Cat's ingrown nail... what to do???

16 years ago

This is a first... our cat, Jake, has an ingrown nail(grew too long and is curling into his pad). My wife and I have tried to pull it out only to listen to Jake's wails and we'd stop because it obviously hurts. My wife always clips his nails but she missed this one obviously. Are we at a point that we have to take him to the Vet to get it out or are there any "home solutions" that any can share that we can try? thanks to all that provide feedback!

If a Vet is the solution, any idea to what a typical charge is?

If there is another stream addressing this please point me to it to review. Thanks!

Bill

Featured Answer

Elly_NJ

16 years ago

Do not treat it yourself, as you do not know what it entails and you already got in trouble by neglecting it. Since it has pierced the pad and hurts the cat, it requires a vet. Neosporin is topical, and the cat can lick it off, so that doesn't do much.

Learn how to properly trim the nails so this doesn't happen again, and do it every month.

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Comments (11)

laurief_gw
16 years ago
Bill, I recommend calling your vet's office, explaining the situation, and asking for an estimate of cost to have the ingrown nail removed and the puncture wound treated. It shouldn't be too terribly costly, and it will probably include antibiotics.

If it hurts when you try to remove the claw, just imagine how uncomfortable poor Jake must be trying to walk on it. Please take him to your vet ASAP so he doesn't have to hurt anymore.

Laurie
bbaird
16 years ago
You have to go to a vet ASAP. I didn't clip my cat's claws the first 2 years I had her (even though they were long and sharp--my little velociraptor). After I started clipping her nails, the ingrown thing started. When her claws were sharp, she could pull off the old sheaths when she used her scratching post (actually, my good -- formerly good-- rug).

With her claws clipped, she can't pull off the sheaths. I won't clip her dewclaws anymore for that reason.

Vet costs vary. Of course, if the claw is really embedded in the pad, surgery would be necessary. It's probably not that dire. Get to the vet, though.
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I have four polydactyls. I know exactly what you're talking about. That little, recessed claw tucked down between the primary and secondary pads can be a real pain, both for them and for me. Not only will it not extend so that I can reach it easily with my clipper, but it also seems to be much more sensitive to touch than the other claws. This makes my polys extremely uncooperative when I try to get those little hidden daggers clipped. And spedigrees is right. Because the hidden claws don't come into contact with the ground, they don't wear down, and they can quickly grow and circle back into the pad. Like I said, they're a pain. It sounds like your handsome boy may have a bone infection from the ingrown claw. I would think that a normal soft tissue infection would have resolved by now, unless it's caused by a drug-resistant bacteria. Hopefully the vet will be able to find an antibiotic that will effectively kill the pathogen. Has the wound been swabbed and cultured to identify exactly which pathogen is present? Laurie
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jannie
16 years ago
I learned to trim cats' nails with a human nail clipper. This skill has saved much pain and worry.
dobesrule
16 years ago
I would just go ahead and clip it. The ingrown part of the nail normally comes out very easily after that. If it was ingrown very far or if the puncture looks puss filled after the nail comes out then I would take kitty to the vet for a round of auntibiotics. Otherwise just keep it clean and maybe a little neosporin.

Lisa
annzgw
16 years ago
Definitely have it seen. My dog just spent 2 nights in the ER due to a sore between his toes that we weren't aware of. He ended up with a bacterial infection thruout his system and very high fever.
quasifish
16 years ago
Well Bill, what did you do? How is the kitty?

I am with Lisa on this one, I would probably try to clip it and clean it out a couple times a day with a Betadyne solution- as long as the cat isn't running a fever of any sort.

Q
mokanee
16 years ago
Take your cat to the vet! I had to have this done about 3-1/2 months ago to one of mine. She was walking normally so I never thought anything was wrong until she held her paw a certain way and I saw something shiny where there shouldn't have been. Turns out she had 2 claws that were deeply ingrown into her pads. The vet got them both out in about 7-8 minutes. There was (apparently)LOTS of bleeding, but the vet has stuff to make it stop. Kitty came home with me that day and I have been clipping faithfully ever since. Please take Jake to the vet! It cost about $30 I think.
Elly_NJ
16 years ago
quasifish, if Bill never had a cat before and isn't savvy about cutting claws, how will he know if the cat has a fever?
acorn
16 years ago
I would take my cat to the vet. This happened with a dog of mine the vet got the nail out of the pad and treated him with antibodics. I faithfully clip the dog nails every other month so no dog of mine will have that happen again. This is new so I will go check my cats feet. Thanks.
Please take Jake to the vet.
HU-213245608
2 years ago
how long do you need to keep a outdoor cat in for after this only out of the vets has a infect and needs 2 be bathed in salt an water but 4got to ask them he a old cat

Cat's ingrown nail... what to do???

Elly_NJ

Comments (11)

laurief_gw

bbaird

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