GotoAID Cats - Ingrown Nails

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Ingrown Nails

Ingrown nails are uncommon on most pets if they are active enough. If your pet plays around enough and is groomed regularly it is less likely that it will encounter an ingrown nail. If the nail is not trimmed it can split and become injured. Any overgrown fur can hide an ingrown nail and then it will become a problem. Simple first aid can take care of an ingrown nail however they are very painful and may require veterinarian assistance to treat.

Symptoms

Pain	Limping
Bleeding	Clicking Sounds when Walking
Licking Paws

Steps

Make sure to restrain your cat or preferably have someone restrain your cat while you treat the ingrown nails

You may want to muzzle your cat to prevent her from biting you while you help her

Use a pet nail trimmer and cut the claw just above where it jabs into the pad leaving enough to grasp it later

Gently grasp the cut off piece of exposed nail protruding from the pad with your fingers or a blunt tipped tweezer

Slowly and gently pull out the part of the nail that's stuck in the pad

If the pad bleeds wash the paw with Betadine Skin Cleanser and warm water to keep the wound clean and prevent infection

You will need to trim the rest of the overlong nail a little at a time every few days by just cutting the tip

If there is swelling and inflammation of the pad, soak the affected foot in warm water with 2 tablespoons of Betadine

If there is continued limping with fever or pus then consult your vet immediately as there is probably an infection

Warnings

Be prepared for your cat to flinch as moving of the nail will hurt

Make sure your cat does not chew or bite the affected area as it could make it worse

Make sure to routinely trim your cat's nails to prevent ingrown nails in the future

Tips

Make sure to avoid hitting the "quick" which is the reddish pink miniature claw inside transparent or pink nails

Cutting the "quick" is EXTREMELY painful and will make the nail bleed

With black nails cut a little bit off the end of the nail once or twice a week

The Betadine solution should be 0.01% - 0.1% otherwise you will have to dilute the Betadine (consult your vet)

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Suggestions

Broken Nail

Nail Bed Infections

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