Dog Ingrown or Lost Toenail: What to Do and When to Vet

Name: Dog Ingrown or Lost Toenail: What to Do and When to Vet
Creator: Dr. Zubair Khalid

By Dr. Zubair Khalid, DVM, MS, PhD · 2026-10-03

An ingrown toenail in dogs happens when the nail curves and presses into the paw pad or the skin beside it. If your dog has an ingrown toenail, the safest first step is to stop cutting at home, soak the paw in warm water, keep your dog from licking it, and call your veterinarian if you see swelling, pus, or bleeding that will not stop. A nail that has fallen off completely is a different problem, and it usually needs a vet visit too.

This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment.

Quick Answer

If the nail is still attached but curling into the skin, do not try to dig it out or cut it flush. Soak the paw and call your vet.
If the nail is loose, hanging, or gone, control bleeding with firm pressure and a clean bandage, then get it checked.
Swelling, pus, a bad smell, or a red, hot toe means infection is likely and needs veterinary care.
Limping that lasts more than a few hours, or any nail problem in a dog with allergies or diabetes, deserves a same-day call.
Never give human pain relievers to a dog. Your veterinarian will choose a safe pain plan based on your dog's weight and health.

What an Ingrown or Lost Toenail Looks Like

Dogs have nails that grow continuously, and most of the time walking wears them down. When a nail curves sideways or downward, the tip can press into the pad or the skin of the toe. The toe may look red, the nail may sit at an odd angle, and your dog may pull the paw away when you touch it.

An ingrown nail is not the same as an infected nail, though the two often travel together. Infection in the tissue around the nail is called paronychia, and it can cause brown staining, redness, swelling, crusts, or discharge around the claw fold [1]. A nail that has been pressing into skin for days can become infected, and an infected toe can make the nail look ingrown even when the shape is normal.

A lost toenail means the nail plate has come off the toe. You may find the nail on the floor, in the yard, or in your dog's bedding. The exposed nail bed often bleeds, sometimes a lot at first, because the quick has a good blood supply. A partially torn nail that still hangs by a thread is painful and can catch on things, so it needs care right away.

Normal nails are smooth, roughly the same length across the paw, and do not touch the ground at a sharp angle. Some dogs have naturally long quicks, especially if they have not had regular trims. That is a grooming issue, not an emergency, but it does raise the risk of cutting into the quick at home.

Main Causes and How Urgent They Are

Cause	Typical clues	How urgent
Ingrown nail from overgrowth or a curved nail	Nail tip pressing into pad or skin, redness, tenderness, no pus	Vet visit within a day or two
Torn or avulsed nail (fully lost)	Bleeding, nail missing or hanging, dog licking the toe	Same-day vet visit, emergency if bleeding won't stop
Bacterial or yeast infection of the claw fold	Swelling, brown staining, crusts, discharge, bad smell	Same-day to next-day vet visit
Trauma (catching a nail on a fence, crate, or carpet)	Sudden yelp, bleeding, holding the paw up	Emergency if bleeding is heavy or the toe is deformed
Foreign material in the nail fold	Swelling that keeps coming back, discharge, one toe affected	Vet visit, since antibiotics alone may not fix it
Underlying allergy or skin disease	Itchy paws, licking, multiple toes involved over time	Routine vet visit for a full skin workup

Allergic skin disease is a common reason claw fold infections keep coming back. In one study, allergic dogs with clinical paronychia had significantly higher numbers of bacteria and yeast in their claw folds than normal dogs [1]. That means a nail problem in an itchy dog is often a skin problem first, and treating only the nail will not solve it.

Foreign material is another cause that can hide for a long time. A case report described a dog groomer with chronic paronychia caused by embedded hair fragments in the nail fold, and the infection only resolved after the material was removed surgically [2]. The same principle applies to dogs. A grass awn, splinter, or embedded hair can keep a toe inflamed until it is taken out.

If your dog's toe is swollen and draining, it may be an infection instead of a simple ingrown nail. Our guide to Dog Nail Infection: Signs, Causes, and Treatment walks through what those signs mean.

