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  1. #1
    Real Retriever fidgetyknees's Avatar
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    Should I be concerned?

    My 9 1/2 year old injured herself a few weeks back. Front right leg but I couldn't figure out whether it was shoulder or foot. I didn't take her into the vet as I wanted to give it a few days to try heal up on it's own, which it did.
    A week later while cutting dogs nails I noticed her one dew claw nail was a whole lot larger and more textured and rough on the outside (whole nail not part of it). I am thinking I should get her in and get it checked out even though she is acting just fine, no limping or anything.

    Anybody experienced weird nail problems like this?

  2. #2
    Real Retriever Kain's Mommy's Avatar
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    No experience! But hoping its nothing serious!
    Katie and Kain
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  3. #3
    Best Friend Retriever Snowco Labradors's Avatar
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    Not really sure what you are describing. Can you post a pic of both dews for comparison?

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  5. #4
    Real Retriever 3ChocMom's Avatar
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    Something similar happened to Luke. His dewclaw split, I'm not sure how. He never limped or anything, but I do think it bothered him when it first happened because he would lick it a lot. Anyway, after it healed, it was larger than normal and had a weird texture. Made it hard to clip, I had to have my groomer start dremeling to keep it short. It stayed that way, never went back to normal. Did your dog have an injury to that nail recently?

  6. #5
    Senior Dog janedoe's Avatar
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    One of Argos is huge! It started getting that way as he got older. I use an extra large clippers on him.

    Nails are weird. I personally would get it looked at but unless it was split, I wouldn't worry too much.

  7. #6
    Puppy Kellsie's mom's Avatar
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    Maybe she actually injured her dew claw and not her leg and you didn't realize it?

    My sister's lab has a nail condition. Not sure it is the same issue as you describe. His nails periodically will fall out. I know there is a name for this type of condition but I cannot recall what it is. Nothing you can do for it. His nails used to split very easily and then they would get larger. Sometimes they would fall out, but other times the size was just off. It does not bother her dog.

    If she seems OK just keep an eye on it and if it seems to bother her or get worse, I would see the vet.

  8. #7
    Real Retriever BogeyBaby's Avatar
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    Years ago I noticed Chico's right dew claw was split and actually stopped growing. It never grew again. I showed it to the vet and they were not concerned.

    Fast forward a few years and Chico seems to have injured his right front elbow. Several visits to the vet to drain the swelling in the joint and we were finally referred to an orthopedic specialist. Who diagnosed cancer. Chico had his leg amputated and went through over a year of chemo only to develop kidney failure which made us have to put him down.

    I feel that even what you might see as a minor injury ought to be looked at thoroughly.

  9. #8
    Real Retriever fidgetyknees's Avatar
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    Bad Nail
    -badnail-jpg

    Good Nail
    -goodnail-jpg

    Here you go - images, good description would be to compare the nail to photographs, the one is Matt (rough and larger) and the other is shiny.

    I don't think it was injured unless she jammed it, her shoulder/wrist or maybe a jammed nail got injured after playing her normal wild games with my younger dog .... did not hear a yelp or anything, just started off as a limp on the morning walk and progressed to a bad limp and then a few days later after rest she was fine again.

 



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