with pain. Other than that, your veterinarian will do the rest tomorrow. Have a good night! Hoping for a speedy recovery!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dogs do claw is almost falling out, it has dry blood on it too. She hurt her paw doing something last night. Should we take her to the vet?
Hi there and thank you for using Boop by Petco to address your concern. I would recommend taking her in to the vet to have this cut back so that the nail does not snag on anything and tear. She may need an antibiotic as well as a pain medication. Angel will be ok and it does not appear that there are any other concerning changes where the broken nail is. This should be quite simple for the veterinarian to address. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has a dew claw injury. He is not limping, but he has been licking it a lot. Will it heal on its own, or do I need to get him treatment?
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Poor Indy! Indy isn't limping because the dewclaw doesn't touch the ground and isn't weight bearing. If it was weight bearing he would limp because it hurts! I recommend making an appointment with your Vet. Usually the nail needs to be cut at the quick, to relieve the pain and to allow the nail to grow back normally. It also appears as though it may be infected (red tissue) so he may need antibiotics and likely pain medications. I hope this helps and I wish Indy a speedy recovery!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Good evening! My dog has been licking her dew claw for a few days. She won’t let me touch it; but she walks fine, and it doesn’t appear to be swollen or bleeding. Will this heal on its own? I’ve attached a photo of the tender claw as well as a photo
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This will likely heal on its own if you are able to keep her from licking at it. You can try using an e-collar to prevent further self trauma. Good luck and have a good night!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog just torn her dew claw nail bed off exposing the quick. I have wrapped it, but what should my next step be. It is not bleeding, but she is pain when she moves it. I gave her an anxiety med to help calm her down.
Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. I would recommend having it checked by a vet to make sure nothing else is wrong. Your vet can also start a course of antibiotics and an anti inflammatory to help with any inflammation and pain. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other concerns.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dogs dew claw is hanging on at the cuticle. It is raised and I can see the pink part underneath and the back of the nail the dew claw is still attached. He doesn't seem to be limping or showing any pain. How should I treat this at home?
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Ouch! You will need to pull the black nail that is lifted off the cuticle. If you don't that will be a chronic source of pain and infection. Be very careful doing this as it is painful and Ryder may bite. Have someone help you. Pull hard and fast. It may bleed. If you can't remove it make an appointment with your Vet. Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dogs dew claw is pointing out, we think it might be broken. Do we need to call an emergency vet or will he be OK till the morning when they open?
If he is painful, he should be seen sooner rather than later if only for pain management. If he seems comfortable and is not actively bleeding, it can probably wait. Place an appropriately sized [e-collar](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/well-and-good-e-collar) (cone) on him to prevent licking until you see the veterinarian. Crate him or restrict his activity if possible. A fractured dewclaw may need to be removed surgically. If only the nail is broken, it should be trimmed back and wrapped lightly until healed. Afterwards, [keep nails trimmed](https://www.petcoach.co/article/trimming-your-dog-s-nails-with-a-clipper) to prevent snags or breaks.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Dew claw got injured playing in the snow. Hurts her to touch. I applied antibiotic ointment and wrapped it but it hurts her a lit. Thoughts on what I should do? Or take her to vet?
You should take her to the vet as the broken piece may need to be removed. The vet can also prescribe an antibiotic to prevent infection and pain medication to help manage the discomfort. Soaking her paw in a warm Epsom Salt solution might also help.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
We rescued a dog that still has her rear dew claws and they keep catching on objects and bleeding. Is there anything we can do besides having then removed?
Hello, and thanks for using Boop by Petco. If Shandy's rear dewclaw is all of a sudden doing a lot of bleeding, she may have a broken nail that needs to be addressed - if a nail is split/broken, then the broken portion needs to be removed, and depending on how connected it still is to the rest of the nail, sometimes this needs to be done at the vet with mild sedation and a local block (they'll numb the affected toe first so it doesn't hurt). Otherwise, if this was meant as a more general "big picture" question rather than a sudden problem, the most important thing to do is keep Shandy's nails as short as possible, especially the dewclaws prone to bleeding. Since rear dewclaws don't get worn down by walking, those nails can get quite long and hooked, making them more prone to getting caught and torn. Some people have luck with placing booties over those feet if you can find some that cover the dewclaws without the top part of the bootie rubbing on the dewclaws. Otherwise, if they'r
Updated on September 24th, 2025
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored