Polly Gregor wrote 05/22/2006 11:06 PM worn rear nails #107179 - 05/22/2006 11:06 PM
Polly Gregor Webboard User Reg: 12-02-2005 Posts: 341 Loc: NYC Offline	At my dogs vet exam this week, she noted that all his back nails were short and asked if I clipped them. I said no. She suggested that he might have some sort of a posture or structural problem (not dysplasia) that could cause problems later in life. She did not explain this much, and had little to suggest as far as preventing future problems. He is 2 yo now, and normally active. The dog gets 2 off-lead walks/day where he runs with other dogs (or with my older dog), one other short walk to relieve himself, and about 20 minutes of training with me off lead (drive, grip and hide and seek with his Orbee ball). He is tall and slim (89 pounds). She also thought he should gain a few pounds, but I think he is OK, just slim. Does this nail thing ring a bell with anyone? Thanks.
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susan tuck wrote 05/23/2006 01:55 AM Re: worn rear nails [Re: Polly Gregor ] #107180 - 05/23/2006 01:55 AM
susan tuck Webboard User Reg: 01-23-2006 Posts: 1608 Loc: Cali & Wash State Offline	Polly, are the nails wearing in a normal pattern, just short, or are they also wearing on the top of the nail, giving an almost rounded appearance? If they are wearing on the top, this suggests he is dragging his nails in the back, rather than picking his feet all the way up. Listen when he is walking on pavement. Do you hear the back nails scraping? If so, I would take the dog to either a neurologist or an orthopedic specialist for further evaluation. It very well may be nothing, and going to a specialist will at the least, let you rest easier, but if somehow, he has injured his spine or a disc, this is how that type of injury initially presents. If there is nothing to worry about you will have piece of mind, If there is an issue, it sounds like you have caught it in the early stages & therefore will be able to initiate treatment immediately, so as not to exacerbate the injury, or cause secondary problems.
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Polly Gregor wrote 05/23/2006 09:41 AM Re: worn rear nails [Re: susan tuck ] #107181 - 05/23/2006 09:41 AM
Polly Gregor Webboard User Reg: 12-02-2005 Posts: 341 Loc: NYC Offline	Thanks very much Susan. I just looked more carefully. The two center nails on each foot are quite short, but I don't think they are worn on top, but it is a little hard to tell as they are quite short. All the other nails seem fine, shorter on the rear in general. I have never had to trim any of his nails. I will check the scraping issue, but I doubt I would have missed that sound. We walk on pavement every day to the park. His middle nails have always been short, I think he digs his hind legs in as he runs, which is on grass and woods. It is possible he scratches his feet when he stretches after lying down. As far as an injury, there has been no obvious trauma. I got the feeling from the vet that this was more of a congenic then acquired problem.
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Connie Sutherland wrote 05/23/2006 03:29 PM Re: worn rear nails [Re: Polly Gregor ] #107182 - 05/23/2006 03:29 PM
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005 Posts: 31571 Loc: North-Central coast of California Offline	Quote: Thanks very much Susan. I just looked more carefully. The two center nails on each foot are quite short, but I don't think they are worn on top, but it is a little hard to tell as they are quite short. .... I'm with Susan here; if you can get a referral to an ortho vet, you'll probably achieve either peace of mind about it or a plan to address the issue (if there is one). Good luck! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
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Jeanne Woodlock wrote 05/23/2006 08:09 PM Re: worn rear nails [Re: Connie Sutherland ] #107183 - 05/23/2006 08:09 PM
Jeanne Woodlock Webboard User Reg: 01-12-2005 Posts: 79 Loc: New York Offline	I have had two dogs with degenerating discs in their spines. Both wore the nails down on their hind legs. The one with the more severe problem scraped her back legs every few steps in the early stage. She also started to fall going around turns and doing splits on slippery floors. The dog that wasn't severe just wore down his middle back nails. He had surgery on his spine in January and is a very different dog. He is much happier and more energetic. He must have been in pain and I didn't know it. The dog that was worse wasn't a candidate for surgery, so I kept her going with acupuncture, physical therapy and medication for as long she was comfortable. Hopefully your dog is fine, but it is a good idea to see a neurologist just to be on the safe side.
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Polly Gregor wrote 05/23/2006 09:40 PM Re: worn rear nails [Re: Jeanne Woodlock ] #107184 - 05/23/2006 09:40 PM
Polly Gregor Webboard User Reg: 12-02-2005 Posts: 341 Loc: NYC Offline	"The dog that wasn't severe just wore down his middle back nails. " I just took both GSDs for walks to look more carefully. The 2 yo Rusty is wearing his nails down because he has a high step on his rear legs, and lifts off from the heel, and his toes leave the pavement last, but do not drag. The older dog Phoebe has less of a pivot in her foot as she walks, and her nails are longer. Did a little reading, and it seems the diagnosis of DM seems to be in part on wearing of the inner nails, and in Rusty the center nails are short on both feet, and the inner nails look longer. So it sounds as though I should about abut a disk issue, but not worry too much about DM. I am more then a little irrritated that the vet was not more informative, and thorough.
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Jeanne Woodlock wrote 05/25/2006 09:10 PM Re: worn rear nails [Re: Polly Gregor ] #107185 - 05/25/2006 09:10 PM
Jeanne Woodlock Webboard User Reg: 01-12-2005 Posts: 79 Loc: New York Offline	Yes, I wouldn't worry too much about DM although some may disagree with me. The neurologist I bring my dogs to told me that once tested properly, most dogs with weakened back legs are diagnosed with spine problems and he rarely sees DM. With my two dogs, an MRI clearly showed the problem was discs. I see you are in NYC, you may want to go to the Animal Medical Center. I'm sure they can give you a good idea of what is going on.
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Polly Gregor wrote 05/25/2006 10:08 PM Re: worn rear nails [Re: Jeanne Woodlock ] #107186 - 05/25/2006 10:08 PM
Polly Gregor Webboard User Reg: 12-02-2005 Posts: 341 Loc: NYC Offline	I actually have done some work with a doc from the AMCNY. He is an oncologist, but I am sure he can find out if Rusty needs a neuro consult. Meanwhile, Rusty chased a racoon up hill tonight; whatever is wrong, it is not serious yet. I will let you know what occurs.
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