Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

My dog's nail is broken and bleeding. Should I cut it or see a vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua | Female | spayed | 25 lbs

My dog is a chihuahua and she hurt one of her nails and it is cut up to the base and I applied styptic powder for the bleeding but her nail is halfway hanging. Should I cut the nail? She can’t even walk or step on her left back leg

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

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

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on November 6th, 2019

I wouldn't try to cut it yourself, it looks like it's broken back to the quick. This will be extremely painful for Choco. She needs to see a vet to get sedated and have it cut. Bandage it to protect it tonight, then have her seen by a vet in the morning.

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
my 5 year old chihuahua has broken/bitten off a toenail on her back paw past the quick. she seems to be unfazed but there has been a bit of bleeding. she used that paw to scratch at her ear apparently so its in her fur but i dont see any blood trail
Ouch, poor Dolly! If the bleeding has stopped, I would keep an eye on it for now. As best you can, keep the area clean and dry. Monitor for signs of infection, which include redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, and pus. If you see any of those signs, then I would take her into the vet. Best of luck, I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My pit bull broke her pinky nail while outside. It is pretty bad, the whole nail seems to have come up and back off of the quick, like a "shell". It is still attached but sticking out 90 degrees to the side, snagging on things and making walking har
Poor Ruby. These can be really painful to dogs. This will have to be cut off, but I would not do it yourself because of the pain. Wrap a bandage around her paw to protect and cover it, then have her seen by a vet in the morning to have it treated. Cover the whole paw with the bandage. She may need to be sedated to have it removed, so don't feed her in the morning. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has this hang nail it doesn’t seem to hurt unless I touch it should I let it fall or cut it It also has blood in it and bleeds when I touch it
Poor Amber! That nail needs to be cut, but I'd have a vet do it since it's painful for her. Take her into the vet first thing in the morning to have it done. Tonight, bandage her paw (not too tight!) to keep her from licking at it. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
my dogs nail broke when playing, it’s bleeding and it looks like it’s about to fall off. i haven’t done anything but rinse it with water and wrap it with a sock. what should i do?
That's a good first step! Keep it covered tonight, and put a cone on Benji to keep him from licking his paw. You can make one at home. Then have him seen by a vet in the morning to get this treated. Do not feed him in the morning as he will likely have to be sedated to get the nail removed without pain. The vet can also prescribe pain relief and antibiotics. I hope this helps! http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
what do I do with my dogs nail that he broke and the quick is exposed?
That one will likely need to be clipped past the split to alleviate the pressure and pain. Because doing that can be painful and typically requires a bandage for the bleeding, your vet needs to do it so they can use sedation to control the pain! If it is not bleeding you can wait until the morning for your vet to open
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
todah i woke up and saw that bruno's back nail i broken and its bleeding. clinics are closed today. what should i do?
You will need a nail clipper special for dogs, just clip the nail at the same place where it broke, it looks almost completely broken so i do not think it will hurt too bad or bleed too much. do prepare yourself to stop the bleeding with a clean cotton or swab.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog just came back in after a bathroom break outside, she has a lot of blood coming from one of her toenail and it looks like its bent about 45 degrees outward. She doesn't look like she's in pain, still a super hyper active puppy. Should I take h
It sounds like poor Leica has broken a toenail! Those can be very painful, but if she is acting otherwise normal, it may not be bothering her much. Nails can bleed a lot, so dip the nail in styptic powder, use a styptic pencil, or cornstarch. These should help stop the bleeding. I would not try to remove the nail yourself, that may be very painful to her. Bandage it up to keep the area clean and dry, and to prevent infection from entering the nail. You may need to put an Ecollar on her to keep her from licking at it. You can get one at a pet store or make one at home (I will put a link below on how to do it). Have her seen by a vet on Monday to have the nail removed if needed. I wouldn't feed her after 8pm or in the morning of the appointment in case the vet needs to sedate her to remove the nail. I would only take her into emergency if the nail doesn't stop bleeding and/or she appears very painful. Good luck, I hope this helps! http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.ht
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog was outside and came back in with a very broken nail. It looks too high up to cut, but is not bleeding currently. What should I do for this poor guy?
If it's not bleeding it may not have injured the quick but I can't tell from the photo. The broken part of the nail needs to be removed and of the break is behind the quick, Loki needs to be sedated and clip behind the break (which is painful so they get sedated). Since you are unable to tell how severe the break is, I recommend to have Loki examined first thing tomorrow morning. Here is a helpful link: https://www.petcoach.co/article/bleeding-torn-toe-nails-in-dogs-puppies/ Tonight have Loki wear an elizabethan collar so he does not lick at it. Restrict the activity today and do not allow him to climb up and down on the couch. He should only be outside on a leash. Tomorrow the vet will access how significant the break is and will remove the broken part of the nail. I hope this helps.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dogs nail looks to have split along the side earlier today and was bleeding. Is this something I should see a vet about or can a groomer trim off the broken part of her nail? I think the nail is still attached to her nail bed/skin.
Poor baby. I would definitely go to the vet for that one. The groomer could pull it off, but there could be a lot of pain and bleeding. At the vet they can sedate him if needed, as well as send him home with a few days of pain medications or even antibiotics if he's been licking at it a lot.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hello. I havent been able to cut my dogs claws in a while so they are quite long. today I noticed my dog was licking on his paw and seemed to be in pain. So i saw that one of his claw is "broken", it is almost off but not interlity. should I cut it o
If a toe nail is broke, then it typically has to be cut where the break it. Because this is often near the nail bed, then it can be painful and bleed. It is performed at your vet's office to have sedation so a bandage can be placed to help control bleeding. If you let it be it may grow out at a different angle or break off on its own.
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Dog Supplies Dog Nail Clippers & Scissors Cat Styptic Powder Dog Nail Caps Dog Treats & Chews Dog Paw & Nail Care Cat Nail Care Dog Bandages & Wound Care Cat Nail Caps Dog Health & Wellness Instachew Dog Nail Clippers & Scissors Magic Coat Dog Nail Clippers & Scissors Dogswell Cat Styptic Powder Pet Life Dog Nail Clippers & Scissors Miracle Coat Dog Nail Clippers & Scissors Four Paws Dog Nail Clippers & Scissors Bissell Dog Nail Clippers & Scissors Four Paws Cat Styptic Powder Miracle Care Dog Nail Clippers & Scissors FURminator Dog Nail Clippers & Scissors
image
Have A Vet Question?

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

Book Now

Sponsored