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Three weeks ago, Angus ripped his thumbnail. The quick at the base was exposed. Didn't seem to really bother him that much, but took him in. To my great shock, the recommendation was surgery under general anesthesia to cut the nail all the way back and cauterize. This was sung to the tune of $460.
The surgery was pretty hard on him. He was fine when I took him in, but afterwards walked on three legs for about four days. This does not make you feel so much like you did a great thing for him.
The nail has just in the last several days gotten long enough to consider clipping. I was thinking I would do it this weekend.
Last night we were out playing fetch. As a lot of you know, Angus is very high-impact when it comes to this (or any other) activity. It was cooler last night so he was really ripping around like a madman.
Well, guess what? Yep, the nail has torn away from the quick AGAIN.
I am really hesitant to put him through that surgery again. It was really tough on him. Not to mention that Kevin has been out of work since last December, and I don't know when he will get a job.
OTOH, I have read some very frightening things about nail bed infections.
I want to do what is best for Angus. I would also like to do the lowest-impact thing we can do without jeopardizing his health. I am all over the board about what I should do. I really think $460 was gouging for taking a nail off. But it's not just the money...it's the effect that it had on Angus, too.
Is there not some way to sterilize and seal it? I am tempted to get some Betadine and try sealing it with EMT gel, keeping him quiet for a few days, and seeing what happens. BUT, Lord knows I don't want to under-treat him and pay the price later.
Does anyone have any advice for me? I would really appreciate it. I have a call in to the vet...I would like to talk to him about all this before I bring Angus in. The receptionist that answered the phone is being a total PITA and insisting I make an appt, which I did for later today, but I tell you what: the vet BETTER call me this afternoon.