Nail discoloration, where the nail turns red, brown, or black, is usually due to an injury with internal bleeding and bruising under the nail. But it can also be a fungal, bacterial, or protozoal infection. Sometimes it happens because of tumors or damage that allows dirt and debris to collect under the nail.
There are several possible reasons for your dog's nails to turn black. One of them is an infection caused by bacteria or a fungus. If this is the case, topical medications can be used for treatment. If the infection is more severe, the dog may require a course of oral antibiotics or other medication.
If nails are clear, the quick appears pink and the nail growing past the quick is white. If nails are dark, the quick isn't as obvious. A bit of trivia: if a dog's paws are white, nails tend to be clear. Past the quick, the toenails don't have any nerves and they tend to be less sensitive.
This is called the pulp, and it looks like a black spot in the middle of your dog's nail. The pulp is located right before the quick, so once you see it, you'll know it's time to stop cutting or grinding the nail.
Some dogs' nails are naturally colored differently. Natural pigmentation causes different colored nails in dogs, which can vary even among dogs of the same breed. What is this? In reality, some puppies may have white nails (or a combination of white and black) that gradually turn black or darker as they grow.
A healthy canine's nails are oval-shaped but broader at the toe and narrower towards the tips. Like human nails, dog claws are made of the protein keratin. Dog nails are typically a similar color to the skin of their paw pads. So if the paw pads are pink, the nails will be transparent with a visible light pink quick.
Many dogs have naturally black nails, but if you see a normally white dog nail turning black, then there is usually a cause for concern. It's worth paying attention to your dog's nail color since changes in color can indicate fungal infections, allergies, and even an autoimmune disease.
A dog's nails can be trimmed in two ways: using pet-friendly nail clippers or a grinder. The first is the most common, but there are Dremel-type tools made especially for dogs that make grinding nails down much safer. Grinding can be useful for very large breeds with very thick nails that are harder to clip.
Most dogs need to have their nails trimmed approximately once monthly. Dogs that are frequently walked on pavement or concrete may be able to go a bit longer between nail trims, because walking on a hard, rough surface can help file the nail.
Healthy nails should look pink on the nail bed and white when grown off the nail bed. Any other color could be a sign of a deficiency or disease. For instance, clear, pale nails can be a sign of anemia or poor nutrition. White nails, also known as Terry's nails, are a sign of kidney disease, liver disease, or diabetes.
While nail discoloration can be an innocuous symptom, it could point to a more serious condition that should be treated by your veterinarian. Discoloration can be red, brown or black, which can each indicate a specific issue. If you see your dog's nails changing color, consult your vet to find out what is causing it.
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.
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.
If your dog has black nails, look at the underside of the nail and you will notice that towards the tip the nail separates out into a triangular shape with two outer 'walls'. At this point, there is no quick and it is safe to cut the tip off.
If your toenail turns black, it's most likely a bruise under the nail, technically called a subungual hematoma. You can get it from stubbing a toe or from footwear that cram your feet into the front of the shoe.
Trimming black nails
Go slowly. Hold your dog's paw firmly but gently. Position the clippers to cut the nail from top to bottom (not side to side) Trim a very small length of the nail, about 1/16th of an inch.
The dog will usually not be able to grind all of their nails down evenly, so you may still need to use another method. Long walks can wear down your dog's nails naturally over time. In the wild, wolves and coyotes keep their nails short through digging and running after prey for hours.
So ... how long should dog nails be? The length of your dog's nails should be about 2mm away from the quick. Another rule of thumb is that the nails should extend far enough out of the quick that they are visible, but not long enough that they are going past the paw and touching the ground.
The name refers to the dewclaw's alleged tendency to brush dew away from the grass. On dogs and cats the dewclaws are on the inside of the front legs, similarly to a human's thumb, which shares evolutionary homology.
Nails that are too long can cause a dog to slip and fall more easily. Long nails cause a dog to place their feet differently, in a “plantigrade” position. In other words the nails “push” the dogs toes up and the “heel” comes down to balance, placing strain on the muscles and ligaments in the legs.
The growth pattern of a dog's nails forms a curved shape. If left untrimmed, the claws will eventually curve under the dog's paws and dig into the skin, creating pain when they walk. Anyone who has ever experienced an ingrown toenail can attest to the amount of pain this will cause.
One of the most common foot issues in domestic dogs is long toenails. Ideally, the nails should not touch the ground when standing on a firm level surface, but are long enough to provide traction when climbing a hill or digging.
Keeping your dog's nails trimmed consistently is very important, because a lack of regular nail trimming can cause an overgrown quick. Without regular nail care, the quick will advance inside the nail and may even advance enough to match the end of the nail's outer shell!