Red Flags That Make It an Emergency

Some nail problems can wait until the next business day. Others cannot.

Go to an emergency clinic now if:

Bleeding from the nail bed will not stop after 5 to 10 minutes of firm pressure.
The nail is torn and hanging, and your dog will not let you touch the paw.
The toe is bent at a strange angle, or you suspect a fracture.
Your dog is crying, panting, or unable to put any weight on the leg.
The toe is swollen, hot, and spreading redness is moving up the leg.
There is a deep cut, a bite wound, or another animal was involved.

Dog bite wounds are a good example of why deep wounds need urgent care. A case report described a dog bite patient with complex leg wounds and exposed bone who needed surgical cleaning, debridement, and antibiotics, followed by reconstructive surgery five days later [3]. Toe and paw wounds from bites can look small on the surface and be much worse underneath.

If your dog has a broken nail instead of an ingrown one, the first aid steps are slightly different. See Dog Broken Nail: How to Stop Bleeding and When to Call the Vet for bleeding control, and Dog Broken Nail: What Should You Do? for the step-by-step home plan.

What You Can Safely Do at Home While You Wait

Home care is about comfort and hygiene, not fixing the nail. Do not cut, pull, or dig at the nail or the skin around it. Cutting an ingrown nail can make the tip sharper and drive it deeper. Pulling a loose nail can tear the quick and cause heavy bleeding.

Safe steps:

Muzzle your dog if there is any chance of a bite. Pain makes even gentle dogs snap.
Soak the paw in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes. A shallow bowl or a clean basin works well. This softens crusts and soothes the tissue.
Pat the paw dry with a clean towel. Do not rub hard.
If the toe is bleeding, apply firm pressure with a clean gauze pad or cloth for several minutes. If you do not have gauze, a clean cloth is fine.
Cover the paw with a clean sock or a light bandage if your dog will leave it alone. Change it if it gets wet or dirty.
Use an Elizabethan collar or a soft cone to stop licking. Licking keeps the area wet and pushes bacteria into the nail fold.
Keep your dog on short leash walks on clean, dry ground. Skip the dog park, hikes, and rough pavement.

Do not use human antibiotic ointments, hydrogen peroxide, or alcohol on the toe unless your veterinarian tells you to. Do not give aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or any human pain medication. Your veterinarian will calculate a safe dose from your dog's weight and health, and some common human drugs are toxic to dogs.

If your dog has a dew claw injury, the care is similar but the anatomy is different. Dew Claw Injuries in Dogs: First Aid, Vet Treatment, and Removal Decisions covers that specific situation.

What the Veterinarian Will Check and Test

Your veterinarian will start with a hands-on exam of the paw, the toe, and the nail fold. They will check for swelling, discharge, pain, and any foreign material. They will also watch your dog walk to see how the toe affects the gait.

From there, the plan depends on what they find:

Cytology. A sample from the claw fold can show bacteria, yeast, and inflammatory cells. One study compared three sampling methods (toothpick, tape preparation, and direct impression smear) and found that claw fold cytology can help identify what is growing around the nail [1]. This guides whether the problem is bacterial, yeast-related, or both.
Nail and nail bed exam. If the nail is loose or damaged, your vet may remove the damaged portion under local or general anesthesia. This is often the fastest way to relieve pain and let the nail bed heal.
Imaging. X-rays may be needed if a fracture, bone infection, or deep foreign body is suspected.
Skin workup. If your dog has itchy paws or a history of allergies, your vet may recommend allergy testing or a diet trial. Treating the underlying skin disease is the only way to stop repeat nail fold infections.
Surgery for severe or recurring cases. In people, ingrown nails that keep coming back are sometimes treated with a procedure that removes part of the nail and destroys the nail matrix so the nail does not grow back in the same shape. One study of 200 patients with grade II and III ingrown toenails found an average healing time of 12.5 days, with most people back to daily activities in about 5 days [4]. Veterinary surgeons use similar principles in dogs when a nail keeps causing problems, though the exact technique and timeline are set by your veterinarian for your dog.

If your dog is also showing signs of a urinary problem, such as frequent urination or straining, that is a separate issue. How Do I Know If My Dog Has A Uti explains the signs and what testing involves.

