Taking care of a broken and bleeding dew claw on your pet dog can be a tricky matter.
However, with the right knowledge about what causes this injury, how to spot it in its early stages, treatments available – even helpful tips for healing – you are giving your beloved pup the best chance at full recovery.
This blog post sheds light into these topics and provides advice towards caring for an injured dew claw so that their pain is lessened as much as possible during treatment.
With any injury your aim should always be to make your dog as comfortable as possible while seeking treatment from your vet. In the case of bleeding your priority is to minimise blood loss which can be helped by pressing carefully on the wound. Always get help from your vet if your dog injures his dew claws.
What is a dew claw and why is it important?
A dew claw is the extra digit located on the back legs of some canine species.
It is essentially a thumb and can provide a variety of functions for your pup.
Since the claw has little contact with hard surfaces, its main role is to provide traction when running or turning at speed.
It can also be helpful for holding onto items like toys and treats as well as gripping surfaces like railings or tree branches during ascent and descent.
When it comes to overall health, the dew claw can become painful if not trimmed properly or regularly, making it important to maintain such nails on a regular basis.
This helps ensure that your companion’s mobility isn’t hindered in any way by those extra digits.
Causes of broken dew claws
Broken dew claws are an unfortunate injury that can be caused by many things.
Basically, any trauma to the toe, overuse of the claws, or even a congenital defect could leave your pup with a painful broken dew claw.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to prevent these issues from happening in the first place, but it’s important to stay vigilant and check their paws regularly for any signs of discomfort or damage.
As soon as you detect an issue with their nails, visit your local veterinarian right away to prevent it from getting worse.
Signs & symptoms of a broken dew claw
If you’ve ever taken your pup for a walk and noticed that they were limping after some extra strenuous exercising, there’s a great chance that the root of the issue could lay with their dew claw.
While not all dogs have them, those that do may still be prone to injury and pain if they catch it on something.
In addition to limping, other common signs and symptoms that indicate a broken dew claw include bleeding, pain, swelling, and redness around the affected area.
If any of these signs present themselves after your pup has been out playing, consider taking them in for an inspection right away to ensure proper treatment can be initiated early-on.
What to do if your dog’s dew claw is broken and bleeding
Taking care of a broken and bleeding dew claw isn’t something that most pet owners anticipate having to handle.
However, if you find yourself in this situation it’s important to remain calm and take the right steps to help your dog heal.
Firstly, seek veterinary attention as soon as possible—your vet will be able to advise you on the best course of action.
Keep your pooch’s paw elevated while they are recovering and apply cold compresses every 10-15 minutes—this will reduce swelling, inflammation, pain and bleeding.
During recovery, keep their paw clean and make sure it is free from dirt, debris or sharp objects.
As recommended by your vet, provide over-the-counter or prescription pain relief medication in order to provide some added comfort for your pup.
Final Words
While it can be a scary situation for any pet parent, knowing what to do in the event of an injured dew claw on your pup is key when it comes to providing proper care.
If you ever find yourself dealing with this type of injury, remember to stay calm and take immediate action.
Seek veterinary advice as soon as possible and provide your pup with the necessary treatment and comfort to ensure that they heal quickly.
