Can Your Dog Get Nail Fungus? What You Need To Know

Dogs are man’s best friend! There is no doubt about the loyalty, care, and protection a dog gives its owner.

However, can we truly say we do the same for them in return?

Are we giving our dog the love and attention they deserve or are we preoccupied with other things in our lives and ignoring their needs?

Being a pet owner comes with its fair share of responsibilities. 

It involves a lot more hard work than just cuddling with your pet when you have free time. 

When you bring in a dog into your home, you are signing up for becoming responsible for it and not just with your pet in the park.

You are bringing in a new family member to your home and you need to prioritize them just like one.

This includes time-consuming duties like dog training, feeding, grooming and walking them regularly.

It also includes taking care of them in sickness and in health and always doing your best to ensure they stay healthy and happy.

Just like a baby, your pet is a real living thing so you must devote your time and attention to taking care of them at all times.

If you’re questioning “can dogs get nail fungus?”, then the answer to that is yes.

Just like humans, dogs are also susceptible to many infections which can be harmful to them.

Dog nail fungus is a disease to watch out for.

What Causes Dog Nail Fungus?

1. Exposure To Fungal Spores

There are plenty of different things that can cause a dog nail fungus.

Sometimes, it may happen because you took your dog out for a stroll in an area with damp conditions.

Places like lakes and streams can prove to be dangerous as they can expose your dogs to fungal spores.

A dog can develop nail fungus when they inhale these fungal spores.

After this, it will be easy for the nail fungus to develop if your dog’s paws are constantly wet.

This is especially the case for dogs that are left outdoors for longer time intervals or sleep outside in a dog house.

They are definitely at a higher risk as nail fungus grows and spreads rapidly in damp conditions.

So make sure to keep your dog’s paws dry and clean and keep them indoors if you suspect something.

2. Diet & How You Care For Your Pet

Another thing you need to take care of is the diet and hygiene of your dog.

These factors play a crucial role in minimizing the risk of developing nail fungus in dogs.

If you monitor your dog’s diet carefully and ensure they are getting all the nutrition they need, the risks can be minimized.

They will have a stronger immune system and will be less vulnerable to such infections.

Moreover, you should also keep your dog’s nails and hair near their nails trimmed at all times.

This is to make sure your dog’s nails will stay drier and cleaner.

If they don’t have long hair which always stays wet around their nails, they will be at a lower risk of getting nail fungus.

Symptoms Of Nail Fungus In Dogs

It’s every pet owner’s worst nightmare to see their dog suffer in pain.

The worst part is they can’t even speak to tell you exactly what’s wrong with them.

This is why it is your responsibility to stay alert and look out for these symptoms. If you detect a health problem early on, you can stop the disease from getting worse.

The problem with dog nail fungus is that it is difficult to detect.

Your dog will not show any obvious physical signs of being in pain if they have developed dog nail fungus.

One primary behavior that you can notice in your dog is if they constantly lick or chew their nails.

Dogs have this habit of licking or chewing their nails when their nails are itchy.

They do this to ease them from the irritation caused by the fungal infection.

Another symptom of dog nail fungus is that the dog’s nails have become discolored or brittle.

However, discolored or brittle nails can also be an indicator of other problems.

This is why if your dog’s nails look visibly different or yellow then we suggest you get them checked out by a veterinarian.

The vet will be able to make a proper diagnosis of the problem.

How Do You Treat Dog Nail Fungus?

The first important thing to note here is not to start any treatment on your own.

It is our sincere advice that you go to a veterinarian to find out exactly how severe the infection is.

They will be able to inform you about the extent of the problem and then suggest a proper treatment plan.

Vets regularly prescribe an effective antifungal cream to put on your dog’s nails to treat the fungus.

You should put this at least once or twice every day to cure the problem quickly.

The main challenge is to make sure the cream stays on their nails long enough for it to treat the nail fungus.

Dogs usually just lick off the cream right away because their nails are itchy.

An Elizabethan collar can be useful in a situation like this when you want to stop the dog from licking their nails.

How To Prevent Dog Nail Fungus From Coming Back

Overall, the best way to prevent the infection from coming back is to keep your dog clean and dry.

For this reason, you must bathe your dog on a regular basis.

You must also keep their nails trimmed.

Another precaution you can take is to dry your dog’s nails whenever you get back home after a walk in damp conditions.

Why Does My Dog Chew Its Nails?

Your dog chews his nails because he has nail fungus!

Unfortunately, this makes their nails extremely itchy, just like it does when humans get athlete’s foot or ringworm.

If your dog is constantly chewing his nails, we recommend bringing him to the vet as soon as possible!

Last Few Words

We hope this article has addressed all your queries about dog nail fungus.

You will be in a better position to safeguard the health of your dog now that you are aware of what causes dog nail fungus, the symptoms of it and how to treat it.

So, follow these simple tips and enjoy your time with your healthy happy dog!