Broken Toenails!

[janedoe]

I've used superglue for random splits but if it's chronic, I'm not sure what the treatment would be. Do you have access to an holistic vet? Supplements could be the answer.

[frontierjeanne]

Thanks for the helpful advice, everyone. Raleigh is now on leash walks only. We're hoping low activity will help it, too. The split is too big and been there too long to repair with superglue at this point, but we did cover it once with the glue to seal it, and it seemed to help the toenail. Keeping it from gluing his toes together was a different matter. It seems to weep around the base of the nail after a walk, but the actual split/quick is staying clean. Really wish the nail would just fall off at this point! Raleigh is totally confused... we live where leash-free areas abound, and we can be there is 3-5 minutes. Since he was raised mostly leash-free, he won't poop on a leash, either, so he's off long enough for that.

Beautiful dog photos!

[frontierjeanne]

[HammerLover]

I wonder if it has to do with the weather... Is it dry around where all of you with cracked nails live? It could be a factor.

[frontierjeanne]

Not dry here: pacific northwest coastal rainforest! Still battling this torn nail. It's 5 weeks as of yesterday. Found a website that said leaving the toenail on often invites re-injury and continued splitting, and isn't recommended. Can anyone tell me exactly what is supposed to happen? The toenail isn't going to heal itself, it's trimmed as short as possible at this point. I've done two courses of antibiotics with him, restricted activity, clean after every walk (on pavement only), and ointment and a clean sock. He's not allowed to lick it. I just can't see how this thing is supposed to heal and wish it would just fall off! I'm reading things like this:
"Torn nails do not heal on their own and allowing the broken nail to grow out will cause your dog weeks of pain."

[Maxx&Emma]

Could you have the vet remove it with some anesthesia?

[frontierjeanne]

I've had him to the vet twice hoping she'd pull the toenail, but she says it's too firmly attached. I'm in a remote area, with few choices (this was the best vet in the area I took him to). I may have to ship him down to another vet to have it looked at. At 5 weeks, I think we've done a good job, but since it breaks back open every single day, it's open to infection. And from what I'm reading, it should have been pulled and there's little likelihood of it clearing up on its own. Honestly, I don't know what the vet was thinking? I'm going to call another vet on Monday.

[klnst3]

Thanks everyone for responding... sorry it's taken so long to update! So, we took Reggie to his vet appointment. The vet said for sure, Reggie's nails were very brittle. He has nails on more then one paw that are peeling, or cracked down the sides, etc. He didn't think it was the autoimmune disease, SLO, but he said it was actually too early to tell because if it was that, Reggie was in the very beginning stages of losing his nails. He had us put Reggie on fish oil and wants us to have him on that for a few months and see how it goes, hoping the fish oil will help to strengthen his nails. He's only been on it for about 45 days right now, but his nails don't seem to be any better. He hasn't completely lost any more, though, which is good, but he's still cracked pieces off a couple more since then.

Now, I'm beginning to wonder if he's in any pain because he won't let us touch his nails. Even for us to just dry him off when he comes in muddy from rain or snow, he pretty much has a meltdown and goes into complete and total crazy mode racing about the house like a maniac and flailing around when we try to wipe them off. However, when he's sitting with us on the couch, we can rub his legs and paws, and he seems to enjoy that....

[Snowco Labradors]

I put old towels on the floor for the dogs to walk on when coming in muddy so I don't have to clean their feet.

Be sure to give him vit. E with the fish oil if your product does not already contain it. Fish oil will eventually deplete the body of vit. E so you should supplement it.

E is good for humans for hair and nails (also a great antioxidant, supports the liver too) My dogs get 100iu daily

Biotin is also good for nails and coat. I used to give it to improve coat when needed and believe it was 300 mcg daily and I saw improvement.

C is good for collagen which should help nails. I give 1000 mg daily (also for immunity) (in fact I start pups on C at 8 weeks of age 125 mg per 25 lbs of weight and at one year up to 1000 mg for life.)

I don't give pups under 12 months anything else unless I have a specific need.

These additional vitamins may help so talk to your vet about it.