Toenail Trouble

[Guest 2Brindles]

Here is a picture of her boo boo; one of her newly shortened toenails is now irritating the next nearest toe. It has been rubbed raw. I don't want to cut it shorter because it will grow back down and into the toe again. I tried filing it a bit with an emery board, but there's only so much of that Kelli will tolerate. Any tips would be appreciated as it is now affecting her ability to walk on that paw.

[Guest BlackandBrindle]

Have you tried putting EMT gel on the raw spot? Maybe that will protect it somewhat. I've seen this in other threads and I believe some people have to keep the toenail longer to avoid irritation.

[Guest KennelMom]

I use a dremel to round the edges of our dog's nails...I've never seen that problem before. Maybe just keep that nail a little bit longer.

[Guest 2Brindles]

Her nails were done at the vet's office on Monday. Had I thought about the positioning of the end toe to the toe next to it, I probably would have requested that it be kept a little longer.

[Guest Spoiledhound]

I would just make sure it stay clean and that she doesn't keep worrying it.

[Guest chaoran22]

that happens to my oscar but it's not so bad because i use a dremel and so his nails are always rounded and filed so while it does rub and make the other toe a little red, it's never gotten to the point where it hurts him (as far as i can tell) or affected his ability to walk. we lure course so i prefer to keep his nails pretty short despite the potential for a little rubbing. new skin helps as a preventative - just adds another level of protection to the skin so you might want to try that. i think some of them just have toes that are formed at somewhat of an angle (oscar for instance has this funny snaggle toe...)

[Guest DeweytheGreyt]

I would use a dremel to round it off. Dewey has a few nails like that, that grow in the direction of the toe next to them. I just have to keep them rounded and nice and smooth.

[Batmom]

Round it off as others said. If it still bothers, you can take a teensy piece of duct tape -- run it down the inside of the nail (the side next to the other toe) and around the end. It should stay for a day or two before you need another piece. It's slippery, so help keeps the toe from catching on the other toe.

 

Same thing happened to Batman when I first brought him home. Just took awhile for his feet to adjust themselves to different surfaces -- sidewalk where we walked, vs. mostly sand in his former life.