Unhealthy nails? (pics) Updated

• 11-02-2007 3:53 PM

  Cita Joined on 12-13-2006 CT Posts 4,634 Points 735

  Unhealthy nails? (pics) Updated Reply Contact I was cleaning off Rascal's feet a bit and noticed he keeps getting these weird marks on his nails and this weird dark-colored stuff at the base of the nail. The stuff at the base of the nail could be like old skin cells or something? It scrapes off easily with a fingernail. But the marks on the nail - could they be like bruises from digging too hard? Is this something to be worried about?     (Pardon my dirty nails, haha)

  Filed under: nail infection, stained nails, nails Post Points: 0

• 11-02-2007 3:56 PM

  In reply to Cita

  rwbeagles Joined on 09-10-2007 DFW, TX Posts 15,350 Points 2,035	Re: Unhealthy nails? (pics) Reply Contact does he lick? Looks like saliva staining to me? Gina H. dog.community Moderator "I'll sleep when I'm dead, I said!"-The Cure
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• 11-02-2007 5:02 PM

  In reply to rwbeagles

  Cita Joined on 12-13-2006 CT Posts 4,634 Points 735	Re: Unhealthy nails? (pics) Reply Contact He licks a little bit, not excessively. Would saliva account for the dark, soft deposits around the base of his nails only, or would they also explain the dark marks along the nail "body"? He only gets these marks on his front feet, too, primarily the 2 "big toes." I would say he licks his front and back feet about equally.
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• 11-02-2007 6:58 PM

  In reply to Cita

  rwbeagles Joined on 09-10-2007 DFW, TX Posts 15,350 Points 2,035	Re: Unhealthy nails? (pics) Reply Contact quite possibly...the licking action is such that he'd be leaving the biggest spitwad at the base string it out from there... He doesn't stand in his food or water dish does he? Some dogs do that lol. Gina H. dog.community Moderator "I'll sleep when I'm dead, I said!"-The Cure
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• 11-02-2007 7:39 PM

  In reply to rwbeagles

  Cita Joined on 12-13-2006 CT Posts 4,634 Points 735	Re: Unhealthy nails? (pics) Reply Contact  Oh, no way. He's faaaaar too prissy to do something like *that*! (lol) Thanks for the advice, I'll show the vet next time Rascal's in for shots or something but won't worry until then :)
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• 12-08-2007 2:01 PM

  In reply to Cita

  Cita Joined on 12-13-2006 CT Posts 4,634 Points 735

  Re: Unhealthy nails? (pics) Reply Contact Update! Rascal went in to the vet for a teeth cleaning, and after looking at his nails the vet decided it was some sort of undetermined fungal/bacterial infection. So he prescribed some sort of antiseptic soak for Rascal's footsies, 5 minutes, 2 times a day, for.... 21 days. Anyway, he agreed it's not a huge deal, I just thought I'd post an update in case anyone else ever sees similar weirdness on the nails. I'll update with how it works after a little bit.

  Filed under: nail infection, stained nails, nails Post Points: 0

• 12-08-2007 3:44 PM

  In reply to Cita

  mrv Joined on 09-10-2007 west central OH Posts 2,700 Points 745	Re: Unhealthy nails? (pics) Reply Contact Monitor it closely.  If the nails themselves start to peel, crack, etc.  Watch carefully, if they start to fall off, get a biopsy of the nail bed.  There is an autoimmune disorder related to lupus that manifests itself in this manner.
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• 12-08-2007 8:07 PM

  In reply to mrv

  Cita Joined on 12-13-2006 CT Posts 4,634 Points 735

  Re: Unhealthy nails? (pics) Reply Contact Mrv, thanks for the heads-up, that's pretty scary. Right now all the discoloration is superficial (I can dremel it off if I feel like it) and the nails don't seem to be bothering him in the slightest. He still likes to dig and kick up grass. If that changes, though, I'll keep a close eye on it. And perhaps I'll take the antiseptic soak slightly more seriously

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• 12-09-2007 8:37 AM

  In reply to Cita

  mrv Joined on 09-10-2007 west central OH Posts 2,700 Points 745

  Re: Unhealthy nails? (pics) Reply Contact When it happened to Baylor, the nails started to discolor, yellowish.  The area of the quick became very powdery (for lack of a better word).  If the nail actually came off, the quick was old looking and shriveled liked dried cartelage on a chicken bone.  The good news, he responded to a course of steroids and antibiotics and an antifungal (all oral) it took about 8 months to get it under control.  That is a good outcome for this particular disease. http://www.greyhound-data.com/dir/404/Toenails_falling_of.pdf

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