Brittle Nails

[4Kelpies]

Does anyone know of any feed supplements or other treatments to stop a dog's nails from breaking? My youngest Kelpie (who has the shortest nails of all my dogs) has twice bent a nail back causing a lot of pain and needing to have it trimmed off. At the weekend when he was working he looked fine when running but kept holding a foot up each time he stopped. I checked to find that he had split the nail lengthwise and it was bleeding. I didn't see him do it but he could have hit a stone or twig embedded in the ground. As he is a sheep dog he won't always be running on smooth mowed surfaces. Does anyone have any ideas on how to treat this? I can remember there used to be a feed supplement for horses to help with their hoofs but I can't remember what was in it.

[matilda1]

The feed supplement you are thinking of is Biotin, however usually when dogs bend nails like that it has nothing to do with the strength of the nail itself.

It's generally either just 'bad luck' or the nail is growing on a funny angle.

And just like when you bite your lip, once you have done it once, you tend to do it again.

You already mentioned the nails are short, I suggest keep them as short as possible and let the injured one heel.

If it's the dew claw, you can have it removed.

[4Kelpies]

Thanks Bella Donna. I suppose brittle isn't really the correct word as his nails bent the first couple of times and it only split the last time. It's happened to the outside nail on both front feet. He's fine around the house and on paths etc. but when running and turning sharply in the paddock his nails tend to dig into the ground. I just hope it was just "bad luck" and this isn't going to be a recurring problem.

[Lowenhart]

I had a dog who tended to break his nails off a lot (where the whole nail slips right off exposing the quick). The nails themselves were prone to bending, splitting and breaking.

He had an infection in his nail beds, so biotin just didn't help. I'd check the nail beds to see if there is a fungal or bacterial infection there.

Keep the nails short, grind them down as far as you can. If it's not a nail bed infection, it maybe just how the dog turns at speed.

[Joblo]

As Lowenhart has indicated keep the nails short.

Supplementing with Davis Gelatine [Available in Supermarkets], 1 teaspoon daily sprinkled in the food is often used by greyhound trainers for dogs with this problem.

Greyhound trainers also often use SALLY HANSEN HARD AS NAILS [Chemists or Supermarkets] to "toughen" up their dogs nails, simply apply 2 or 3 coats to the nails weekly, really does help!!

http://www.sallyhansen.com/product.cfm?product=233

[4Kelpies]

Thank you Lowenhart and Joblo for the suggestions. I'll keep an eye on his nails in case of infection. If the nail hasn't come off by itself by Monday I'll be looking at taking him to the vet. I'll look out for gelatine and Hard as Nails next time I'm in the supermarket. He'll be the most elegant Working Kelpie around if he starts wearing nail polish but hopefully the dirt will cover it so no one laughs at him.

[matilda1]

Hopefully eventually his nails with start to grow in a more appropriate direction if they wear down on that angle from working.

Hang in there......like the others said, look out for infection both for cause and while the nail is injured.

I wouldn't be too concerned unless it just keeps happening all the time and makes him lame or causes infection.

You can have nails removed but he will loose speed and grip through turns.