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February 23, 2009

Despite Tom’s clever toenail cast made from superglue and paper towel, Ginko is still suffering from his badly broken toenail from last week. It’s snapped about halfway up and hanging there at a 70% angle, still somewhat attached. Poor buddy. And, when Ginko is in pain, he’s a very clingy boy. We’ve taken to calling him Barnacle Bill because he is STUCK to one of us at all times.

I’m still impaled inside and out with germs. Sadly, even though I was vigilant battling germs in the house with the Lysol, Tom is now also quite sick. We’re a sorry pair. Add to that a Ginko in pain, and it’s no wonder Lilly is fed up with all of us.

So, we spent the weekend in very close quarters, with a nearly 70-pound lap monkey matching us step for step. He wouldn’t go outside. He wouldn’t lay down. He couldn’t sleep. He fussed a lot, including for several hours one night. The only normal thing about him is that he will EAT. Ginko always eats.

We haven’t figured out why, but when Ginko hurts, he often moves backwards … like he’ll swing by to get close to you, then back up until he’s right up against you or even sitting on you. For example, I tried to make a nice nest in front of the fire to nap on Saturday, only to have him try to sit on my shoulder like a big black parrot. Later, I kid you not, he sat on my head.

Ginko breaks more toenails than any dog I know. It’s partly because he is not good at letting me trim them, but I’m also wondering if he doesn’t naturally have brittle nails or something because we had a battle royale recently over his toes, and I won. The one that broke was just NOT that long.

Eventually, the broken part will come off and the exposed nerve will retract back and heal over. Until then, we just have to console him the best we can.

Usually, he gets better bit by bit, then one day he forgets and goes tearing off to chase something, which pulls the broken part the rest of the way off.

He actually is a bit better today (Monday) because he is not trying to sit in my lap. He did go outside a couple times this morning without me having to pratically carry him, and he even slept for a while in my office while I tried to work.

He’s currently laying quietly next to me, so that’s a good sign. He won’t snuggle in bed or on the couch because putting weight on the foot on a soft surface, bends in the nail in a bad way.

So, if this afternoon’s scheduled germ-recovery nap is to go well, I’ll have to sleep on the floor. Here’s hoping we all feel better soon. This is getting ridiculous!

About the Author Roxanne Hawn

Trained as a traditional journalist and based in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, USA, I'm a full-time freelance writer for magazines, websites, and private clients. My areas of specialty include everything in the lifestyles arena, including health and home, personal finance and other consumer interests, relationships and trends, people and business profiles ... and, of course, all things pet related.

I don't just love dogs. I need them in my life. Seriously.

  1. If it’s still bothering him, I’s soak in epsom salts and open everything up. These things tend to swell if wrapped up.

  2. Hey, Brenda – we tried that the other day with little luck. Maybe we were premature to stabilize the nail with the little “cast,” but now it’s inside this hardened little pocket of paper towel.

  3. Can you trim the broken part off? I used to to that with a Borzoi who broke a nail every year or so. The quick would toughen up in a few hours and he’d be good as new.

  4. Yep. February (so far) is a real bummer around here.

    It is definitely possible that Ginko was more grumpy with Katie because of his toe. Though, I’m not sure he’s smart enough to make the connection between ouch and Katie.

    Still … we do NOT want to try having them meet again (on leash, neutral territory) until he is back to normal and until Tom feels well enough to deal with it. Tom just got some bad work-related news, so the stress pot is boiling over in more ways than one right now.

    *sigh*

  5. What a run of bad luck for you and yours. Sorry the germ is hanging on–and spreading. I hope you all feel better soon.

    Any chance Ginko’s broken nail (ow) negatively influenced his interactions with Katie the other day? I keep thinking about that bad day–think he’d do better with her when he feels well again? If he broke it running her around, maybe he somehow thinks she hurt him?

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