DERMATOLOGY
Shaping the future of animal health
Nail Diseases
By .Patrick Hensel, Dr.med.vet., DACVD
CVC IN WASHINGTON, D.C. PROCEEDINGS
Article reprinted with the permission of DMV360, April 2010, Veterinary Medicine is a
copyrighted publication of Advanstar. Communications inc. All rights reserved.
Concurrent claw problems are not unusual in many skin diseases, but rare as the only dermatological problem. The most common disease affecting single claws are: trauma, bacterial or fungal
infections; the most common condition affecting multiple claws would be onychodystrophy.
The claw is important for the pet for grasping and
holding, moving and used as a defense tool. For this
reason it is important that the claws are regularly
trimmed and healthy. Diseased claws will predispose
to trauma, abnormal locomotion, pain, lameness,
and pododermatitis. Various medical terms are used
to describe the claw lesion such as: Paronychia (inflammation or infection of the claw fold), Onychodystrophy (abnormal claw formation), Onychogryphosis (hypertrophy and abnormal curvature of claw),
Onychomadesis (sloughing of claws), Onychomalacia (softening of claw), Onychomycosis (fungal infection), and Onychoschizia (splitting of claw). If a
patient is presented with a claw disease, a detailed
history (e.g. vaccine can induce vasculopathy; started
with one claw and is spreading typical for symmetric
lupoid onychodystrophy) should be obtained and a
thorough inspection of the affected claw should be
performed.
Cytology is very important and simple test to identify
bacteria and yeast, which are very often a cause of
secondary infection in abnormal claws. Bacterial and
fungal culture is required if initial antimicrobial therapy did not cure the infections. Biopsies are usually
required if multiple claws are affected and systemic
and immune-mediated diseases or neoplasia are suspected.
Trauma
Trauma is the most common cause for claw diseases
in dogs and sometime in cats. Typically one or few
claws are affected. In rare cases claws on all four feet
are affected, which can occur due to excessive running on asphalt, concrete and gravel, or the use of
infected nail clippers. Untreated claw trauma will often
result in secondary bacterial infections. The distal part
of the affected nail should be removed and the foot
bandaged if necessary. In older lesions with suspected
infection, foot soaks with disinfectants, and oral antibiotics in more severe cases is recommended.
Bacterial claw diseases
Bacterial claw infections are common and are considered a secondary problem. The most common underlying cause is trauma. However, systemic diseases
such as hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism, diabetes mellitus, hypersensitivities, immune-mediated
diseases and onychodystrophy may cause claw infections. Chronic severe infections of the nail bed can
result in permanent defective claw growth. Swelling
of the nail bed area, pain and pus formation is typical.
Cytology is the preferred diagnostic method. If the
infections do not respond to initial antibiotic therapy
a bacterial culture & sensitivity may be necessary. To
treat infected claws it is best to remove as much of
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