Prevention and Monitoring

Most ingrown and lost nails can be prevented with a simple routine.

Trim nails every 3 to 4 weeks. If you can hear nails clicking on hard floors, they are too long. Ask your vet or groomer to show you where the quick ends on your dog.
Use a grinder if your dog hates clippers. A slow, steady grind is easier to control than a quick cut, especially for dark nails.
Check all four paws weekly. Look between the toes, at the nail folds, and at the dew claws. Catching a curved nail early is much easier than treating an infected toe.
Keep paw hair trimmed. Long hair between the pads traps moisture and debris, which raises the risk of infection.
Dry the paws after walks in wet weather. Moisture in the claw fold is a setup for yeast and bacteria.
Manage allergies. If your dog licks the paws often, talk to your vet. Allergic dogs are more likely to develop claw fold infections [1].
Watch for repeat problems on the same toe. A toe that keeps getting infected may have a foreign body, a deformed nail, or a structural issue that needs a closer look.

If your dog has lost a nail and it grows back deformed, or if the same toe keeps causing trouble, ask your vet whether the nail should be removed permanently. That decision is made case by case, and it depends on the toe, your dog's lifestyle, and the underlying cause.

Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian

This article cannot tell you whether your dog's toe is infected, fractured, or just sore. Only a veterinarian can examine the paw, run tests, and decide on treatment. Individual cases need a veterinarian.

Contact your veterinarian the same day if:

The toe is swollen, red, hot, or has discharge.
Your dog is limping or holding the paw up.
The nail is loose, torn, or missing and the toe looks abnormal.
Your dog has allergies, diabetes, or a weakened immune system.
The problem has not improved after 24 to 48 hours of home soaking and rest.

Go to an emergency clinic now if:

Bleeding will not stop after 5 to 10 minutes of firm pressure.
The toe is bent, crushed, or you suspect a fracture.
Your dog is in severe pain, crying, or cannot stand.
There is a deep wound, a bite wound, or exposed tissue.
Redness or swelling is spreading up the leg.

Call your vet for a routine visit if:

You notice a nail curving toward the pad but the toe looks normal.
Your dog needs a nail trim and you are not comfortable doing it.
You want to set up a paw check schedule for a dog with allergies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cut an ingrown toenail off my dog at home?

No. Cutting an ingrown nail can make the tip sharper and push it deeper into the skin, and it can cut the quick and cause heavy bleeding. Your veterinarian can trim or remove the nail safely, often with local numbing or sedation.

Will a lost toenail grow back on its own?

Often yes, if the nail bed and the nail matrix are not badly damaged. The new nail may take weeks to months to grow in, and it may come back thinner or misshapen. Your veterinarian can check the toe and tell you what to expect.

How do I stop my dog from licking the toe?

Use an Elizabethan collar or a soft cone until the toe heals. Licking keeps the area wet, adds bacteria, and delays healing. If your dog is very determined, ask your vet about a paw bandage or a boot.

Is an ingrown toenail painful for dogs?

Yes. The nail presses into sensitive tissue, and even a mild ingrown nail can cause limping and paw licking. Pain can also make a dog snap when the paw is touched, so use caution and muzzle if needed.

When can my dog go back to normal walks?

Your veterinarian will tell you when it is safe, based on how the toe looks and what treatment was done. In general, keep walks short and on clean, dry ground until the toe is no longer swollen or painful. Rough ground, hiking, and dog parks should wait until your vet clears your dog.

References

Evaluation of cytology collection techniques and prevalence of Malassezia yeast and bacteria in claw folds of normal and allergic dogs. Veterinary dermatology, 2016.
Chronic occupational paronychia secondary to digital pilonidal sinus from dog grooming. Journal of occupational health, 2025.
Reverse Sural Flap for Reconstruction of a Distal Leg Soft-Tissue Defect Following Dog Bite Injury: A Case Report. Cureus, 2026.
Ship-shaped resection with nail matrix destruction: an improved and aesthetical surgical approach for grade II/III ingrown toenails. European journal of medical research, 2025.