Dew Claw Nail BROKEN OFF AT THE QUICK
By EvrWonder
@EvrWonder (3571)
Canada
February 13, 2009 5:45pm CST
My poor girl, she has been in some major pain.
When we have been playing with her toys and when I pet her, stroking down her right front leg, she yelps. 
I feel for her.
My Little 6lb Yorkie has had a bit of an accident.
I have noticed her limping for the past while.
I think her dew claw tone nail was already broken but when Jack, the Russel Jack ran her over in the park, I think it finished breaking it.
I noticed when we'd play or when I'd pet her on her front right paw she would yelp.
I checked her pads, I carefully massaged her leg from shoulder to toes and she didn't make any sounds of disinterest.
This morning, upon more careful inspection, I located the exact spot.
It is her dew claw nail alright, broken right off at the quick but still attached.
There was hard blood on her paw.
I soaked her paw in Epsom salt water.
Removed as much hair away from the nail as possible and applied Neosporin.
Then I wrapped her paw, above her toes, around her dew claw in gauze, taped it and wrapped a white ribbon around it, so to hold in place and keep her hair away from the tape.
Yesterday, I had picked her up some Arnica 30c and some Rescue Remedy, thinking she sprained her ankle.
I have given her a mixture of three drops of Rescue Remedy, two Arnica pellets to one cup of water, shaken, once the Arnica pellets dissolved.
I gave her a few drops every half hour for three times yesterday.
Today only once.
I have also added three drops of Rescue Remedy to 1/2 cup of water and left in her water dish for her to drink when she is thirsty.
The Rescue Remedy calms and comforts, while the Arnica takes away swelling, bruising and inflammation.
I did some research online as well as consulted the vet.
It is said that the Vet would snip her nail off and bandage her.
I have avoided going to the vet to allow them to cut her nail off for a couple reasons.
1.) I don't want to traumatize her anymore than she has already been. The Vet Office scares her since she has been spayed.
2.) In order to cut the nail off, it would have to be done where it is already broken. That would be right at the quick. That would hurt and would bleed.
I don't want her to hurt anymore.
I have opted to clean, applied antibacterial and bandage.
Her nail, while just hanging there, is still attached.
I have secured her nail so that it will not move.
It wasn't bleeding when I bandaged it.
Once she was bandaged, I gave her a bit more of the Rescue Remedy and Arnica.
She wanted to lay on her favorite blanket and my sweater on the couch.
I fed her and then she went for a long nap.
She has been up since and is eating, showing interest in her toys and is about to go outside.
It appears that she is comforted with the bandage I have put on her foot.
She seems to have a happier disposition now than she did before I applied the bandage.
I have been carrying her outside, letting her do her business and then I carry her back in.
Roxy will be getting less exercise for at least a week and lots of rest.
Once her nail grows out, I will cut it off and she should be as good as new so to resume her usual activity.
I am not sure how ling it will take to grow out past the quick, enough for me to clip.
Any idea? The break is right in the quick, above the nail.
If anyone has a similar incident or has any suggestions, cautions or other words of advice, I would be grateful.
I feel for her.
My Little 6lb Yorkie has had a bit of an accident.
I have noticed her limping for the past while.
I think her dew claw tone nail was already broken but when Jack, the Russel Jack ran her over in the park, I think it finished breaking it.
I noticed when we'd play or when I'd pet her on her front right paw she would yelp.
I checked her pads, I carefully massaged her leg from shoulder to toes and she didn't make any sounds of disinterest.
This morning, upon more careful inspection, I located the exact spot.
It is her dew claw nail alright, broken right off at the quick but still attached.
There was hard blood on her paw.
I soaked her paw in Epsom salt water.
Removed as much hair away from the nail as possible and applied Neosporin.
Then I wrapped her paw, above her toes, around her dew claw in gauze, taped it and wrapped a white ribbon around it, so to hold in place and keep her hair away from the tape.
Yesterday, I had picked her up some Arnica 30c and some Rescue Remedy, thinking she sprained her ankle.
