Why are my dog’s nails splitting

Why are my dog’s nails splitting

Dog’s nails play a vital role in their overall well-being. They are basically made up of two layers: the topmost harder layer consists of keratin and quick & the other is the innermost spongy tissue of nerves and blood vessels. They help your dog to dig in & out, run, scratch uncomfortable itchiness, hold a grip for chewable toys, etc. And if they break or split, it may cause them difficulty to perform and indulge in their daily activities.

Has your dog broken the nails? Usually, it occurs when they indulge themselves in physical activities like playing, running, or when they trim their nails incorrectly, but this injury can also be a sign of underlying health conditions that may require a veterinarian consultation. Read on to know its symptoms, causes, and treatments for damaged nails of your beloved dog.

 What are the symptoms of broken & split dog nails?

These dog nail injuries happen all of a sudden. You may find them limping slightly when walking, or yelping after you call them from a yard.

Common symptoms of broken & split dog nails are the following:

1. Easily broken or cracked nails 

2. Bloody nails 

3. Limping while walking 

4. Chewing or licking the paw often

5. Sensitivity when you touch the paw

6. Crust or pus around the nail 

7. Brittle nails 

8. Swollen nail beds or paws

   Sometimes, the nail may be torn or fall off completely from the nail bed, in such cases, you can seek for dangling nail silvers that should be removed from there. Nail injury like this may uncover the ‘quick’ as it is responsible for connecting the dog’s toe bone. It directly means that it may cause severe bone infection if the germ enters into the exposed tissue and can breed harmful infections through it. That can be really harsh and painful for your dog. Sometimes, the pain they experience becomes unbearable at points.

   Seek for a veterinarian, if your dog’s broken or split nails cause severe symptoms, or if you are not able to remove the damaged part of it. 

       Why are my dog’s nails splitting

        What Causes Broken or Split Dog Nails

Broken or split dog nails usually happen through physical trauma such as accidentally snagging their toenails on carpets, romping (when around the plants), playing with the doors, etc. They may also get injured on nails while they jump, run awkwardly, or unknowingly out of a landing.

Longer nails are prone to breakage & splitting more than short nails. To have prevention from this, You need to trim them on a regular basis and make sure their size is neither too big nor too small.

Some Dog nail disorders may also lead to nail breakage, Such as

1. Lupoid onychodystrophy: This is a rare inflammatory disorder in which a dog’s nails go through difficulties in nail formation. Usually, it occurs between the age of 2-6 years, Basically, it affects the regrowth of the nail, causing lameness, irritation, swollen toes, and sloughing nails. Sometimes, they frequently start licking their own paws and toes. Scientists also say that it can be inherited from one or both parents of the dog. This can be developed by any breed, but there are higher chances of Gordon Setters and German Shepherds going through this condition more
2. Lupoid onychodystrophy: This is a rare inflammatory disorder in which a dog’s nails go through difficulties in nail formation. Usually, it occurs between the age of 2-6 years, Basically, it affects the regrowth of the nail, causing lameness, irritation, swollen toes, and sloughing nails. Sometimes, they frequently start licking their own paws and toes. Scientists also say that it can be inherited from one or both parents of the dog. This can be developed by any breed, but there are higher chances of Gordon Setters and German Shepherds going through this condition more
3. Bacterial infections: It can be caused in your dog’s nails by food and environmental allergies. It is essential to be cautious with their surroundings hygiene as well as food. This can be a big sign to be very attentive to the places he stays or walks in and the food container in which you feed him their daily meal. Try to disinfect the toys as well with which he plays. They can bring bacterial infections through them as well
4. Ingrown Nails: If you don’t cut or trim your dog’s nails correctly, they bend back to the paw bed. This can breed other types of very harmful infections, lameness, and hardship while walking or running. This can also lead to painful misery for them.

How Can You Treat Broken or Split Dog Nails?

 If the injury is under condition and normal, then you can perform these aids at home. Easy steps to treat broken or split dog nails are as follows

• Make sure to restrain yourself from any muzzle part of your dog, so they can’t attack while you touch their paw.
• If it’s bleeding, wrap a towel around the paw and apply some gentle pressure.
• You may also use flour, baking powder, or cauterizing powder in order to stop heavy loss of bleeding.
• To trim away the silvers hanging from the nail bed of the dog, use pet nail clippers wisely.

The injuries that happen accidentally in a dog’s life are about once or twice, while a nail disorder can lead to major issues if not treated well on time. So If you suspect the condition of your dog’s nail is not healthy, consult a veterinarian immediately.

How are Dog’s Nails Diagnosed?

In most cases, You and the veterinarian may observe the condition visually, but in some cases following methods come into practice:

• Bacterial Culture: For detecting the actual infection.
• Amputation of the third phalanx, or the lowest toe digit, to analyze histological analytics of the claw plate.
• Fungal Culture and microscopic examinations: For detecting ringworms and other fungal infect
• X-rays for swollen toes.

It takes about 6-12 weeks before the nail starts improving its condition and is usually lifelong. Proper medication with consistency is required most in circumstances.

How Can You Prevent Your Dog’s Nails Health?

You will be happy to know that a well preventative care for your dog’s nails can be done in the home itself. Following are the measures to do so

• Regular Trimming: Cutting or trimming your dog’s nails on a regular basis can help prevent them from curling and bending back into the paw bed. It is a very vital step to be done carefully and regularly. If you don’t know what to do, take your dog to a veterinarian or groom specialist to get this task done. And you can also request them to teach you some techniques as well. By this, you will feel more convenient to perform it in the home as well. As the time goes by, you will have a good command of how to get done with it yourself.
• A Balanced Diet: A diet full of nutrition may strengthen the quality of your dog’s nails. It plays such an essential role in their body. Especially a good proportion of vitamin E, niacinamide, tetracycline, Protein, Pentoxifylline, and fatty acid in their diet. So try to include things like eggs, fish, nuts, meat, fish oil, and other dairy products in the daily mealtime of your dog’s diet. Make sure that their intake of these mentioned nutrients is in good proportion so that they can contribute to a dog’s overall health.
• Scratch Board: To shape your dog’s paw motions, it is one of the best methods to give a shot. By this You can train your dog to touch their paw on the scratchboard, and whenever they uplift their paws to do so, reward them with a small treat, by which they will feel happy. Eventually, they will build this habit of putting their paws on the scratchboard by themselves and this will help them shape their paw motions at their best. This needs to be done on a regular interval of time to make them familiar with this activity

Through patience, consistent care of your pet’s nails, and keeping the size of paws short, you can prevent unwanted broken and splintered nails.