If you have a furry friend at home, no matter the breed, you may be dealing with certain issues that you never anticipated, such as an ingrown toenail on your dog. While humans can easily get ingrown toenails that cause irritation and discomfort, dogs can experience something similar to that. If it’s something your dog has, you need to know what to do to take care of it.
You may also wonder if you’re going to pay a large sum of money to a veterinarian to treat the problem. Continue reading to learn more about dealing with ingrown dog nails and how to lower your vet bill.
How Does a Dog Get an Ingrown Toenail?
Ingrown nails often develop when a dog doesn’t get groomed often enough. It doesn’t mean that you’re slacking when it comes to taking care of your four-legged friend. Your dog may be scared to get its nails clips, ultimately leading to whining, growling, and lots of movement that can make it difficult for your pet to get their nails trimmed. The fear of getting their nails trimmed might even be part of their personality since some dogs are naturally more anxious than others.
For example, if you have a pug, your dog might not like visits to the groomer. It’s common for the average pug personality to feel anxious. While it’s common, not all pugs dislike grooming services. It just depends on the personality of your pet. In some cases, ingrown toenails can develop due to a dog’s age. Senior dogs have a greater risk of developing an ingrown toenail than puppies and other younger dogs, even if they get their toenails trimmed regularly.
What to Do When Your Dog Has an Ingrown Toenail
In grown toenail on dog, it’s best to take it to the veterinarian for treatment. The veterinarian may need to trim the toenails, remove the ingrown toenail, and provide an antibiotic for your pet to take. The antibiotic helps prevent an infection from developing when that ingrown toenail gets removed. Of course, the exact steps taken by the vet will vary and depend primarily on the severity of the ingrown toenail.
Don’t Wait Until the Problem Gets Worse
Before you get to the vet, you can ease your dog’s pain by applying antiseptic ointment to the area. Try to keep your dog from running around too much because that could lead to more inflammation and irritation. Make sure you’re not waiting too long to reach out for help. The ingrown toenail will only continue to get worse with time when it goes untreated.
How to Lower Vet Bill and Save While Keeping Your Dog Healthy
While you know that the best method of treatment for an ingrown toenail in dogs involves taking the animal to the veterinarian, you’re probably hoping to avoid paying too much for the visit.
The easiest way to lower your vet bill is to take your dog to the groomer on a routine basis. You’ll need to have your dog’s toenails trimmed every few weeks. Even if your dog doesn’t like getting its nails trimmed, it’s the easiest way to avoid costly vet bills while keeping your four-legged friend in good shape.
Pop-up Clinics are an Option
Although making sure your dog gets its nails trimmed is the best way to avoid costly vet bills because you can keep the dog from ending up with an ingrown toenail, there are a few other ways to save money on any treatment at the veterinarian’s office. When you need to take the dog to the vet for an ingrown toenail or any other health issue, visit a pop-up clinic. These clinics often charge much less for services provided to pets. If you live on a fixed income or have a low income, programs are often available in different cities and states to make it affordable for pet owners to afford veterinary treatment.
Call Around
Don’t forget to make comparisons. Some veterinarians will charge more for the same services. If you don’t mind calling around to ask a few questions, you can find out which veterinarians can provide treatment at a decent cost. It pays to look around and see what you can find because you could end up with the ideal veterinarian who can take good care of your pet without charging you a fortune.
Reduce Vet Bills and Get Treatment for Your Dog When Needed
In grown toenail on dog, seek treatment for it as soon as possible. It’s only going to get worse and continue causing your pet a lot of pain. You don’t want that to happen. While you’ll likely need a veterinarian to help your pet, don’t stress over the cost because there are several ways to save money.
You can reduce vet bills by comparing quotes from different veterinarians and even attending a pop-up clinic. You’ll also have a better chance of preventing ingrown toenails from forming when taking your dog to the groomer for a trim every few weeks. Don’t forget to give your favorite doggy the best Dog Treats when their ingrown toenail has been removed and is healing. They will need some extra love and care during the healing stage.
