Your dog’s chewing nails behavior is not a good sign for your dog. If your dog chews nails regularly then there must be a problem with him. As a dog owner, you may wonder why do dogs bite their nails?
Some problems of our dogs often have simple remedies, but this one may be more problematic and difficult to cure if you do not act quickly.
Some of the most frequent causes of nail-biting and chewing in dogs that may be safely and swiftly treated at home will be tackled in this article.
What to Do if you Dog is Biting Their Nails
If you observe your dog chewing nails excessively on his nails or toes, you may want to have him checked out for any medical disorders that may be impacting him.
You should keep track of the times and areas where your dog’s nails are biting, as well as how frequently it happens, as well as any other signs you have seen. Veterinarians use all of these characteristics when diagnosing a dog.
During the examination, your dog’s veterinarian may collect samples of blood, urine, feces, or skin and nails for testing. X-rays or biopsies may be used to determine whether or not there is an abnormal mass.
Whether there’s a suspicion of food allergies, a particular elimination diet may be recommended and followed to see if that’s the problem.
Veterinarians may need to watch your dog while he or she is doing it to find out why your dog is chewing its nails. Finding patterns in his behavior may be easier with the aid of a video clip.
Antibiotics, antiparasitic, and antifungal medicines, as well as foot soak and topical lotions for pain management and thyroid balance are just a few examples of physical condition treatments.
Surgical removal of fungal nails or the cutting and retesting of damaged claws may be necessary. Autoimmune diseases may be treated with a variety of vitamins and fatty acid supplements.
Behavioral modification strategies may be used to retrain your dog to behave in a more suitable manner if he has a behavioral problem. In many circumstances, distraction and de-stressing strategies, as well as incentives for good conduct, may be helpful.
Along with a normal daily schedule, children may benefit from exercise, mental stimulation, and the use of suitable chew toys.
Antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs may help some people with obsessive disorders. Use topical bitter sprays or soft claw nail caps to discourage your dog from gnawing on those sharp claws.
The video below shows you how you can get your dog to stop chewing his nails.
Top Reasons Why Dogs Chew Their Nails
Being a paw parent is being a fan of your dog’s cute and smushy face. Your dog flashes a smile that can melt your heart with its shiny and clean teeth.
However, dogs use their teeth to tell you that something is wrong or bothering them. Most of the time, your pup will use their teeth to do some nail-biting that can be annoying and bothersome at the same time.
Your dog’s chewing on their nails can be a sign of an odd behavior and is something you need to indulge in to know why your pup does that action.
While nail-biting can relieve itchiness in your dog’s paws, once this becomes a chronic behavior, it is important for you to find out the cause of the issue and address it properly.
Dogs can be prone to chewing their nails and may be a sign that they suffer from an actual medical condition. Here are some of the top reasons why dogs chew on their feet and nails.
1. They have long nails.
Your dog’s nail-biting could be as simple as having their nails being too long. If you hear your dog’s nails clicking on the floor, it’s time to visit their friendly groomer.
Remember that when your dog’s nails get too long, doing their routine or activities can be more difficult.
If you just let your dog’s nails grow, they will definitely resort to chewing them as a way of relieving those uncomfortable overgrown nails.
If you see your fur baby licking and chewing at their nails, checking and seeing if it’s time to make an appointment with the groomer can save your dog from getting used to this behavior.
Taking your dog for regular nail trimming can prevent your dog from resorting to nail-biting, so you might as well visit your favorite groomer once in a while.
It is important to look for a good dog groomer to ensure proper nail trimming. There are instances where dogs bite their nails after grooming– it is completely natural as they may just not be used to their new trimmed nails.
Keeping your dog’s nails well-trimmed can make walks and daily activities comfortable and more fun. You can trim them yourselves, or you can just take them to your local vets; either way, make sure to notice if your fur baby has long nails already.
2. Their nails are broken.
Dogs can be as hyper as they want to, but it doesn’t mean that they are exempted from having broken nails. Your dog’s nails can accidentally get caught on something or cracked down from some force, and this is incredibly painful for your fur buddy.
Chewing on their nails can be your dog’s attempt to relieve the pain they’re feeling or trying to remove the broken nail.
If you think your dog may have a nail injury, especially if there is bleeding or the damage is near the nail bed, it is important for you to take your fur buddy to your local vet. These injuries are prone to infections and require medical attention.
Be mindful of your dog’s behavior and see for yourself how you can help in lessening their pain. After all, the pain your dog feels can be as painful for fur parents.
3. They have an allergy.
Most dogs who love the outdoors unnoticeably carry allergens in their paws or nail beds. These allergens, such as pollens, get attached to your dog’s nails, causing your fur baby to feel itchiness in their nails, leading to nail chewing.
