Pets
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Dogs biting toenails.
Our terrier is eight months old, and we take him to the vet on a regular basis to get checked out and ensure that everything is running smoothly. While he's there the vet clips the dog's toenails, but I've noticed lately that when Bubba is scratching himself near his face he seems to get distracted by his paws... Then they go into his mouth, and he proceeds to chew his nails! The nails on his back paws are jagged and much shorter than his front ones. I've never seen a dog do this. Wondering if anyone else has seen this happen. I will be bringing it up with my vet at our next appointment, but I figured this board was worth a shot. TIA!
Re: Dogs biting toenails.
I'd start at the groomers. Get all his nails trimmed (it could be they're too long and they're uncomfortable for him). Try having a groomer grind the back nails so they are smooth and even.
A good groomer might be able to help pinpoint the issue. If a nail trim doesn't help, I'd check with your vet.
ETA: FWIW, we usually take our dogs for a nail trim every 4-6 weeks.
It could be allergy related as well. What are you feeding him?
My sister's shiba inu will chew her nails/paw pads if she is given the wrong type of food.
My first thought was that maybe he has itchy paws. Paws are a common area of irritation for allergies, and allergies are very common in many breeds of terrier. Paw chewing can also sometimes be behavioral, but it often gets its start with some type of irritation, like an allergy.
I have a cairn terrier with severe food and environmental allergies. When we adopted him, he actually had a huge lick granuloma on his paw that took a long time to heal. We still have some trouble with obsessive paw chewing when his enviro allergies flare up, but it's better than it was when he was eating low-quality food.
"The hardest thing is to live richly in the present without letting it be tainted out of fear for the future or regret for the past." - Sylvia Plath
I am so glad you posted this. Our 40lb mixed breed does this...and I have never seen another dog do this. I do trim her nails, but honestly, I probably leave them a little long when I cut because I am always petrified I will cut too short as she has completely black nails.
I should add Penny has always done this and she is on a good dry food, TOTW Pacific Stream.
You will forever be my best friend. I can almost feel our hugs. I will ensure everyone will know (now and in the future) what a genuine, kind, loving person you were...I already miss your laughter and our daily conversations. I love you, Samantha. May 20, 1983- February 20, 2012