Signs that your pet may have a nail or nailbed infection could include redness, swelling, or discharge from the skin surrounding the nail, or discoloration or deformation of the claw itself. Your dog may also lick her paw or exhibit signs of pain or lameness on the affected paw or paws.
Just like human nails, dogs do not have any feeling in the nail itself, but the quick contains a nerve that transmits sensations back to the brain. When trimming the nail, it is important to stay far enough from the quick to avoid causing pain or drawing blood.
Without the keratin part of the nail to protect the quick, the tender live tissue including blood vessels and nerves is exposed and painful. Your veterinarian may prescribe pain medication for a few days to keep your dog more comfortable.
It is therefore important to keep your dog's claws well trimmed at the correct length. If they get too long it can put pain and pressure on the toes and paws, which will ultimately put strain on the legs. Long claws are also prone to splitting and infection.
Dog nail care is important because it keeps your pet walking, running, and moving around comfortably. When your dog's nails are too long, they create an unnatural angle for the foot. This causes unequal pressure on the toes and can cause the nail beds to become sore and tender.
Dogs need their nails clipped on a regular basis, approximately every 3-4 weeks; however, it is common for owners to wait too long in between trimmings which can lead to a number of health issues for the animal. For cats, a routine claw trimming every 10-14 days will keep your pet healthy.
So your best bet is to cover the area with a bandage and go directly to the vet so your poor dog can get some relief through local anesthesia or tranquilizers. Also, consider that the last bone of the toe is close to the beginning of the nail, and if you don't know what you're doing, you can end up hurting your dog.
Most treatments for a dog nail infection are topical (e.g., chlorhexidine or Epsom salts) or involve oral antibiotics (for 4 to 6 weeks).
Styptic powder or Kwik Stop: This can be applied directly to the bleeding nail to encourage clotting. Kwik Stop also contains benzocaine, a local anesthetic to control pain. Cornstarch or flour: If you don't have styptic powder, place cornstarch or flour on a plate and hold your dog's nail in it to stop the bleeding.
After the initial treatment, the swelling and pain should go down within two days of the treatment. If the nails were removed, these will grow back within several weeks. However, the pet owner should monitor the foot as much as possible during the re-growth period.
Nerves in the quick cause bleeding and discomfort when cut. Regular nail trimming will cause the quick to recede from the end. Short quicks are the preferred length for the dog's well-being and easy maintenance.
At the center of every dog nail is a bundle of nerves and blood vessels called a quick. Cutting this quick, or even applying pressure to the area around it, can cause your dog immense pain. Some breeds, such as Shiba Inus, pugs, shepherds, labs, and bully breeds, seem to have exceptionally sensitive quicks.
Without regular nail trimming, your pet can experience pain and discomfort from increased pressure when walking, running, or playing. This can also cause mobility issues, especially in older dogs, due to a lack of traction on hard surfaces such as tile or wood flooring.
The cutting blade should be closest to you, not the dog. Be sure not to cut too short, as the nail will bleed. Nails should be cut from underneath at a 45-degree angle.
If you dog has dark nails trim very thin cuttings off the end, as it's easy to accidentally damage the 'quick' or soft part of the nail. If you see a black dot in the centre of his nail, you have reached the quick and should stop cutting right away.
Caused by a fungus and sometimes allergies, a yeast infection can occur anywhere on your dog's paws, including the underside and between the pads. Symptoms include red and irritated paws. There may also be hair loss in the area and a brown discharge in the nail beds.
Minor claw injuries are when the bleeding is under control right away and the claw isn't tender for long. "It should be a non-issue within 24 hours with little to no treatment." It still takes weeks for the claw to grow back, but that's not a concern as long as the claw isn't bleeding, painful, or getting infected.
Pain Management
You should: Apply ice for 20 minutes every 2 hours on the first day, then 3 to 4 times a day after that. To reduce the throbbing, keep your hand or foot above the level of your heart.
Applying a layer of Vaseline works too, as well as the waxy foot products such as Mushers Secret. If your dog snags a nail on the ice or snow outside and it is bleeding, you can apply a bit of styptic (clotting) powder if you have any, or in a pinch, a bit of cornstarch can help slow the bleeding.
Generally, your dog's nails shouldn't touch the ground when he's standing upright on all four feet. There is no hard and fast rule as to how far from the floor those nails should be; it varies from dog to dog. If the nails click on the floor, they are usually too long.
In the wild, wolves and coyotes keep their nails short through digging and running after prey for hours. Since your dog is likely not running around in the wilderness all day, you may need to walk them on concrete to help keep their nails at a reasonable length.
Use a clean cloth to apply gentle pressure to stop the bleeding. This is a good time to bring out the heavy artillery – your dog's favorite treats – to keep them still. If the bleeding doesn't stop after five minutes, apply styptic powder to the exposed quick. Keep your dog as calm as possible.