04/10/2025
**WARNING: Graphic Content**
Frank is a 7 year old MN Boston Terrier/Pug Mix who presented last week for a torn nail. This is a very common injury that happens to numerous pets from different activities. The owner is unaware how this injury occurred, as they did not witness the accident happen, but most of these incidents can occur from nails getting caught in porch lats, digging, a Sasquatch attack, etc.. NOT to EXCLUDE the Abominable Snowman. Typically, we can trim the broken nail and most pets are okay to go home. However, in Frank's case, this was not an option as he was bleeding at the base of his nail, where the nail attaches to the toe digit. We elected to sedate Frank, to prevent any discomfort while removing the nail. Sedation not only eliminates discomfort, but it provides safety for your pet and the staff members handling his case. It also ensures your pet does not have a horrible experience, to the point where he becomes fearful for any future handling and/or veterinary visits. We always do our best to provide comfort, ease, and most importantly Fear Free visits for you and your pet!
The nail is expected to fully grow back, but it can take up to 1 year. Trauma to the nail can result in permanent nail deformities/structure malformations. If a nail were to grow in an odd shape, it is ALWAYS recommended to be evaluated as this can be caused by other serious conditions.
For at home treatment care, we bandaged Frank's paw to protect his exposed quick from any dirt and sensitivity to temperature, until his quick becomes acclimated to these conditions. Antibiotics are typically prescribed for some patients to fight off infections if the doctors feels it is warranted. These injuries can be quite painful, and therefore most patients also receive pain medication. Keep in mind, pets are very good at hiding any discomfort/pain and it is recommended to seek veterinary care for any nail injury!
Let us know in the comments what else you would like to see/learn about and we will do our best to share more case studies for educational purposes.