The nail pathologies, or what is the same, those that affect the nails of dogs, are relatively frequent in the veterinary clinic. Unfortunately, infections produced in this area are a really painful problem that can have serious consequences if they are not treated in time, since the infection can progress rapidly and spread to other areas of the body. For this reason, knowing how to recognize an infection in our furry's nail and acting accordingly is very important.
In this article on our site we tell you how to cure an infected dog nail, as well as what are the symptoms commonly associated with a nail infection and its possible causes.
Symptoms of infected nail in dogs
In most cases, it is quite easy to identify if your dog has one or more infected nails, since the animal will probably present some of the following symptoms:
- Excessive licking: when a dog feels itching, discomfort or pain somewhere on his body he tends to lick his tongue insistently over that area to try to relieve itself and on many occasions it ends up causing dermatitis or an infection. An isolated or occasional lick should not worry you, but if you notice that your furry licks his paws frequently or that he does it for a long time or with a lot of intensity, he may have a problem with his nails, fingers or pads. We tell you more about My dog licks his paws: causes and what to do, here.
- Lameness and apathy: Nail infections cause a lot of pain and for this reason, affected dogs avoid supporting the limb on the ground and begin to limp or decrease their physical activity and become more apathetic and sedentary.
- Pain on contact: another very common symptom is that the dog refuses to have its paw handled, screams or complains if touched the affected nail or emits clear signals of calm or threat if someone tries to touch the area that hurts.
- Inflammation and irritation of the finger: Generally, with a nail infection, the affected finger becomes inflamed, red and shows hot to the touch. This condition worsens if the animal licks or bites its paw.
- Secreción: when an infection occurs, it is very common for pus to accumulate in the area, which can come out if it is opens a cavity in the finger or if the area where the infected nail is punctured or squeezed.
- Fever: Fever occurs as the body's reaction to a pathogen, such as a virus or bacteria, that may be causing a disease. infection. In the case of dogs, normal body temperature is between 37.8 and 38.5 degrees Celsius, with any value higher than this being considered a fever. Do not hesitate to take a look at this post on our site about Fever in dogs: symptoms, causes and treatment.
- Nail with an unpleasant smell: infections produce a bad smell, especially those that have been active for a long time or that are associated with a purulent discharge.
If any of these symptoms appear or if you simply notice that your dog's nail looks bad, you should go to a veterinary centeras soon as possible so that the professional assesses the injury and applies appropriate treatment.
Why has my dog got an infected nail?
Dogs' nails are in constant contact with the ground so they are more likely to become infected than other parts of the body that are generally kept cleaner. There is no single cause of nail infection (that is, the nail), but here are the most common reasons why your dog may have one or more nails infected:
- Traumatism: nail infections of traumatic origin are the most frequent, especially those that affect the spur, since it is very common that dogs, while playing or running, catch or hit a nail and break it or even tear it almost completely.
- Bacterial infection: occurs when bacteria affect the area and infect one or more nails. This bacterium can take advantage of a previous wound or injury to penetrate the animal's fingers or it can already be present in the organism causing another pathology in parallel.
- Fungal infection: in this case, it is one or several types of fungi that cause the infection in the dog's nail. These types of infections are usually accompanied by localized alopecia and their treatment tends to be very long, until the total disappearance of the fungus is achieved. Do not hesitate to consult this article on Fungi in dogs: symptoms and treatments.
- Autoimmune diseases: some autoimmune diseases affect the normal growth and development of the nails, making them more prone to infection. For example, dogs affected by lupus tend to have soft and brittle nails, so they break easily and bleed often, suffering from infections more frequently.
- Ingrown Toenails: If a nail grows excessively, it can curl in on itself and dig into the pad or toe. dog. This causes a lot of pain to the animal, which usually stops walking or limps noticeably. The wound caused by the nail can easily become infected and the finger becomes swollen and red.
- Neoplasias: the appearance of a mass or tumor on the animal's fingers can also compromise the condition of the nail, since the pressure exerted on it by tumor growth can break or deform it.
- Excessive licking: Paw licking is not only a symptom of possible infection, but also a common cause of infection. Dogs can lick their paws for various reasons, including stress and allergies, which cause itching in the area. If the animal licks itself obsessively, it ends up causing a type of dermatitis that is characterized by hair loss, the appearance of ulcers and inflammation, and a possible subsequent bacterial infection that can compromise the condition of the nails.
- Foreign body: Another common cause of infection is the presence of a foreign body that has lodged in the animal's finger as if by example a spike, a splinter or the thorn of the stem of a plant. When this happens, there is usually inflammation of the area and infection accompanied by purulent discharge.
How to cut a dog's nails at home? Find out the answer below.
How to cure an infected dog nail?
If you detect that your dog's nail is infected, the best thing to do is always to go to your veterinarian so that they can assess it and apply the most appropriate treatment.
If your dog's nail is bleeding, either because you cut it too short or because it was accidentally broken, grab a handful of gauze , preferably sterile and put pressure on the nail for a few seconds. Nails tend to bleed a lot when they are broken and it is normal for the bleeding to take a while to subside. If the bleeding does not stop, use a cohesive bandage to hold the gauze in place and go to the vet.
In the event that you observe irritation or inflammation of the finger, a bad odor or the presence of pus, examine your dog's paw in search of an entrance hole or a foreign body. It may help to cut the hairs around the inflammation to see more clearly. Likewise, go to the veterinary center before these or any of the other symptoms that have been mentioned in the first section of this article.
Once at the clinic, the professional will examine the animal's nail(s) and proceed to treat it. Such treatment can range from a simple cure to complete removal of the affected nail under anesthesia. If neoplasia or another pathology is suspected, the veterinarian will also carry out other diagnostic tests, such as X-rays of the leg or blood tests. Once it's finished, you'll likely be prescribed a course of antibiotics, antifungals, or antihistamines depending on the cause of the infection, as well as other medications or ointments he deems appropriate.
If the animal goes home with a bandage, it is advisable to cover it with a plastic bag or transparent film during walks to prevent it from getting wet or damp, as well as using an Elizabethan collar for a few days, so that the dog does not remove the bandage or suck on the affected area.
