Claws falling out

[sueb]

Does anyone have hounds where this is a problem?

Ever since we've had her, Nellie seems to loose some of her claws. Some have just come off and not caused a problem, but others get loose/sore and stick out at funny angles. (The vet did pull one of these out!) They do seem to grow again.

I've just noticed - after she came in from the garden - that one of her dew claws looks very long, like it's becoming loose and a bit bloody. I've put Sudocrem on, a dressing and light vet-wrap bandage, to stop it ripping on anything or getting infected.

I will ask the vet if the latest thing becomes a problem, or more generally when she next goes (ironically she did this just after I had been to the vets to collect their Advocate drops).

But not sure if anyone has experience of this and whether it's indicative of anything more sinister. I have a vague recollection of a Grey awaiting re-homing who had lost his claws, due to an auto-immune condition. Not sure if she's in need of any supplement?
But Nellie is otherwise healthy and very perky!

[Ian]

Hi Sue, whilst we've not had any problems any claw problems with Sean, we have had dew claw problems with him, the most recent of which lead to him ripping one off completely without us each knowing, and it was only a tiny bit of blood on one of his beds that lead us to examine him. Anyway after spotting the dew car had gone we just monitored it for a few days and fortunately no harm was done and the new one is now growing back.

I Googled 'greyhound claws dropping off' and this came up on Greyhound Data...might be an answer?

www.greyhound-data.com/dir/404/Toenails_falling_of.pdf

Other than that maybe Pat might have an answer...

[sueb]

Thanks for that, Mark.

It's helpful, in that I don't think this is what she has- the nails grow back looking normal, are not crumbly or misshapen. One will suddenly look long and stick out when it is half falling out, it seems. A couple have come out without us really noticing at first and not giving her any trouble.
Overall, I think this has involved about 4-5 nails - which doesn't sound much, but I've never had a dog loose them before, unless ripped when running around.

But I will certainly mention this to the vet-thanks.

She's been for her usual walk this morning, and was ok, but was crying when I gently put plastic over her bandage. I still have some painkiller liquid from before, so will probably give her some and see how she goes today. Previously, the vet did pull out a dew claw when it was half out and she was fine afterwards, though on painkillers for a couple of days.

[davidbailey]

Apr 9, 2013 7:56:12 GMT sueb said:

Thanks for that, Mark.

It's helpful, in that I don't think this is what she has- the nails grow back looking normal, are not crumbly or misshapen. One will suddenly look long and stick out when it is half falling out, it seems. A couple have come out without us really noticing at first and not giving her any trouble.
Overall, I think this has involved about 4-5 nails - which doesn't sound much, but I've never had a dog loose them before, unless ripped when running around.

But I will certainly mention this to the vet-thanks.

She's been for her usual walk this morning, and was ok, but was crying when I gently put plastic over her bandage. I still have some painkiller liquid from before, so will probably give her some and see how she goes today. Previously, the vet did pull out a dew claw when it was half out and she was fine afterwards, though on painkillers for a couple of days.

Pauline Stevens (Paulinespack)had a greyhound bitch that suffered with this problem and as far as I remember it didn't give her much of a problem

[prince]

Prince has one toe that has a nail that only grows so far then falls off, then grows again. if has fallen off twice that i know of in the three years we have had him. It doesn`t seem to bother him. also he has knocked his dew claw not so long ago and it was painful to touch. so he had to be sadated to have it removed. and that has grown back fine.

[clashkat]

Eddie had a problem similar to what you describe with one of his nails. It started with him licking at it and when I checked his foot the nail was quite thickened and was coming loose from the nail bed, it became infected and the vet pulled it out. Eddie was prescribed Onychotin (you can get this on line) which is a nail supplement. The vet said greyhounds can get a problem with their nails and if it becomes a major problem where all the nails are affected would need other medication but in Eddies case where just one nail was affected I was advised to keep him on the supplement to strengthen the nails and hopefully prevent further problems. Obviously i don't know if this is the same but hope this is useful info. Katrina

[paulinespack]

well remembered Bryan ,the dog involved was Millie ,I had forgotten

however ,not being an over "house proud " owner ,hoovering a couple of days ago I picked up 2 full claws ,--both hollow ,looked fine shape perfect

none of the 5 had shown any sign of discomfort .so not much help ,sorry

did a few years ago have to rush Annie to the vets screaming ,with a dewclaw hanging off which he then just pulled it out ,"ouch "
no probs it grew back

Pauline and 5

[sueb]

Thanks everyone for your comments.

Its interesting to know there is a supplement, Katrina I'll look into that.

Thankfully, after a couple of times when it seemed sore and once a little bleed, although the claw is longer (suggesting its on its way out) Nellie's had no trouble with it over the last few days. So now its just keeping an eye on it and letting sleeping dogs lie!! (What greys do best of all!)
Thanks again
sue