Superb Dog EditorAs a devoted pet owner, you want to do everything you can to care for your four-legged friends. Part of animal care is keeping an eye on changes to a dog’s eyes, fur, or nails that may be signs of more severe issues, especially if the dog’s nail turned black.
What to Do If Your Dog’s Nails Change Color
Have your dog’s nails turned black? Wondering what you should do? Suddenly noticing your dog’s nails have turned black may cause some concern. Are black or discolored dog nails a sign of possibly harmful conditions?
Discoloration of a dog’s nail may be a perfectly natural occurrence, or a sign of disease. Here are some of the common reasons a dog’s nail turns black or discolored and what this may mean for your dog’s health.
Why Has a Dog Nail Turned Black?
There are several reasons why a dog’s nails might become discolored, turning black, white, red, or brown. It’s always important to address any concerns for your dog’s health and avoid dismissing more minor symptoms.
Here are some of the common reasons your dog’s nails are turning black or discolored:
- Fungal, Bacterial, or Yeast Infection
- Trauma
- Allergies & Aging
- Detached Nail
- Autoimmune Disease
- Growth or Tumor
Fungal, Bacterial, or Yeast Infections
A number of different organisms can cause fungal, bacterial, and yeast infections in dog nails. The condition may be caused by your dog’s active lifestyle and picked up from places with moist soil, such as dog parks or your backyard.
Black, white, or brown discoloration in your dog’s nails can be a sign of a fungal or bacterial infection.
Symptoms of a fungal infection in a dog’s nails include:
- Itchiness or tenderness
- Favoring one leg
- Swelling at the base of the nail
- Nail appearing distorted or misshapen
- Dark spots or discolored nails
- Dog chewing or licking the infected area
A fungal or bacterial infection found in a dog’s nails, when caught early, can be contained to one or two nails. If left untreated, a fungal infection may spread to other nails, causing more serious conditions.
If the dog nail is turning red or brown, this may be a sign of yeast infection.
Nail Trauma
Just like human nails, dog nails can become bruised or discolored due to trauma. If they’ve been in a tussle at the park or jumped a little too hard while chasing the ball, your dog may have sustained a minor injury to their nails.
While a dog nail turned black is common, nail trauma may also cause the nail to turn red due to an accumulation of blood.
While this isn’t a significant cause for concern, remember to watch for any other behavioral changes that may indicate more serious issues such as sprained or fractured bones.
A dog nail separated from the quick can cause significant discomfort to your dog and should be examined and addressed, though it can often heal on its own.
If your dog has a dewclaw injury (the dewclaw is the nail located higher up the side of the leg on some dogs), that can cause the nail to turn black as well.
Allergies and Aging
Some dogs naturally have different colored nails. Different colored nails in dogs occur from natural pigmentation, which can differ among dogs even of the same breed.
In fact, some puppies may start out with white nails (or a mix of white, black, or beige) that slowly turn black or darker as they age. A stripe in nail pigmentation can also be a regular occurrence due to genetics.
As dogs age, their nails may thicken and change to a hardened texture. This change may also come with a change in color – from black or white to red or brown.
If dogs have allergies to their environment, this may cause discoloration to their nails. Allergies can also cause the appearance of tints of red or brown in the nail. Dogs with allergies or having allergy-related flare-ups are also more likely to get a yeast infection in their nails.
Nail discoloration due to allergies will most likely not require medical treatment. However, it’s always a good idea to get the opinion of your veterinarian!
Detached Nail
Another reason your dog’s nail may be turning black or discolored could be that the nail is falling off. If the nail is dead, it can become semi-detached and turn black before detaching entirely from the paw. This detaching is a natural process and likely not a sign of more severe problems.
Autoimmune Disease
A less common reason your dog’s nail may be turning black is an autoimmune disease. Discolored nails can be a sign of symmetrical lupoid onychodystrophy. This disease, otherwise known as SLO, is more common in breeds such as german shepherds, greyhounds, and labradors.
Growth or Tumor
Although it’s usually a symptom of one of the more common, less harmful concerns, discoloration of a dog’s nail can also be a sign of a growth or tumor.
Growths near the nail bed can cause inflammation or infection of the nail, causing it to appear black or discolored. But don’t get too worried – a lump or mass in the paw does not mean the worst. A growth can be caused by benign cells.
A lump may also be a result of trauma or an infection somewhere else in the paw. If you suspect your dog has a growth or tumor, see your vet right away. Your vet will determine if there is a foreign object under the skin causing the infection or bump.
How to Treat a Dog’s Discolored Nails Caused by Infection
Vets can easily treat a fungal infection in dog nails when tended to early. Your vet may recommend cutting the nails and administering antifungal therapy treatment. Treatment will likely include a topical antifungal cream to treat the infection.
In the case of bacterial infections, your vet may prescribe topical antibiotics. Depending on the severity of the condition, they may also need oral antibiotics.
Unfortunately, topical treatments are only effective if your dog can refrain from licking the creams and ointments. Because of this, many dog owners also choose to add a cone collar to keep them away from the healing infection.
If topical treatments and regular grooming can’t cure the infection in the dog’s nails, the vet may suggest the more extreme measure of surgical removal. This surgery is a somewhat minor procedure that involves removing the nail completely to drain and eliminate the infection.
How to Prevent Dog Nails From Turning Black
It’s vital for dog owners to maintain a strict hygiene and care level concerning their dog’s nails. Regular nail care (clipping or grinding), cleaning after playing outside, and proper grooming helps keep fungal infections at bay.
Careful and regular nail trimming is one of the best ways to help prevent fungal and bacterial infections in your dog’s nails.
Trimming your dog’s nails can be tricky. Depending on the breed and how much time has passed between clippings, cutting of the interior vein (the “quick”) and bleeding may occur. To avoid and prevent this, clip dog nails regularly, a little bit each time. Eventually, the vein will recede, making it easier and safer to trim the nails.
General nail health can also be helped with fish oil for dogs. Ask your vet if they think a fish oil supplement would benefit your dog.
Final Thoughts
While it’s hard to spot problems in dogs sometimes, it’s essential to be vigilant and watch for changes in appearance or behavior.
If a dog’s nails turned black, it might not necessarily be a symptom of anything too severe. However, it’s still necessary to be sure. Even minor signs like discolored nails can be signs of more severe symptoms or health concerns.
If it seems like something is causing your dog pain or discomfort, it’s essential to visit your vet and have them assess any potential issues. Your vet will help you determine what is causing your dog’s nails to turn black and whether it is a sign of something that requires medical treatment.
Keeping your dog safe and healthy means more time spent together enjoying the special bond.