Allergens can be anything from seasonal pollen to fleas to the food your pup eats, and they can be anywhere too.
Dogs lick and chew their nails as a way to soothe that irritating itchy feeling caused by allergens. Talking to your vet for proper diagnosis and planning to prevent these allergens can be best to help your pup.
4. Their nail bed has an infection.
Nail chewing can be the only way your dog can find relief, and sometimes dogs bite their nails because their nail beds have some sort of infection.
Nail bed infections can be difficult to detect unless the infection has already progressed. They can be from a paw injury or some other type of medical issue.
Checking your fur baby’s paws to look for signs of infection such as swelling, bleeding, or oozing secretions can save them from more harmful effects.
An infected nail bed can cause pain and discomfort to your fur baby; once you see any of these signs, make sure to take them to the vet right away.
Don’t scold your dog for chewing their nails; it’s their attempt to relieve pressure or any infection fluid their nail has. Be assertive and take good care of your fur baby.
5. They feel nervous.
Dogs are no different from humans who are having an anxiety attack. While humans bite their nails or fingers when they’re anxious, there is also dog biting nails anxiety.
You may see your dog chewing or biting their nails when they are faced with a stressful condition.
Dogs with a history of separation anxiety or difficulty adapting to a change in surrounding may compulsively chew their nails because of their emotions.
Usually, dogs chew their nails at night if they have anxiety as they are not comfortable due to some factors. Stay with them and try to calm them down; the most comforting and safe place your dog can be is whenever they are with you.
6. They’re just bored.
Your dog can develop a bad habit of nail chewing just because they feel bored. Bored dogs are adventurous dogs, and some dogs find nail-biting a stress relief or a boredom reliever.
Your fur baby may chew their nails for no reason at all, so make sure that their vacant time is well-spent with activities that spark their interest.
If you are away during the day, make sure you leave your dogs with plenty of toys to keep them occupied. Also, taking them out for walks or playing fetch and other activities with them will stay nail-biting out of the picture.
A tired and happy dog will keep them from resorting to nail-biting habits.
7. Drying or blistering of your dog’s paw
Paw pads, like human skin, may dry up, crack, and blister when exposed to high temperatures. It’s especially dangerous for dogs to walk on asphalt and concrete in the summer, even if the temperature is pleasant for you.
Holding the back of your hand on the ground for five to ten seconds is a good test of whether or not the ground is safe for your dog to walk on.
Additionally, extreme cold might also be a problem. It’s important to remember that dogs might be more vulnerable to cuts while walking on ice or hard surfaces. The best course of action is to stay out of the rain or snow if possible, or to get some dog shoes.
Some dogs, on the other hand, are more susceptible to paw injuries because of their genetic makeup.
There are paw balm and wax products available that may help prevent and treat dry, cracked paws, whether you live in an area that experiences harsh weather or your dog just has sensitive paws.
8. Your dog might be having Interdigital furuncles
Interdigital furuncles are the red, meaty lumps that form between a dog’s toes and are simple to spot. Dogs with short hair and noticeable toe-webbing are more likely to develop these cyst-like growths.
Ingrown hairs, mites, or an infection are the most common causes of interdigital furuncles. The bulge should be checked out by a veterinarian to ensure it isn’t cancerous, although surgery is not always necessary.
A few at-home solutions may help get rid of furuncles, which are notoriously difficult to get rid of. Healing balms and salt soaks may be used in conjunction with regular cleaning.
9. Dogs can have arthritis too
Your dog’s persistent licking of his paws might be caused by his suffering from arthritis. As your dog matures, you’ll begin to notice the paw-licking behavior gradually.
Sore joints may be to blame if you can’t detect any signs of swelling, redness, or nail breaks in the spot.
There is no treatment for arthritis, which is a normal aspect of growing older. It’s possible that joint supplements may aid. With age, enzymes in your dog’s cartilage break down, protecting uncomfortable bone-on-bone contact for your dog.
For obese or big dogs, this may occur earlier in their lives. In order to reduce the rate at which enzymes wear down the cartilage, joint supplements aim to slow down the problem.
10. Your dog might have been punctured with foreign object
A foreign item or a puncture wound generally only causes symptoms in the paw. You may notice your dog limping and licking the sore or swollen paw. It’s possible they’ll be hesitant to allow you to see the wound.
The most crucial thing is to act immediately. If left untreated, wounds may quickly become infected. A clean pair of tweezers may be used to remove a foreign item like a thorn that seems to be easily removable.
Cleaning and bandaging the wound is necessary. Shallow puncture wounds need the same treatment–cleanse and bandage.
Consult your veterinarian if the incision is deep or if you have any doubts about whether or not all of the material has been removed from the wound.
After your treatment, keep a watchful eye on the treated region for any indications of infection.
