Split nail!

[Dragonball Z]

Hey folks. Piccolo has a nail on his back paw that has split seemingly all the way to the nail's base. The split is in such a way that the nail seems to have a top half and a bottom half, as opposed to having a left half and a right half. I'm not exactly sure when it happened. He's not limping or bleeding or showing any signs of serious pain, but he has been constantly licking it to the point that there is now a bald spot on the toe next to it. I'm afraid that the split is in such a way that it won't heal properly because any new growth would be split along the same line any tyime he put any real pressure on it. Any suggestions or experience with such a thing out there?

Thanks!

[K-9Girl]

Dragonball Z-

Is that the only nail that is like that? Look carefully at all the other nails. My male has had toenails problems for a long time....and what your describing sounds like what Kodi's nails looked like at one time. If you are interested, I will tell you more about Kodi's nail problems.

Sara

[Dragonball Z]

Originally posted by K-9Girl
Dragonball Z-

Is that the only nail that is like that? If you are interested, I will tell you more about Kodi's nail problems.

Sara

Yes. He's 23 mos. old and this is a first. He's broken nails before, but never like this. And never one his back paws. In fact, I've never even had to trim his back paws. They've never gotten long enough to be trimmed.

[K-9Girl]

If this nail is the first and only nail to do this, then I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just watch it.

Kodi's nails would fall off....I later found out that he had a fungal infection.

Let us know if any more nails have problems or look funny.

Sara

[TrishB]

If he's licking it, he's in pain. Animals do not openly show pain due to a survival instinct (an injured animal is a target). He may have been aggressively jumping around or running that caused the split. A split nail on a dog is as painful to them as it is to us.

I'd suggest that you have it looked at by your vet. He may need to be sedated to have the nail removed. Or, they may be able to bond the nail with an adhesive to repair the nail until it can grow out.

Better safe than sorry. ;)