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My dog broke his nail, it's raw. How to stop licking and prevent infection?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | unneutered | 2 years and 7 months old | 150 lbs

My dog broke his nail, it was hanging off and I knew it was going to fall off which it did, you can now see the pink of his nail and it’s a bit raw. I don’t want it to become infected because it’s now a bit open but he has been cleaning it and I have been keeping a close eye on it. Is there anything I can put on it such as Neosporin to help prevent a infection (he doesn’t like sprays), or should I let him keep cleaning it and let it heal on it’s own?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on December 25th, 2018

Do not let Scout keep cleaning it, this will lead to infection in the area and will make things worse. Put an Ecollar on him to keep him from licking it. You can make one at home, and I will put a link below on how to do this. Bandage it, but not too tight. Change the bandage daily, and make sure it stays dry and clean. If you see signs of infection (red, swollen, warm to the touch, pus), it's infected and he will need to see a vet. Best of luck and happy holidays. http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 7th, 2018

    Signs of infection include redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, and pus. From the pictures, I don't see any signs of infection on Lily's nail but without seeing her in person, I can't say for certain. It looks ok to me. I'd keep an Ecollar on her to keep her from licking it. I will put a link below on how to make one at home, or you can buy one at a pet store. I hope this helps! http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html

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