Swelling, redness and soreness are all signs that the wound may have become infected, and antibiotic therapy will be necessary.
Is it Normal for Dogs to Bite Their Nails?
Dogs may aggravate any underlying health issues, such as allergies or anxiety, by nibbling on their feet. It’s advisable to have your vet take a quick glance since it’s an indicator of pain.
Veterinarians can help explain clearly why dogs bite or chew their nails, particularly if it is a habit.
This might be a sign that a dog’s nails are overgrown and need to be cut! When a dog’s nails are excessively long, it might make it difficult for them to carry out their regular routines.
They may experience difficulty when they walk if their nails are overgrown, since long nails may exert pressure on the paw pad.
A dog’s skin may get infected and painfully damaged if their nails grow into their skin to an extreme extent. Nail injuries caused by overgrown nails may be very painful.
Keeping your dog’s nails clipped on a regular basis can assist to keep them healthy and happy.
Hair overgrowth on the paws may be an issue for certain dogs, especially those with thick coats. Several dogs have dense feathering on their paws and legs, which may become stuck between their toes.
To put it another way, it could feel like your foot is being pinched by a thick thread in the sole of your sock. That said, it’s a pain, but bearable. Deshedding your dog on a regular basis might also help.
First and foremost, if you see your dog chewing nails bleeding already, you should examine if this is an indication that they need to be groomed or whether you can do it yourself at home.
Make sure to start with this first, since it is generally the least painful and the most cost-effective.
Prevent your Dogs from Biting Their Nails
Keep your dog’s nails short and in good condition by grooming him on a regular basis. The nails of your dog’s paws might begin to curl inward as they develop.
When your dog is running or walking, overgrown nails may cause discomfort and even injury. During playtime, they may accidentally scratch you or one of the children, which no one would desire.
As a clever creature with a strong desire to please, you may see your dog reflexively nibbling at his nails in an attempt to shorten them. Alternatively, he may paw fiercely at the ground in an attempt to grind or wear down his nails.
Dog owners can take care of the task of nail clipping their dogs. If you do not know what is the proper way of clipping your dog’s nail, you should look for a dog groomer to ensure safe and healthy nail clipping.
Styptic powder or a styptic pencil may help if you wish to clip your dog’s nails. These are available at any pet food retailer for dogs. Cornstarch may also be used as a substitute. Trimming too close to the skin might result in bleeding.
If this occurs, use a pinch of Styptic powder or corn starch on your dog’s bleeding nail to stop the bleeding. Until the blood flow decreases or ceases, keep treating the dog in this way.
Stop the bleeding by pressing the styptic pencil on the bleeding wound. Whatever method you use, you can expect it to work swiftly.
If the vein in a dog’s nail is cut or damaged, it will not cause the animal to die from internal bleeding. The first rush of blood may be excruciating, but a healthy animal will have the clotting to halt it in its tracks.
Frequent nail cutting will make it much simpler to trim and result in a happy dog. It’s a good idea to create and maintain nail clipping a pleasant experience for dogs since it’s a lifelong habit for them.
Another option is to get your dog’s nails trimmed by a professional groomer. Despite the fact that some groomers still prefer to trim the nails, many others have begun grinding them down.
The nail is sanded and cauterized at the same time during the grinding process. You should be confident that your dog is being cared for by an experienced specialist in this case.
How to Stop Dog Biting Nails
If your dog is simply gnawing on their nails once in a while, you don’t have to worry about it. You only need to step in if the situation persists.
In order to stop your dog from biting his or her nails on a frequent basis, you must first determine what is causing the problem and then take appropriate action.
It’s your veterinarian’s job to figure out what’s causing it and provide suggestions on how to stop your dog from biting their nails.
When the root cause of the behavior is addressed, it is likely to stop. To prevent your dog from chewing on their paws in the meanwhile, you may wish to put up a physical barrier around them.
Using an inflatable collar or one that has been used after surgery may be quite beneficial. Your dog won’t be able to get his paws anywhere near it. So, you’ll need to handle the issue of them being uncomfortable.
To alleviate their discomfort, you might trim their nails and clean the area. Antiseptic soap and warm water are all that is needed to get the job done.
You must thoroughly dry the paw to avoid future problems. It is possible to remove all of the moisture by using a drying power.
Conclusion
Dogs chewing their nails can be a troubling experience for both fur babies and fur parents. If you start to notice that your dog often bites or chews their nails, considering these reasons can come in handy.
While nail chewing can be a sign for a nail trim or a hint at something more, considering this can help you understand your dog more.
Whenever there’s any concern that you don’t understand about how your fur baby behaves, talking to your vet is the best option.
Do you find this article useful? Does your dog chews his nails on a frequent basis too? Share your experience with us by commenting below!
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