Repeated nail #s

Re: Repeated nail #s

Rob Loxley — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 13:53:05 GMT

[quote user="Robin Grimmer"]I have heard anecdotally of oxytetracycline and nicotinamide both 500mg tid being used with some success with onchodystrophy[/quote]

I have a couple of cases that are doing well on this (though lower dose for a smaller dog - I think it's in the formulary). I kind of assumed the OP had asked the relevant questions re direct trauma

Re: Repeated nail #s

Robin Grimmer — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 00:34:37 GMT

I would sacrifice a dew claw for a biopsy. If it's young it could be autoimmune. I have heard anecdotally of oxytetracycline and nicotinamide both 500mg tid being used with some success with onchodystrophy.

Re: Repeated nail #s

Sammy82 — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 19:34:54 GMT

Good point! There was a metal staircase at the river path where I worked which was notorious for ripping/breaking dogs claws. I surprised clients by asking them if they had walked their dog down tve steps by any chance. "How did you know??"

Maybe little doggy shoes could help to protect the nails.

Re: Repeated nail #s

Anthony Todd — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 18:24:18 GMT

[quote user="Matt Hilary"]Any ideas re prevention?[/quote]

Is the dog a digger? It's a JRT!..... When do they break and why?

Observation sometimes should come before biopsy.

Re: Repeated nail #s

Bob Russell — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 17:11:40 GMT

A zinc supplement would do no harm but I warn owners that the likelihood of zinc deficiency is pretty low. Just gives one more option before biopsy!

Re: Repeated nail #s

John Flynn — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 13:45:00 GMT

[quote user="robloxley"]

[quote user="Matt Hilary"]No signs onychodystrophy or auto-immune disease as far as I can tell[/quote]

but given the history worth a biopsy?

[/quote]

I'd agree with Rob.

You could sell it as removing the worst affected dewclaw to prevent further injuries to that specific one, while checking for conditions that might be weakening the nails and can be treated best if picked up early? Hard sell (and I wouldn't bother trying to sell too hard as will only get blamed if nothing found then)!

Otherwise, just keeping them short and giving supply of high-dose diazepam or similar to give prior to vet visits so stressful experiences hopefully don't keep building more and more? I believe if you repeatedly sedate/GA and brutally shorten all the nails they end up not growing as long - might be a left-of-centre option? Total left-of-centre would be removing all affected claws...

Re: Repeated nail #s

Rob Loxley — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 13:36:14 GMT

[quote user="Matt Hilary"]No signs onychodystrophy or auto-immune disease as far as I can tell[/quote]

but given the history worth a biopsy?