Dogs / Grooming
Nails are easy to ignore because they are small, but problems here rarely stay small. From overgrown nails changing how a dog walks to painful splits and infections, catching nail issues early saves b
Nails are easy to ignore because they are small, but problems here rarely stay small. From overgrown nails changing how a dog walks to painful splits and infections, catching nail issues early saves both the dog discomfort and you a vet bill.
This is the most common issue, particularly in indoor dogs and older dogs who walk less on hard surfaces that would naturally file nails down. Overgrown nails force the toes into an unnatural position, and over months this can affect posture and put strain on the joints and spine. The general rule: if you can hear nails clicking on tile or wooden flooring, they are overdue for a trim.
Left unchecked for long enough, nails can curl and grow directly into the paw pad, which is genuinely painful and prone to infection. This shows up most often on dewclaws, the small nail higher up on the leg that never touches the ground and so never gets worn down naturally.
A nail can split from catching on carpet, furniture, or uneven pavement. A minor split at the tip can usually be trimmed and left to heal, but a break higher up, closer to the base, bleeds heavily and is genuinely painful, and usually needs a vet visit for a proper trim and sometimes a bandage.
Swelling around the nail bed, discharge, or a nail that looks discoloured compared to the others can point to a bacterial or fungal infection, sometimes linked to an underlying allergy. This needs veterinary attention rather than home treatment.
Many rescued Indian indie dogs arrive with significantly overgrown nails from a life spent without regular trims, sometimes with dewclaws that have already curled inward. The first few trims for these dogs should be done gradually over several sessions rather than all at once, both to avoid cutting into an overgrown quick and to build trust with a dog who may have no prior positive association with having its paws handled.
The quick, the blood vessel and nerve running through the centre of the nail, grows longer the longer a nail is left untrimmed, which is why chronically overgrown nails are so hard to correct quickly. Trimming a small amount off regularly, even weekly for a few weeks, encourages the quick to gradually recede, making each subsequent trim safer. This is a slower, more patient fix than a single dramatic cut, and it is the right approach for any dog whose nails have been neglected for a long time.
Dewclaws are the small nail set higher on the inside of the leg that never touches the ground. Because they get no natural wear, they need deliberate attention during every nail trim, and they are the nail most likely to snag on carpet, upholstery, or undergrowth during walks. Removal is a surgical decision best made with a vet, generally considered only if a dewclaw is loosely attached, repeatedly injured, or causing recurring problems, rather than as routine preventive surgery.
Article content © Ravi Teja. All rights reserved.
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