Dog with a hurt claw
Discussion
My dog has somehow managed to crack his claw while out having a rough and tumble - it ha bled a little bit but doesn't look infected or anything. I've washed it very gently with some very dilute hibiscrub. He is limping on it very badly, so would it be worth trying to bandage it while it heals? I think it will take quite a while as he has cracked it nearly all the way up.
Yes agree with aboe. Vet for pain relief and see if nail needs removing, broken claws are very very sensitive for dogs esp if they have bled (may need abio's esp if quick exposed)and sometimes it's better if possible to remove the broken nail and start afresh, this will depend on how well attached it still is.
Don't bandage unless vets advise and do it and unless you know what you are doing, very easy too make things worse due to incorrect bandaging (materials, techniques and mot commonly because they've been put on too tight) a dog recently was close to losing it's leg due to owner trying dress it themselves (so forgive me being a bit ott on this!)
Don't bandage unless vets advise and do it and unless you know what you are doing, very easy too make things worse due to incorrect bandaging (materials, techniques and mot commonly because they've been put on too tight) a dog recently was close to losing it's leg due to owner trying dress it themselves (so forgive me being a bit ott on this!)
Edited by bexVN on Tuesday 10th May 11:59
No I appreciate that Bex - I'm pretty good with bandaging as I've had horses/dogs/cats all my life and used to work at a livery yard so have had to replace bandages/dress wounds etc quite alot. The claw is still very well attached, just has a crack going up it. No infection or heat in itand he doesnt mind me handling it. I imagine it's very sensitive as its a bit like if we have a hurt fingernail I suppose.
I did take him to the vets in the end - they trimmed it and bandaged it and charged me £120 for the privilege 
Before anybody thinks I'm a terrible callous owner, I must make clear I do not mind AT ALL paying for vets treatment when it's needed, and would never even consider allowing an animal to suffer for the sake of my pocket but I do begrudge it when they seem to make a mountain out of molehill. This wasn't helped by the fact they wanted to sedate him and x ray him, and asked if he was insured, and when I said no (we are deciding on which to go with) they said oh we won't bother then! I told them if it needed to be done, then I would of course pay for it but they said no don't worry. Bit naughty I think, maybe time to find a new vet!
Pic of the sorry looking hound so you can send him virtual sympathy!
Before anybody thinks I'm a terrible callous owner, I must make clear I do not mind AT ALL paying for vets treatment when it's needed, and would never even consider allowing an animal to suffer for the sake of my pocket but I do begrudge it when they seem to make a mountain out of molehill. This wasn't helped by the fact they wanted to sedate him and x ray him, and asked if he was insured, and when I said no (we are deciding on which to go with) they said oh we won't bother then! I told them if it needed to be done, then I would of course pay for it but they said no don't worry. Bit naughty I think, maybe time to find a new vet!
Pic of the sorry looking hound so you can send him virtual sympathy!
Lippitt said:
I did take him to the vets in the end - they trimmed it and bandaged it and charged me £120 for the privilege
Before anybody thinks I'm a terrible callous owner, I must make clear I do not mind AT ALL paying for vets treatment when it's needed, and would never even consider allowing an animal to suffer for the sake of my pocket but I do begrudge it when they seem to make a mountain out of molehill. This wasn't helped by the fact they wanted to sedate him and x ray him, and asked if he was insured, and when I said no (we are deciding on which to go with) they said oh we won't bother then! I told them if it needed to be done, then I would of course pay for it but they said no don't worry. Bit naughty I think, maybe time to find a new vet!
Pic of the sorry looking hound so you can send him virtual sympathy!
That's some bandage! Even when Clyde exposed the entire quick on one claw (boy did that do some bleeding!), all he got was painkillers!Before anybody thinks I'm a terrible callous owner, I must make clear I do not mind AT ALL paying for vets treatment when it's needed, and would never even consider allowing an animal to suffer for the sake of my pocket but I do begrudge it when they seem to make a mountain out of molehill. This wasn't helped by the fact they wanted to sedate him and x ray him, and asked if he was insured, and when I said no (we are deciding on which to go with) they said oh we won't bother then! I told them if it needed to be done, then I would of course pay for it but they said no don't worry. Bit naughty I think, maybe time to find a new vet!
Pic of the sorry looking hound so you can send him virtual sympathy!
Poor pooch, though... hope he's back to his fun and frolicks soon!
What the f
k £120. I would never have thought it'd be so much! And what's with the size of the bandage!!
Xray only necessary if they thought he'd damged the digit as well as I'm not sure what else they were hoping to gain from an xray.
I feel bad for telling you to get him checked but I'd have expected your bill to be approx half that with us (and we are not the cheapest vets, we know that)
k £120. I would never have thought it'd be so much! And what's with the size of the bandage!!Xray only necessary if they thought he'd damged the digit as well as I'm not sure what else they were hoping to gain from an xray.
I feel bad for telling you to get him checked but I'd have expected your bill to be approx half that with us (and we are not the cheapest vets, we know that)
Oh no don't feel bad Bex please, you were spot on and I'm always very glad for your advice! The size of the bandage did make me laugh - he looks like has got a big club foot! He is much better now, and is back to leaping around like a mad thing (probably completely unadvisable, but try and stop him!) so good news all round apart from my wallet 
Karyn, thanks for sharing your experience, I hope yours gets better soon!
Karyn, thanks for sharing your experience, I hope yours gets better soon!
...I'm starting to think about taking him to another vet for a different opinion, after seeing this thread. There's something tender about one of his claws, that's for sure, but I'm not convinced it's what's causing his limp - he's had it for ages, and it gets worse after running.
That bandage may look completely daft, but it's clearly working if he's back to jumping round - like a big ol' mattress protecting his sore paw!
That bandage may look completely daft, but it's clearly working if he's back to jumping round - like a big ol' mattress protecting his sore paw!
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