Q. What Happens if a Dog's Nail Curls and Grows Into the Paw? Will it Get Infected?
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Posted by Mia Carter Nov 24, 2008 |
On November 24, 2008, I received the following question on my article titled "How to Stop a Dog's Nail from Bleeding": "What if your dog's nail gets into their paw? What can we do about that? Is it going to get infected?"
When a dog's nails are permitted to grow, the nails will naturally curl under, eventually growing into the paw pads on the bottom of the foot. This is a very painful condition and it is very prone to infection due to the fact that the dog is constantly walking on the foot, exposing the wound to bacteria. Limping is very common in a dog who is suffering from over-grown nails that have grown into the paw.
So the first step is to clip the dog's nails. This process may be painful for the dog, as the nail will have to be gently removed from the paw pad.
The injured paw must then be cleaned and disinfected twice daily to promote healing. The foot must be thoroughly washed with antibacterial soap like Dial twice daily. A powerful (no-sting) antiseptic called betadine must then be poured into the wounds and allowed to air dry. Antibiotic ointment should then be applied to the paw pad wounds. And the injured paw must then be bandaged - this process is explained in "How to Stop a Dog's Nail from Bleeding."
This is a case where a visit to the veterinarian may be necessary, as the dog may require antibiotics if the paw pad has become infected. In many cases, the paw pad injuries will already be infected when the nail is clipped, and a well-established infection will require antibiotics - simply washing, disinfecting and bandaging the foot will not be sufficient to promote healing since the infection has spread inside the dog's foot.
The following articles should help provide additional information to dog owners on how to treat a paw pad injury in a dog:
Have a pet question? Send your questions to Mia.Carter@Suite101.com or check out The Sick Dog Blog. Disclaimer: I have extensive experience in caring for animals, including sick and special needs animals, but I am not a veterinarian. I can provide information and advice based on research and my many years of experience with pet care and training, but it's not a substitute for seeking medical attention from a veterinarian.
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