OUCH!
  We put polysporin on it and he licked it off.He really doens't like to let us touch it and his paw shakes when we go near it. I have tried to clean it but short of soaking it and scrubbing it (I think that would freak him out even more). I was thinking maybe soaking it in peroxide? But I have heard that limits healing. The nail on the other side (where the mud is) is intact. Its just the outside part that ripped off He is eating and sleeping and stalking the cat as normal. We are trying to limit the amount of walking he does but being a sheepie he insists on following us EVERYWHERE around the house. It got to the point where I had to stop my house work because he still tries to be my assistant and was running up and down the stairs and then stopping to lick his paw. Ru had a similar accident last year (he freaked out and ran several km's home in a panic and ripped his paw pads/several nails off) and when we took him to the vet they said they prefer to let it heal on its own if the animal is still walking and not bleeding. We were told to watch for infection and limit the amount of walking he is doing. When it had healed they said they would trim off the nail as needed-but at a second check up they said this wasn't necessary as it healed nicely. Also to stop him from licking it. Do you think there is anything else we should do to make him more comfortable? Any suggestions on how to clean it properly without hurting him? Wish he hadn't been playing in the mud when this happened as the dirt can't be helpful. |
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| Nails can get a nasty infection in them. Just to be safe, I'd have him seen by your vet. It's not happened to my dogs, but I know several people who have gotten infections in the nail and nail bed and they are a long and tedious treatment. |
| I'd be surprised if the vet suggests meds unless it comes with an E-collar to keep the tongue from removing it. Often our vet recommends plain water washing several times a day..........and removing hair from around the wound. Feet however are more prone to infections.......... Still if healing has started.......I'd expect little upright interference. |
| Poor love. We bathed whole foot in a icecream tub (they come in handy so I just have to eat the icecream!). Warm salty water-soothes,cleans and helps to heal tho only 2 times a day and not to strong a solution.x |
| UPDATE: We did take him to the vet the morning after I posted this as I like to be safe rather than sorry. The vet prescribed oral antibiotics/anti inflammation meds which seemed to take down the swelling considerably and we could actually see where the nail breakage happened. Yes, it was completely torn off but slightly longer at the back. We cleaned it daily with peroxide and warm water and kept him off his feet for a couple weeks (not an easy feat with a one year old sheepie who insists on following us everywhere we go). This incident also speaks to all of the purposeful handling he has been subjected to since he was born- he was never once aggressive or defensive of the foot even when the vet was poking around it or we had to clean it at home. Good news: his nail is almost entirely healed now, it is just really really really short (like you can hardly see it, it is a little nub but there is no exposed quick) yet it is growing back and is completely white again. Today was the first day I attempted to clip the nails on that foot again and he tried to snuggle his way out of it (if Leonard doesn't want to do something he will literally snuggle up with you and nuzzle his head into you and give puppy kisses as a mighty hard to resist distraction tactic) but we eventually got the other nails on that foot clipped. If anybody has searched this post and is wondering what to do in a similar situation- I highly recommend taking your dog in to the vet as I really do think this was a potentially serious infection waiting to happen and he was so much better off with some relief from what had to be pretty serious pain. Our vet repeated that they will not usually remove the nail but preventing infection is important! |
| Thanks for the update - I'm sure it will help someone who looks this up later on. Glad to hear that Leonard is healing well. And yes - another great reason why it pays off to have a dog you can handle everywhere and anytime, even when they are in pain.  |
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