I have given her a mixture of three drops of Rescue Remedy, two Arnica pellets to one cup of water, shaken, once the Arnica pellets dissolved.
I gave her a few drops every half hour for three times yesterday.
Today only once.
I have also added three drops of Rescue Remedy to 1/2 cup of water and left in her water dish for her to drink when she is thirsty.
The Rescue Remedy calms and comforts, while the Arnica takes away swelling, bruising and inflammation.
I did some research online as well as consulted the vet.
It is said that the Vet would snip her nail off and bandage her.
I have avoided going to the vet to allow them to cut her nail off for a couple reasons.
1.) I don't want to traumatize her anymore than she has already been. The Vet Office scares her since she has been spayed.
2.) In order to cut the nail off, it would have to be done where it is already broken. That would be right at the quick. That would hurt and would bleed.
I don't want her to hurt anymore.
I have opted to clean, applied antibacterial and bandage.
Her nail, while just hanging there, is still attached.
I have secured her nail so that it will not move.
It wasn't bleeding when I bandaged it.
Once she was bandaged, I gave her a bit more of the Rescue Remedy and Arnica.
She wanted to lay on her favorite blanket and my sweater on the couch.
I fed her and then she went for a long nap.
She has been up since and is eating, showing interest in her toys and is about to go outside.
It appears that she is comforted with the bandage I have put on her foot.
She seems to have a happier disposition now than she did before I applied the bandage.
I have been carrying her outside, letting her do her business and then I carry her back in.
Roxy will be getting less exercise for at least a week and lots of rest.
Once her nail grows out, I will cut it off and she should be as good as new so to resume her usual activity.
I am not sure how ling it will take to grow out past the quick, enough for me to clip.
Any idea? The break is right in the quick, above the nail.
If anyone has a similar incident or has any suggestions, cautions or other words of advice, I would be grateful.6 responses
@sulynsi (2671)
• Canada
14 Feb 09
Sounds like your little girl has a wonderful, caring mom. Kudos to you.
THis discussion, though, really helps to illustrate why dew claw removal, when a puppy is very young, is actually probably a good idea, particularly if the claw is very loose. Better to be removed painlessly than to be ripped off, poor little thing. I groom dogs, and I am always very cautious when a dog has a dew claw issue. Some are worse than others, but you can't be too careful.
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
14 Feb 09
Thank you for your response and nice comments.
Yes, Roxy is my precious little girl. Obviously, It kills me when she is hurting.
Actually my dog never had her dew claws removed obviously, nor her beautiful tail docked and I am glad for that.
I understand why some get it done but I also understand that some dogs can get other problems when their dew claws are removed. So I suppose it is a matter of personal preference.
When I was looking for a dog, before I met Roxy, I was looking for a dog that still had dew claws and tail. I suppose it is a debatable issue.
The dew claw itself is intacked.
It is the nail that broke off at the quick.
There is no dew claw tear. Thankfully.
I have heard of that happening though and the dog having to have a stitch.
I can assure you I am so glad that that isn't the case.
I agree that one can never be too careful. Especially with toy breed dogs.
Well Roxy has her paw bandaged and she is recuperating right here beside me sound asleep. Doesn't appear to me that she is feeling any pain since she has had the bandage on.
Thanks again for your response. I appreciate reading your point of view.
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
14 Feb 09
We learn something new everyday. I never knew that some dogs are required to have their dew claws for show.
I have always thought that for show their dew claws must be removed. Thanks for that info.
I can understand where you are coming from regarding the puffy tail on a poodle. I suppose their are benefits.
My brothers Russel terrier has his tail docked. Although still has his dew claws.
It is really cute on him too. He is such a funny dog.
I am not so sure if I could have puppies tails and dew claws done if I were to have bred my Yorkie. I highly doubt it. I am not very good with stuff like that but also would want to spare the babes of the trauma.
Roxy is far more happier now that she has had the bandage put on. More content and relaxed. I can hardy wait for this to be over. Poor thing.
Thank you for your comment.
