Why Does My Dog Bite Their Nails and How Do I Make Them Stop?

Ever since my Basenji was a puppy, she has always chewed her nails. I was not surprised then, since she also chewed on metal when her teeth were coming in. I just thought it was a quirk of hers that made nail grooming easier. She likes her nails short and clean and she was doing the work for me. She doesn't like wet weather and I usually catch my dog chewing her nails the most after a quick romp in the rain. The only other dog I've ever heard of chewing their own nails was my grandmother's German Shepard, who may have had other reasons for her nail biting. Although rarely heard of, some people are worried when they find their dogs chewing their nails. So what makes a dog bite their nails?

Dog Nail Biting Reason #1: Allergies
Dogs don't react to allergies the way humans do. While we have watery eyes and stuffy noses, they can chew the area affected or break out in hives. Their allergies can come from various factors. It could be from something outside such as bug bites or an allergy to certain plants. Sometimes it can come from the detergent used to wash their bedding in, various cleaning products, and room freshening sprays. Their food may also be a culprit. Even the dog shampoo you use can cause an allergic reaction. The easiest way to tell if there is an allergic reaction is if you see your dog chewing not only their nails, but the pads of their feet. While this may sound alarming, there are steps you can take to combat allergic reactions. A trip to the veterinarian for an allergy screening will be able to tell you what the dog is allergic to. You may have to switch to a hypo allergenic food, use a sensitive skin shampoo such as puppy shampoo, or use a detergent without perfumes or other chemicals when washing their beds. Once these switches have been implemented, you should see your dog not chewing their nails and paws anymore.

Dog Nail Biting Reason #2: Infection
If your dog's allergy screening comes back negative, there could be another underlying problem that your veterinarian should test for. There could be a foot infection that is causing your dog to chew their nails. Infections on a dog's feet are usually common in humid areas and if your dog has long hair on their feet. Your veterinarian will prescribe something to kill the infection and over time your dog should overcome their nail chewing habit.

Dog Nail Biting Reason #3: Anxiety
If your dog comes back from the veterinarian with no sign of allergies or infection and is still chewing their nails, then it could be anxiety. There are various forms of anxiety in dogs, just like humans. Sometimes they will have separation anxiety when you or someone in the house leaves for an extended period of time. Some dogs do not like storms or firecrackers. Usually it is an environmental factor that can trigger a dog's anxiety and lead to them biting their nails. The best thing to do is to distract them if possible. If you see your dog chewing their nails, gently remind them (yelling will only increase the anxiety) and offer a toy or something to chew on. Even sitting them down and brushing them until they relax will help.

Dog Nail Biting Reason #4: Boredom
Sometimes a dog is just bored, which will lead them to chew their nails. If you have a high energy dog that requires lots of playtime and many walks during the day and their need for exercise is not met, they may turn to biting their nails. This is the easiest problem to combat since boredom in dogs is easily remedied. Take your dog for an extra walk during the day to tire them out. Much like with anxiety, if you catch your dog in the act of nail biting, offer a toy or something to chew. Rawhides are good to have on hand and you can always add a little peanut butter to them to hold their attention longer. Any other chew toy like a Nylabone or a Kong will do well also. The more you tire your dog out with activities, the less likely the dog will chew their nails.

Dogs chewing their own nails should be checked out by a veterinarian first to rule out any medical problems. But if veterinarians rule out any problems, you can remedy a dog's nail biting habit by yourself. And sometimes it can just be a quirk, like my little dog has.

Sources:
http://www.zootoo.com/answers/question_whydosomedogsbitetheirnails
http://www.wral.com/lifestyles/pets/blogpost/1363345