Puzzled by nails

Re: Puzzled by nails

sophia guymer — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:54:42 GMT

Thanks Maya,

I will mention that to the owner, but we are talking about all the nails, being completely white, not some spots. Makes me think there must be a problem. Still, these dogs don't read our books do they!!

Re: Puzzled by nails

sophia guymer — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:52:57 GMT

Hello Clive,

The nails are hard like normal, and yes, all the nails are affected.

No redness, soreness, or itchyness at all. Not sure if o will want any diagnostics if there are no symptoms, but will definately aks about the food.

Sophia

Re: Puzzled by nails

sophia guymer — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:50:35 GMT

Thanks Cat,

I will ask! Actually, I did ask but can't remember the answer , didn't really think it was that important, do remember it was a dog food, not home made.

Sophia

Re: Puzzled by nails

Maya J — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:21:20 GMT

i have seen a few pups with similar white dots on their nails, one was a young weimaraner and the other a lurcher. neither (according to the owners) were on a rubbish diet. Both on puppy food and one was even on the veterinary royal canin puppy food. I have assumed that it must be a dietary type of problem, but both pups were well throughout and on later check ups the white dots seem to have resolved.

perhaps not a lot of use to you, but hopefully it is some consolation that these pups no longer had them at age 6 months!!

Maya.

Re: Puzzled by nails

Clive Ansell — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:31:34 GMT

A dietary cause would be my first thought, are the nails soft or normal? adequate mineral and vitamin intake. Vit B, Biotin ? are all nails affected?

A long shot perhaps, if diet is good may be worth running a fungal culture and histology on one?

Re: Puzzled by nails

Cat Henstridge — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:25:31 GMT

Hi Sophia,

Have you asked them what they are feeding the puppy on? I have found that pups fed the poorer quality diets, Bakers and Butchers in particular, often have white spots on their nails. In fact, one of our receptionists favourite tricks is to play 'guess what the puppy is fed' when she notices these nails and she is more than often right (and then launches into a sales pitch for Hills - nothing if not well trained!)

To be fair I haven't seen one with completely white nails but it is probably worth asking.

Cat