@max1950 (2306)
• United States
14 Feb 09
i usually get the dew claw taken care of when i neuter my dogs when their very young that way its all taken care of in i step so he doesn't go back twice. thats gotta hurt, sheee it , neosporin is i think your best bet, i used that after max had a tumor removed and it healed quickly, they make neo with a pain stopper in it ,i think it's about 20 cents more.that will help greatly, ever notice when their hurtin we're hurtin ?? hope she feels better soon.
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
16 Feb 09
Hi max, yes I do notice that when they are hurtin that we are hurtin. It is chilling to hear my baby yelp.
I do not want to see her in pain ever, if I can help it.
I do my best and the neosporin works great for me so I imagine it will work good for her as well.
When I told my brother yesterday, he told me that I should take her to the vet and have her dew claws removed. I declined stating that that means anesthetic and more trauma and that I don't want her to go through that. She doesn't like the doctor since she has been spayed. I think it was waking up in a crate. Poor Baby.
She will be fine with her dew claws. We just need to be more careful when we are playing with other dogs that are bigger than her.
It did hurt her, breaking her nail. The nail was bent right back to the back of her leg and clean off the quick but still attached. Makes me quiver.
I will have to get some of that neosporin with pain stopper. Cost isn't an issue when it comes to the dog. Whatever she needs she has, even if I have to go without anything. She comes first now. What a concept.
ROXY Update: Sunday, Feb.,16, 2009
Changed bandage yesterday and was only a small spot of blood. I think possibly residue from that which I removed initially. It was very faint.
She was and is a real trooper. She has walked for a few blocks on Friday night and Saturday, went to the park, played with sticks, met a new boy name Radar, walked,ran and played some more. She was so excited at one point that she jumped up on me and made a little yelp. I have been trying to keep her calm, even when she is at the park playing. She went shopping today and visiting plus two walks and a play session in the grass this afternoon. She is feeling much better. Being goofy as ever.
The nail is still intact and no quite ready to come off yet.
Hasn't fallen off yet either. Tomorrow we change the bandage again.
I didn't get a picture because we had a busy day but since she had a white ribbon tied around her bandage, I made her a white bow with a red bead, out of the same ribbon and put it in her top knot today. Cute.
I will be back with further updates until this is over.
Thank you for your response max. She was feeling much better pretty much as soon as I put the bandage on on Thursday. Happier and more content.
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
18 Feb 09
Thank you for your comment. Roxy is on the mend. Playing, jumping and running. Walking where we go. Happy. She is real good when we change her bandage every two days.
Yesterday, I found the nail that is broken, almost off.
Put antibiotic cream on it again and bandaged it back up until tomorrow.
Yes she is most beautiful alright and she is my everything.
She gets nice compliments from people too when we are out and about.
Thursday night she is going to her first class, since she has been with me.
I got her in August at 15 months from a lady that had no time for her.
Roxy already knows basic commands but want her in the class so she has distraction and can practice.
She and I do have way more to learn.
So first day of school for Roxy Thursday. Kindergarten. Cute.
A picture, a per your request.
Roxy is a mixed breed. Yorkie, Shitz Tzu and Maltese. This picture really shows off her beautiful Shitz Tzu tail.
Roxy will be two in May.
Thanks again and I will update when we re-bandage tomorrow.
@granite_butterfly (448)
• Canada
14 Feb 09
Aww! That poor sweet spirit, thank goodness she has a great mom. I wish her a speedy recovery. The one product that springs to mind that you may want to keep on hand is called quick stop. It is a powder applied to a bleeding quick to stop the bleeding. Not that she is still bleeding from the injured quick but as the nail grows out, she may snag her quick again and this will bring faster relief from any bleeding. 
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
1 Dec 09
you are such a wonderful mommy. i could save so much for my little coco here if i could learn halph what you know and find out. i do searches and can never find what i want. when i call a vet about something they usually say bring her in instead of telling me what i can do at home. so, Roxy must be in very good shape by now. right? i sure hope so. i just told my son about this discussion as everyone thinks im just to paranoid and worry to much over my baby girl here.
so, Roxy must be in very good shape by now. right? i sure hope so. i just told my son about this discussion as everyone thinks im just to paranoid and worry to much over my baby girl here.@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
23 Dec 09
Hi bunny; pardon the delay, please. I am rather resourceful. Depending on the situation, often times we can take care of any problems ourselves. Although like I stated above, Roxy's vet got rather mad at me for self medicating her.
