Breaking, Cracking and Brittle Nails

by RaShanda
(Columbus Junction, IA)

Hello I have a 5yr old dachshund, fox terrier mix dog she weighs about 22lbs, here lately we have been noticing more than ever problems with her nails bad enough she just had surgery two months ago to get her dew claws off. anyways what is happening is that where the nail would grown in by the bone its getting brittle and cracking and breaking to the point of really bad bleeding, one has completely fallen off but i think its just the dried out quick that is left but now all toe nails on all feet are doing this and i have no clue what to do. I called our local vet he said to just change her food to increase protein and calcium, however im not sure what food to give her and how to ease her pain. right now the food she gets is kibbles and bits home style...then when switched to little dogs little bites but is for puppies as well. Please help

My Comment:

Hi

True - she must be in pain.
I have had one patient like this.
You should ask your vet if he know anything about autoimmune diseases.
From what you are describing it sounds like this.
This can affect all the nails within short time. The claw just starts to fall off from the
nail bed underneath it.
Ridgeback dogs have this inherited.
The soulution is not easy but I did recommend high doses of omega 3.
Somekind of immune modulation medicine, like prednisolone, for a period might be needed as well.


In another patient of mine nails became very soft. Broke easily and several of the capsules needed to be extipated.
So we did and for some reason it stopped.
After 2-3 months nails where back to normal.
This was not autoimmune but some unknown reason.

So, this was only an idea and not a diagnosis.

Is it possible for you to take a picture of one of the paws?

This might be some help and I might could add some information.

All the best

Per Schonbeck