Why are my dog's nails chipping and unhealthy? How to fix them?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Brando. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian. There are diseases that can leave the toe nails brittle. If he is healthy, then a fatty acid supplement may help. I hope this information helps!

This may be a resistant infection or the area may keep getting reinfected because it is in a highly mobile spot where contamination is very easy (the foot). I would recommend taking your dog back to the vet for a recheck and having her sedated for the examination. This way the doctor will be able to closely examine the toe and the nail. The doctor will then be able to clip the nails back far enough to hopefully remove the problem. There is also a specific disease of the toenails that may need long-term treatment from specific medications. This is an auto-immune disease, lipoid onchodystrophy, and has a very specific presentation. Your vet should be able to determine if your dog has this condition with a thorough exam. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Poor Ruger - I'm so sorry for his past difficulties as well as for what he's going through now - he's so lucky to have found you. The first thing I would want to rule out is ringworm in this location. I know it sounds strange, however it can get into the nailbed and cause the kind of brittle, discolored nails you're seeing. Ringworm is actually a fungus and not a worm as some people think. Your vet can run a fungal culture using shavings from the nails to check for this. If the culture comes back negative, I would probably next consider whether this could be a case of lupoid onychodystrophy. German Shepherds are predisposed to this disease, and since Ruger is a mix it's worth considering. Treatment can be challenging, but it's worth trying several things including omega-3 fatty acids, antibiotics such as doxycycline, and pentoxyfillne to increase blood flow to the region. Some dogs will also respond to steroid therapy. Best of luck getting this figured out.

Yes. Sometimes the edges chip or the nail will break if it get hung on something. They can grow into their pad and cause a painful infection if it gets too long. Her nails seem very thick so it is best to have them trimmed and possible filed to thin then more

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sometimes when the nails get very long they can get caught on material and pulled out causing swelling, pain, and an infection. However, this could also be a nail bed infection caused by a bacteria or perhaps fungus or could be related to an underlying allergy to something in her environment (like a seasonal allergy). I would recommend Sasha see her veterinarian for a closer inspection. Sasha may need to have the nails cut and may need to go home with antibiotics if her veterinarian thinks the nail bed is infected. I hope this helps!

You might consider a supplement with both collagen and biotin. Collagen is a pure protein that will provide your dog with more energy while improving things like hip function, joint function, and mobility. Biotin is commonly known as vitamin H. It is necessary for a dog’s growth, digestion and muscle function. These ingredients work together to strengthen nails, improve skin and coat conditions, and prevent skin allergies.

Hello. These are commonly a chronic infection that has both bacteria and yeast involved. It is often necessary to treat with an oral antifungal plus a form of antibiotic (either topical or oral). These types of infections can take many weeks of treatment (6-10) to clear completely. A recheck with a veterinarian is needed in order to discuss the appropriate medications necessary to effectively treat this, but be prepared for a longer course of treatment than just the typical 10-14 days. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach