Cat Lost a Nail?

athomas · 05-21-2011, 05:12 PM

My youngest cat seems to have lost her middle claw on her left foot. I always keep their nails trimmed, so I have no idea how this happened. It doesn't look swollen or anything, doesn't appear to be bleeding, if it is, it's not bleeding much. Should I just keep an eye on it? She's still running around like crazy...so she seems okay.

catloverami · 05-21-2011, 05:33 PM

Just keep an eye on it. If it shows any sign of soreness rinse the foot in salt water, but if toe swells and is infected you should take her to the vet for an antibiotic.

athomas · 05-21-2011, 05:35 PM

Will do, thanks.

athomas · 05-25-2011, 11:05 AM

Still not seeing any signs of claw regrowth. Anything to worry about?

catloverami · 05-25-2011, 11:39 AM

It may not regrow. The claw is at the base and end of what is like a root or bulb on a plant. Once pulled it's gone.

athomas · 05-25-2011, 11:41 AM

Won't regrow? Never heard of that one before!

Ritzpg · 05-25-2011, 11:42 AM

When did your cat lose a nail--any idea?
Ritz lost a nail (battle with a plastic bag with a carton of eggs in it; the eggs lost), it bled a little, took about three to four weeks before the nail regrew long enough for me to see it.

athomas · 05-25-2011, 11:48 AM

Sometime around when I posted this thread, maybe the day before. She wasn't bleeding when I noticed it, I went to trim her nails and saw it missing. There's some scabbing at the bottom of the nail bed, at least there was, not sure about now... but it's been at least 5 days since she lost it, maybe more.

**marie73** · 05-25-2011, 03:30 PM

Gigi lost an entire nail a while back. It's grown back in quite ugly and big and deformed looking. ewwwww

Do keep an eye on it, though, to watch for infection (mostly from using the litterbox).

athomas · 05-25-2011, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marie73

Gigi lost an entire nail a while back. It's grown back in quite ugly and big and deformed looking. ewwwww

Do keep an eye on it, though, to watch for infection (mostly from using the litterbox).

Yeah I think the infection possibility stage is gone now. And with the obsessive cleaning of her feet and stuff after using the bathroom, I think she'll be fine. Is it possible that it'll never grow back?

05-21-2011, 05:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
athomas Tom Cat Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Eastern Shore MD, USA Posts: 309	Cat Lost a Nail? My youngest cat seems to have lost her middle claw on her left foot. I always keep their nails trimmed, so I have no idea how this happened. It doesn't look swollen or anything, doesn't appear to be bleeding, if it is, it's not bleeding much. Should I just keep an eye on it? She's still running around like crazy...so she seems okay.

05-25-2011, 03:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
marie73 Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 27,444	Gigi lost an entire nail a while back. It's grown back in quite ugly and big and deformed looking. ewwwww Do keep an eye on it, though, to watch for infection (mostly from using the litterbox). __________________ Marie, and Always in my heart, my lovely Cinderella, running free at the Bridge. http://www.catforum.com/forum/member...signature2.jpg

05-21-2011, 05:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
catloverami Cat Addict Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cobourg, Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,608	Just keep an eye on it. If it shows any sign of soreness rinse the foot in salt water, but if toe swells and is infected you should take her to the vet for an antibiotic.

05-21-2011, 05:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
athomas Tom Cat Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Eastern Shore MD, USA Posts: 309	Will do, thanks.

05-25-2011, 11:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
athomas Tom Cat Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Eastern Shore MD, USA Posts: 309	Still not seeing any signs of claw regrowth. Anything to worry about?

05-25-2011, 11:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
catloverami Cat Addict Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cobourg, Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,608	It may not regrow. The claw is at the base and end of what is like a root or bulb on a plant. Once pulled it's gone.

05-25-2011, 11:41 AM	#6 (permalink)
athomas Tom Cat Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Eastern Shore MD, USA Posts: 309	Won't regrow? Never heard of that one before!

05-25-2011, 11:42 AM	#7 (permalink)
Ritzpg Tom Cat Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: near Washington, DC Posts: 357	When did your cat lose a nail--any idea? Ritz lost a nail (battle with a plastic bag with a carton of eggs in it; the eggs lost), it bled a little, took about three to four weeks before the nail regrew long enough for me to see it.

05-25-2011, 11:48 AM	#8 (permalink)
athomas Tom Cat Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Eastern Shore MD, USA Posts: 309	Sometime around when I posted this thread, maybe the day before. She wasn't bleeding when I noticed it, I went to trim her nails and saw it missing. There's some scabbing at the bottom of the nail bed, at least there was, not sure about now... but it's been at least 5 days since she lost it, maybe more.

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