I was really fortunate to have some great help here at MyLot regarding this broken dew claw nail problem. I felt so bad for my puppy.
When it comes to ears, glands or eyes, I don't touch that. I take her to the vet. There are just some things better left to the pros.
With the nail, I thought about it for awhile, then I got some help here and then went with it. She was so happy once I bandaged her paw. She licked me like mad. Must of felt way better.
I changed the bandage every two days. By eight days the nail was falling off. The first time, I had to clip it off. No quick as it grew out enough. The second, third and fourth time, the nail just fell off once it grew out some.
Roxy is very very active in the summer.
Really she should og had the dew claws removed when she was a young pup. I couldn't bare to have her go through that now. We are trying to be more careful.
I worry about my girl far too often, when really she is just fine. Thanks for the asking btw, Roxy is doing awesome and all ready for Santa ;D.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
14 Feb 09
Isn't she lucky to have you to look after her? You are so kind. I think that you have done everything for her as well as any vet could. This is simply amazing. I do hope that she recovers quickly. God bless you
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
14 Feb 09
Thank you very much for your kind response. It reassures me that I have given my small dog the best care possible under the circumstances.
She is so precious to me that I want only what is best for her as as little to no pain as possible.
I am hoping that Roxy recovers quickly also. I will be checking her bandages in about one hour. If there is anything unusual, I will post here but am confidant that she will be just fine. She has calmed down quite a bit. The rescue Remedy works wonders for that. I am glad I got it but do not think she will need any more for a bit. Perhaps 30 minutes or so before we go to remove the bandage today and obviously have to re-wrap it. Thanks again for your response.
@AnnaKristen (1)
•
26 Oct 09
EvrWonder,
I read your post on your dog's dewclaw breaking off above the quick. I would really appreciate if you could tell me what the outcome was, how long things took, what you noticed later, etc. Maybe you have said somewhere but I just found this site and am desperate to know.
My mini-Dachshund broke his dewclaw off almost at the base where it starts growing. Like you stated with Roxy, the claw is still on but the quick is underneath. It happened yesterday (Saturday) and I have been hesitating about what to do. I too have thought about bandaging but didn't want to risk hurting him more and wasn't sure what to put on, how to keep it on, etc. Yes, I too am too empathic about other people/dogs. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Worst of all, this happened to him on his other paw,only 8 days ago. I took him to the Vet, who did indeed do what you said - cut it at the break. Luckily, for whatever reason there was no bleeding and therefore unlikely to have been any pain. Of course he cried lots because he doesn't like people touching him when he is in pain and he is such a little guy.However, I do see some dried blood this time and I am sure they will have to cut through the quick. THe thought of having to take him to the vet again for another such clipping has me stressed beyond belief. I don't know if I can do it. I would far prefer the bandage route and later clipping.
Thanks.
Dachsie lover
p.s. - did you get the Arnica and Rescue Remedy from a Pet store?
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
23 Dec 09
Dearest Anna; I apologize for my absence.
I would not take my dog to the vet for a broken dew claw, blood or not. I wouldn't want them to cut it off when it is already broken and obviously painful.
I just cleaned it, added polysporin to keep it sterilized and bandaged her foot with the dew claw in the position it would normally be. I dressed it every two days. By the eighth day, the nail was ready to fall off.
Simple. Roxy has done it three times since.
Last time, after all bandaged, she was due for her shots at the vet.
We talked about her breaking her nails.
The vet stated that he has never seen the front one breaking, that usually it is the back. Rox doesn't have dew claws in the back..
I got the Arnica and Rescue remedy at a store that supplies pet supplies as well as homeopathic medicines.
Roxy's Vet gave me heck for giving her the homeopathic medicines, stating that she didn't need them.
