Nails wearing down fast

WeeDex · Mar 1, 2016

Hi everyone,

Does anyone else have issues with nails wearing down quickly? I'm not sure if he's lacking something in his diet, or it's just how he is, but his nails are extremely short. One was bleeding yesterday.

We walk him in the park, but have to walk on pavements to get there. We have a combination of slabs and grass in the garden but he doesn't go out there that much just now while it's wet and cold.

I'm hoping it's not a lack of something in his diet as with the allergies I'll struggle to change his meals.

Any thoughts at all? Thanks

hannah · Mar 1, 2016

Photo?

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Jakeyjake · Mar 1, 2016

Is he pulling a lot on the leash? That would wear them down on a hard surface.

WeeDex · Mar 2, 2016

Hopefully you can see these ok - there's almost no white nail! But maybe they look ok and I'm just paranoid?

The majority of the time he doesn't pull at all, but he does have occasional zoomies in our garden which involves laps round the patio and grass, so maybe that's enough to do it.

Squishy Walnuts · Mar 2, 2016

Wally is a puller and we walk on pavement for his whole walk but his nails aren't that worn down. Maybe it's how he walks/runs?

hannah · Mar 2, 2016

They do look a little short. hmmm... but I think it is fine for a dog to wear out its own nails when its exercising. The bleeding is what concerns me. Is it just wearing down to the quick or are they cracking and chipping?
What kind of food do you feed again?

WeeDex · Mar 3, 2016

Thankfully they don't chip or crack - they're just extremely short..... The day I saw a nail bleeding, I didn't walk him for 2 days. Just played with him on the carpet so it had a chance to heal. It must be sore for him.

He gets fed on a salmon complete meal by a UK company Wainwrights. I was thinking this morning though, before his operations he got a supplement every day. I had to stop it as he was on so much medication for a while, but he just went back on it this week. Maybe that makes a difference.

Maybe it's just how his nails are going to be, but they used to be a good bit longer than they are now. I'll need to keep an eye on it and if he's going to have bleeding feet I'll take him for a check up with the vet.

hannah · Mar 3, 2016

WeeDex said:
Thankfully they don't chip or crack - they're just extremely short..... The day I saw a nail bleeding, I didn't walk him for 2 days. Just played with him on the carpet so it had a chance to heal. It must be sore for him.

He gets fed on a salmon complete meal by a UK company Wainwrights. I was thinking this morning though, before his operations he got a supplement every day. I had to stop it as he was on so much medication for a while, but he just went back on it this week. Maybe that makes a difference.

Maybe it's just how his nails are going to be, but they used to be a good bit longer than they are now. I'll need to keep an eye on it and if he's going to have bleeding feet I'll take him for a check up with the vet.

I think that sounds like a fair plan! Also if you happen to be at the vet for anything else you can just ask about it. No need to make a special trip unless it is a problem

2bullymama · Mar 4, 2016

WeeDex said:
Hopefully you can see these ok - there's almost no white nail! But maybe they look ok and I'm just paranoid?

The majority of the time he doesn't pull at all, but he does have occasional zoomies in our garden which involves laps round the patio and grass, so maybe that's enough to do it.

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they do look good, but short. As Hannah suggested, next time at the vet talk to them maybe he is missing a nutrient that is causing them not to grow? Cheli is the opposite, I have to take him every two weeks for a trim, his nails grow so fast

blushy · Mar 9, 2016

My boys nails are always very short, I can trim with the nail file down as short as you say! Luckily they never bleed or crack, but they look so similar to my boys! It must just be how their nails grow! Because my girl has entirely different nails? Different shape size length etc they look like two different breeds paws next to each other.

I agree that you should just wait it out, I really don't think it should be an issue unless you do heavy playing and running on cement and rough surfaces.

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WeeDex · Mar 10, 2016

[MENTION=894]blushy[/MENTION] Thank you! That's good to know your boys also have short nails. I've been keeping an eye on them and apart from that one time, haven't been bleeding again. I think that's just how his nails are like you say!

He's due at the vet in a couple months so I'll ask then. I'm just limiting his football time on the slabs to not wear them down more than they already are!

Squishy Walnuts · Mar 10, 2016

WeeDex said:
[MENTION=894]blushy[/MENTION] Thank you! That's good to know your boys also have short nails. I've been keeping an eye on them and apart from that one time, haven't been bleeding again. I think that's just how his nails are like you say!

He's due at the vet in a couple months so I'll ask then. I'm just limiting his football time on the slabs to not wear them down more than they already are!

Silly Twinkle Toes!