There you are, trimming a dog's claws. It's something you have done so many times you can practically accomplish the task blindfolded, but when you get to one claw, you notice it doesn't look normal. Maybe it's thicker than the others or shaped differently. Perhaps it seems to be cracked, or the outer layers seem to be flakey. Possibly, it angles away from the toe in a way that is different from that of the other claws. How should you proceed?
Having clipped millions of claws in my life, I have encountered some that made me pause because they just looked "funny."
Here is what I do:
- Gently palpate the nail and toe and see how the dog reacts. If it is uncomfortable or painful, I leave that claw alone.
- Cell phones are so handy. I take a picture of the claw, trying to get a clear image so I can show it to the owner. The dog will be excited to be picked up, and it's hard to point out a small thing like a claw when the pet is doing a happy dance.
- I gently trim the claw if the dog does not register any apparent discomfort.
So, what is up with odd claws? There can be several possibilities. Among them are: - A previous injury or trauma to the toe or nail. If a dog has suffered trauma to the toe, sometimes the nail grows differently for the rest of the dog's life. I have seen claws that grow at a strange angle or seem never to grow at all, and the owner has told me the toe was injured previously, sometimes years before.
- Recent damage to the claw. Claws frequently become split or broken during a dog's daily activities. Depending on where the damage is on the claw, it can be very painful until it heals. I've had dogs come in for grooming with a badly broken claw dangling by a thread, the tender inner core visible. If it is sore, I don't touch it.
- Fungal or bacterial infections of claws are not uncommon. They are usually associated with an injury and require veterinary treatment to be resolved.
- Autoimmune diseases may cause malformations in claws.
- In some cases, nail lesions or disturbed growth are caused by cancer. Squamous cell carcinomas are most commonly the problem, but other types, including melanoma and mast cell tumors, may be the problem.
The next time you are clipping away and find a claw that looks different from the others, take note and a picture and inform the owner of what you observed. You may save the dog from discomfort, and in some cases, you may save a life.
