Nail Health

[Snoopy21]

So Willow had to be sedated last night for yet another split nail to be removed. She is a biggish, heavy, clumsy girl who goes at things full bore, so it is no wonder she hurts herself. But what I want to know is there anything we can do to improve the strength of her nails so this is less likely to happen?

I gather that keeping them shorter will help. If I grind them down often enough will the quick recede so I can go shorter next time? How often can I do it?

[poodlefan]

I'd make sure she gets a full complement of Omega 3,6 9 oils in her diet.

Regular trimming is a good idea.

[t-time]

Try Silica from your Health food store to harden nails (and grow coat!). It's expensive but works out ok if you're only giving it to one dogs.

I used to chew my nails as a kid and I was given gelatine!

[Snoopy21]

Any idea of the dose t-time? Could work out expensive anyway as she weighs 40 kgs.

Gelatine? Never heard that one before. Did it work?

[Erny]

I've been reading some things on nail problems - don't know why, other than I started looking for something else and one thing led to another. THIS is one "Q&A" site that, whilst I wouldn't take anything or everything from it as gospel, might hold some interesting information to help you.

As for the gelatine - going by what's written on the site, it is something that some people have tried and a few thought helped, but doesn't seem to be a strong contender in the "treatments" protocol.

It would seem your Omega 3's, 6's etc. are the way to go, assuming that the problem you're experiencing is diet related.

Edited for spelling.

Edited August 20, 2010 by Erny

[t-time]

I'll ask my friend about the dosage she is using for her large dogs. I use the capsules for my small dogs but my friend is using a Silica Liquid on 6 large dogs and she's finding that to be very economical.

I always thought the Gelatine thing was a bit of an old wives tail but then Gelatine was made from hooves so maybe that's where the idea came from

[Snoopy21]

Thank you!! I'm not sure that the problem is diet related, I think it probably a variety of things. I just want to do everything I can to help her as it is very painful to rip nails open, and expensive for me to have her sedated and the nail removed. This is the second nail this year, with several other smaller splits and tears, added to a tumour removal and broken toe, and we have done a lot of keeping quiet, vet visits, bandaging and worrying.

I would appreciate the information from your friend t-time if that is ok. Thanks for the link Erny - I'll head over and read now.

[t-time]

OK - 35 kg dog gets 2 lidfuls - LOL very technical I'm guessing that would be around 6 mls?

6 kg dog gets half a lidful.......