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Old February 20th, 2006, 04:49 PM
Fletch's Mom Fletch's Mom is offline
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Dog eats toenails - Answered by Dr. Slome

OK, this has been going on for a while and I've just never asked anyone so thought I'd ask here. Didn't see any threads relating to this specifically. So, here goes:

When I trim my dog's toenails, she gets a real kick out of eating all the little pieces that have been lopped off. Yes, it's gross but it does make my clean up easier.

Does anyone know if there's any medical issue with her doing that?
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Old February 20th, 2006, 06:57 PM
Prin Prin is offline
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Nope. No problems with it. My old doggy used to do it. It does make the clean up easier.
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Old February 21st, 2006, 04:04 PM
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Hunter's_owner Hunter's_owner is offline
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My brother's dog does this as well, so whenever I have to cut Hunter's nails, I do it around her so that she can clean them up for me ...
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Old February 22nd, 2006, 12:13 PM
Fletch's Mom Fletch's Mom is offline
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Thanks for your responses!

Thanks for your responses. Our dogs do the strangest things. At least this one isn't detrimental to her health. Good to know!
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Old February 27th, 2006, 04:20 PM
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petdr petdr is offline
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There is no medical condition associated and we see this quite frequently in our office. It is almost as though there is a strange fascination that they have. It is possible that there may be an inherent sense of preservation to hide all evidence of their being there as a form of self preservation from any potential predator.

Nails are really just a poorly digestable form of protein so it cannot harm them. I can give another example of this in the veterinary office situation: sometimes when cleaning a dog’s smelly ear, there is a strange fascination for the dog to actually sniff and lick or even try and eat the cotton balls that have just recently been used to clean their ears in the first place.

That’s my 2 cents worth.


Martin Slome DVM
Centre Street Animal Hospital
7700 Bathurst Street Units 40-42
Thornhill, Ont.
L4J 7Y3
Tel. (905) 771-9855
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Old March 1st, 2006, 01:22 PM
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Sadie's Mom Sadie's Mom is offline
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^^^Ew....hahaha.

Sadie always tries to lick the rag when I wipe her eye discharge.
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Old March 1st, 2006, 06:11 PM
Prin Prin is offline
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Yeah, Jemma tries to lick the ear guck we get out. I let her smell it because of that fascination, but I don't let her at it long enough to lick...
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Old April 20th, 2006, 03:17 AM
dolphinmed dolphinmed is offline
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hello,

my yorkie will eat my bigger dogs toe clippings, but the one being clipped doesnt seem to want to eat their own. my yorkie will fight them if she thinks they want their clippings...sounds like a toe fetchish to me....lol
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Old March 12th, 2010, 10:48 PM
DarkenedAngel DarkenedAngel is offline
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Chewing them off...

What about dogs chewing them off.. My poodle, Laci, Chews her toenails off and eats them. Is that at all normal? And of the more concerning, is it okay for her to, and if not how do I stop it... if there is a way..?
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