We have been struggling trying to help our high-drive male Chesapeake grow back one of his front toenails. He split it back so far that the entire nail have to be cut off. I took him back to the vet on Saturday, and we got the go-ahead to train, so we let him run around the yard off-lead while wearing gauze-padded booties. I also did a little on-lead heeling.

A day later, the exterior of the nail that's growing back is raw and bloody looking and the dog is in pain. Does anyone have any hints on how to get the nail back to health?

Thanks, Claire

Sound like he may need more time off in order for that to heal completely. I would also keep quick stop on hand if it does start to bleed you can stop the bleeding with that, that is the product we use when we cut the nail too short and it bleeds.

Thanks for the suggestion. I think that my vet was thinking of his somnolent Bullmastiffs when he gave us the OK to begin off-lead exercise. We eventually settled on the same solution - old fashioned styptic powder. Nothing else would allow the nail to dry as well. Once I switched to styptic powder it didn't take long at all to heal his nail.

Claire

My dog is always tearing his nail..I keep them as short as possible. I found that if the tear doesn't go all the way back into the toe, I can clip the little sucker off, and apply liquid bandage