tdierikx Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Pickles has managed to tear most of her dew claw nail off this morning... *sigh* Not bad going that this is the first time she's managed it with her mobility issues and how she tears around like a lunatic. No blood, but I can see the nail bed, and she was licking at it a bit - in between trying to eat the torn off nail... I've whacked some neocort on it, a gauze pad, and taped up with vetwrap so she will stop licking at it. Not really worthy of a vet visit, as they'd only have done the same thing. Will keep an eye on it, and see a vet and/or start AB's if it starts to look yukky. She's being very good so far and hasn't tried to eat the dressing. T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 I usually betadine ..then provide bones/toys etc as needed :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted February 11, 2014 Author Share Posted February 11, 2014 I don't have any betadine, and neocort has a local anaesthetic which will stop any yukky feelings there for a while so she doesn't try to play with it... *grin* In a day or two I'll switch to a powder based topical to make sure it is nice and dry under the bandage. I'm actually lucky that a previous dog of mine was a devil for tearing off nails - so I don't freak out when it happens nowadays, and I have a pretty good idea of whether it needs urgent vet attention or not. No blood is good IMHO... licking needs to be stopped is all, and I think my patch work has seen to that problem. She has a pretty orange paw right now... lol! T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espinay2 Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 (edited) Biggest probelm with damaged dewclaws when you wrap them is that they get 'damp' and infection sets in from there. General recommendation if you can is to leave it uncovered to allow better airflow. If you need to cover it to stop licking, try putting a sock over it (so is only loosely covered so air can get in) and tape or bandage the sock to the leg above it (tip from my vet many moons ago) Oh yes, and if the nail is hanging loose, clip/rip it off quick. Will be what the vet will likely do. Edited February 11, 2014 by espinay2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliwake Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 mine has broken and split his dew claw nail in the last few days too. It's not bleeding, and doesn't seem to bother him, but I'm wondering if I should try to superglue the split or something, to stop it getting worse? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bianca.a Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Cooper did this last week and there was blood. I cleaned it and dressed it but he needed antibiotics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Ouchies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted February 11, 2014 Author Share Posted February 11, 2014 I've checked the claw a couple of times - so far it's looking fine and not bothering her - and neither is the dressing. No shredded bits on it needing cleaning up, it all came off quite cleanly actually. Planning to take the dressing off a bit later and see if she'll leave it alone now that it's old news. Pickles has a scar in her brain that stops her feeling very much in her legs, so the fact that she was licking at it after it came off means that, in a normal dog, I would have heard some screeching at the injury she sustained - but not Pickles - she just was chewing on the nail that had come off, and I had to see what she was chewing - then I had to find whose claw it was that had come off... as this one was black, and her other claws are all white. When it was evident it wasn't Zeddy's claw, I went back to look at Pickles and she was licking at the bare claw bed. I had to stop that, and it seems to have worked, and she's not played with the dressing either for a few hours... I'll put some antiseptic powder on it when I take the dressing off, and that won't taste nice, so she should be fine... *fingers crossed* T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakway Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 mine has broken and split his dew claw nail in the last few days too. It's not bleeding, and doesn't seem to bother him, but I'm wondering if I should try to superglue the split or something, to stop it getting worse? Araldite it. An old greyhound trick so they can stay in work. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliwake Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 mine has broken and split his dew claw nail in the last few days too. It's not bleeding, and doesn't seem to bother him, but I'm wondering if I should try to superglue the split or something, to stop it getting worse? Araldite it. An old greyhound trick so they can stay in work. :) Thank you! I thought something like that would be good. Will have to get the quick drying one :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted February 11, 2014 Author Share Posted February 11, 2014 As soon as I took the first dressing off, Pickles was licking at it... grrr! Gauze pad with plenty of antiseptic powder applied, and re-wrapped with vetwrap - and she's leaving it alone again. Might have to do this for a couple of days until she's not fascinated with it any more... *sigh* At least I'm off work for a few more days yet, so can check the dressing regularly to make sure it all stays dry and doesn't go festy... There is a small piece of nail left there which could be trimmed, but Pickles has a foot thing and it's all I can do right now to get the padding and vetwrap on. I'll see if Auntie Katdogs wants to come give me a hand either holding or trimming this afternoon... normally I'd do it myself, but I've just had gallbladder surgery and really can't be arsed trying to wrestle with Pickles right now. T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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