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How To Help Your Dog After A Torn Dewclaw

The dewclaw is the upper nail on the inner side of your dog's paw. Some dogs have them removed when they are puppies, but not all people have them removed. If your dog still has this dewclaw, he could tear this claw when running in the grass, when running on the carpet, or on just about anything. If your dog has torn his dewclaw, it can be extremely painful for him. Read on for tips to help you take care of your dog if he has torn his dewclaw.

Call The Veterinarian

You should call the veterinarian to discuss what has happened to your dog. Your dog may need to be seen by the veterinarian in order to get stitches or some other treatment. If your veterinarian needs to see your dog, you need to take your dog to the vet. Anytime your dog is injured or hurt in any way, you should call the veterinarian and see if your dog needs to be seen.

Wrap Your Dog's Paw

To help with bleeding, you should wrap your dog's paw with a cotton bandage wrap, and tape it in place to hold it on your dog's paw. You need to keep the paw wrapped to help prevent your dog from licking it. It can also help hold the dewclaw in place, especially if it's pulled, but still hanging. Keep the bandage in place until you can get your dog to the veterinarian. Change the wrap every day or multiple times per day if you need to.

Give Your Dog An E-Collar

You should give your dog an e-collar to prevent him from licking his paw and preventing the dewclaw from healing properly. An e-collar can be uncomfortable for your dog, but it should be kept on him to prevent him from reinjuring his paw and opening up the dewclaw wound. Even with his paw wrapped, he may try to lick his paw, so be sure to keep the e-collar on him, in addition to the wrap.

If your dog has a dewclaw, he could rip it out on anything at any time. Keep an eye on this part of your dog's paw, and if you notice him licking his dewclaw, you should inspect it to see if he ripped it out. If you have additional questions about your dog's health, get in touch with a company like Johnstown Veterinary Associates to learn more.


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