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Dopey dog cut a nail again... *scowl*

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2K views 7 replies 4 participants last post by  Red 
#1 ·
We've had 4 blissful months without Kasper hurting himself (seriously, I think that's a record...) and then two in one week!!!

The first was just a slightly sore / bloody nail tip (I guess he *just* got to the quick) which healed just fine, but today he managed to bloody up a back nail...it's not bleeding heavily (like, no red paw prints when he walks) and it did stop and look completely normal...but then he licked it a fair bit. It wasn't even hurting him at first, and the only reason he noticed it was by smell, but now his foot kinda flinches when he licks it >__<

We know how to deal with this from last time, and there's no 'shell' of nail that needs pulling off which makes it easier...so we'll just do short short walks on concrete for a week or so, and keep an eye on it for infection. We even got told (by our vet) not to wash it last time, just leave it be and don't let him lick it too much.

A few questions...
1) Is he going to need coning? *sigh* We'll try distract him with hides and puzzle toys etc but...he's going to need coning to stop the licking isn't he? :(
2) How does he manage to do this?!? Does anyone else's dog always scratch their nails down?! We've never had to trim his nails, they've always been VERY short which I guess is because he does so much running on different surfaces...is it because he's always scrambling up and over rocks and running and jumping so much? Does he just wear them down too far??

I could understand it in the area we last lived in and he was constantly cutting his paws up - there was glass *everywhere* which is why we moved - but we walk in really quiet woodland where there's no litter, or glass, just hikers and dog walkers.

He really is one of a kind!! :D

Red
 
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#3 ·
1) I would use the cone to allow quicker healing... BUT, be careful because a lot of dogs can get to their toes when wearing a cone-- so it will have to be large.

2) Does he pull a lot on leash? Ditto above that he should be walked on grass and not concrete-- but I'd have also recommended you keep it clean or clean it after the walks...
 
#4 ·
The vet recommended concrete over grass because concrete wouldn't touch the painful bit (his nails are very short so way above the ground) whereas the paw would sink into grass and the blades would stick into the tender nail. (?)

He doesn't really pull on lead - not the scrabbly kind that would lead to this. It always happens when he is off-lead, so all I can think is that it's because he's so over-enthusiastic and does everything 100mph! The woods we walk in have roots and rocks everywhere which he jumps and climbs over...

Yes, he is a coned dog today! His nail looked really good this morning, but then he was sniffing about for it (and licking the wrong foot at first!!) then found it and latched on...so straight on with the cone, which he despises :rolleyes:

Takes him about two minutes to remember how to position his legs to lick them (he can lick any of his paws whilst wearing a cone, we have discovered this!) but we just calmly shift his cone every time...thankfully after his first walk he can have a puzzle feeder and a hide which should tire him out enough to sleep!

Red
 
#6 ·
He doesn't tolerate anything haha!! It took us weeks to train him into accepting his cone - before that he would run against walls or lie down to chew the sides, which he still does occasionally!

I could possibly train him into accepting boots, but it would be a very long process, and I don't think they'd be very good in that he often tromps through mud and goes swimming heh :) He once cut his foot in a park about 10 minutes walk from home (that was on glass) but it was very bloody, so we tried to make a bandage out of our socks...he refused to walk even one step until he'd ripped them off, and he's the same with bandages :p

I guess it's just one of those things...as long as it doesn't happen very often I suppose it's not much of a worry. I think the only reason it may have happened yesterday was because he took off after a deer (came when called, I was very proud of him :D ) so was going full pelt...he just runs without looking at his surroundings, he really is a dope!

His old owner said he once ran full speed into a concrete wall after a squirrel and hurt himself :rolleyes:

Red
 
#7 ·
His old owner said he once ran full speed into a concrete wall after a squirrel and hurt himself :rolleyes:

Red
Hehe poor guy. Bruce ran full speed into our chain link fence one time trying to follow his dad who was on a dirtbike. He must have completely forgot that he was still in the yard! Luckily he didn't injure anything but his pride.

If you are constantly having problems with his nails, I think it might be worth it in the long run to get him some booties like Holly said. Even if it takes a month for him to get used to, it's better than years of problems with his toenails :thumbsup:
 
#8 ·
Haha, aw poor Bruce! At least he wasn't injured :)

I'm really not sure on the boots - are they okay to be worn in puddles and when swimming?! And I'm not sure I'd ever completely trust him not to try chew them off...I'm kinda hoping that he'll calm down just a little, enough to be aware of his surroundings...he's almost 2 years old so hoping the hyper adolescent phase will slow soon :D

Red
 
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