Can I give my dog biotin?
B-complex vitamins can offer dogs a variety of benefits, including improved heart, skin, and digestive health. Vitamin C, niacin, biotin, and folic acid are also safe for dogs.
Coconut Oil
If your dog is allergic to fish oil, coconut oil can also help promote nail health. Add a small amount of coconut oil to your dog’s diet or brush liquid coconut oil on your dog’s nails. This can reduce inflammation, help to strengthen nails, and reduce yeast infections of the paw.
Feeding high-quality dog food is essential for your four-legged friend’s overall health and the condition of their skin, fur, and nails. It’s best to feed your pup a dog food that meets the nutritional standards established by AAFCO and, thus, is complete and balanced. If you’re unsure what dog diet is best for your particular canine, speak with your vet.
Dog nails serve many more functions than human nails and are more comparable to our fingers than fingernails. Therefore, taking excellent care of this part of your pup is essential. Luckily, you don’t need to have an in-depth knowledge of dog nail anatomy to do so. Instead, keeping an eye on their condition, trimming them regularly, and implementing a nutritious diet will prevent brittle nails and keep them strong and healthy.
So what do you do if you notice your dog’s nails splitting or cracking frequently? First, you need to establish the cause, then take the necessary steps to improve their health. This article will explain the common reasons for brittle dog nails and how to keep them in top condition.
Biotin is not as well known as Omega 3 but is just as beneficial for dog nail health. It is one of the b vitamins and is an essential part of treatment for dog nail problems such as Lupoid Onychodystrophy. Like Omega 3, Biotin is also good for your pup’s fur coat.
Omega 3 is a fatty acid found in fish oil that contains various health benefits for humans and dogs alike. Giving your pup an Omega 3 supplement every day will lubricate and moisturize your dog’s nails. Omega 3 prevents dryness and splitting and helps the nails grow strong and healthy. In addition, you will see improvements in your dog’s skin and hair conditions, their heart, joints and immune system will receive a health boost too.
How can I sedate my dog to cut his nails at home?
One of our dogs, a 22-month-old Rottweiler, has severe problems with her toenails. They split to the toe, and the nail actually breaks completely off, exposing the quick. We use styptic powder to stop the bleeding, and have been giving her a fatty-acid supplement for six weeks. The fatty-acid supplements have drastically improved her coat, but we haven’t seen an improvement in her nail strength. We have never had to cut her nails because they have always been extremely short. Our vet seems to be out of ideas about what we can do to help improve her nails’ health.
Dry, brittle nails are most commonly due to a skin disease known as lupoid onychodystrophy. Rottweilers are one of the breeds most commonly affected, so there is a good chance that your dog has this disease.
The disease causes the immune system to become overactive, attacking the nails and nail beds, creating fissured or split nails that never totally heal. Treatment is challenging, and can take as long as six months to see positive results. However, before starting treatment, your veterinarian should first submit a sample for biopsy. This involves a minor surgical procedure, where the tip of one of the toes is amputated so it can be examined by a pathologist.
Once diagnosed, lupoid onychodystrophy is treated with a variety of medications, including vitamin E, fish oil (or the fatty-acid capsules you’re already giving) and a combination of medications. This veritable pharmacy of drugs must be prescribed by a veterinarian, and closely monitored.
Because the nail problems are so painful and uncomfortable, I would recommend proceeding ahead with biopsy and treatment if the biopsy confirms the diagnosis. Ask your veterinarian about lupoid onychodystrophy, or a referral to a veterinary dermatologist.
This is not the kind of disease that veterinarians see every day, so it’s not surprising that your veterinarian is stumped. The information regarding the diagnosis and treatment of all veterinary diseases is too vast for any one veterinarian to memorize. Veterinarians are usually resourceful getting information about anything they may not be familiar with, so give your veterinarian a chance to help your dog.