Dog’s nails are very strong and durable. They are ideal for digging ground and life in the wild in general. When dogs’ nails are brittle, it means something. This is not normal, hence this issue is a symptom of some problem. You need to react and help your dog. But there are a lot of different causes and solutions. We will cover those below.
Fungal Infection
Dogs can suffer from fungal infections. These attack the nails, the paws, and more. Usually, the fungal infection will attack nail beds and folds. Your pet will lick the paws all the time. You can see brittle nails and bumps on the paws. If a dog’s nails are brittle and you can see excessive licking, take him to a vet. This is not something you can solve at home. He will need anti-fungal to solve the issue.
Bacterial Infection
Bacterial infection can cause brittle nails. In rare cases, these can affect the nail bed. Environmental bacteria, food bacteria and so much more can all cause this problem. Your pet will be in pain and massive discomfort. When this happens, he will have one or both paws covered in bacteria. Yeast infection can occur as well. Once again, you will have to take him to a vet and get professional help. The treatments are simple and straightforward.
Rough Interactions
If you have two or more dogs, they will play all the time. You can see that the play is rough and it is wild. If we mix this with the nails that are too long you can see the problem. Nails will break easily. Sadly, you can’t do anything about it. All you can do is trim the nails as short as possible.
Nail Bed Tumors
As you can deduce, these tumors will attack the nail beds on the paws. These are areas where nails start to grow from. They can cause all sorts of things. For instance, bleeding, ulcerations, limping, and some other side effects. There is no need to tell you that you must take your pet to a vet. He can remove the tumor. This is possible if he diagnoses the tumor at the beginning.
Wrong Diet
Dogs need a proper and suitable diet that will provide all the nutrients to them. Different breeds and dogs of different ages need different diets. Brittle nails, dull coat, oily coat, or upset stomach are other symptoms your pet will have. As soon as you notice all of these or a mixture of several side effects, take your dog to a vet. He can advise you on how to adjust the diet and how to make sure that the dog is getting all the things he needs.
Dog Nails Are Too Long
It is possible that the issue is as simple as this. When the nails are too long, they can easily break. They become fragile. It is also possible that a dog hits the nails in various objects that will break them. As a result, they will break all the time and you can see the pieces of nails on the floor. The solution is to cut the nails as short as you can. Repeat the process every 2 weeks.
Symmetrical Lupoid Onychodystrophy
Yes, we know the name is very long. This is an autoimmune disease that affects dogs. The disease will cause the immune system to start attacking the nails of a dog. We have nails that are brittle and that will crack easily. Considering the long name, the fact what this disease is, the treatment is rather simple. A vet will remove the nails. This is painful and problematic but very effective. The fatty acid supplement is another part of the treatment.
Brittle Nails Are An Extremely Painful Condition
We must add here that brittle nails are extremely painful. A dog will have a high level of pain that affects the entire paw. You can even see him limping or licking the paw all the time. The situation is even worse if we know that brittle nails can crack in length and reach the nail bed. This is the place from which nails come. It will be more than just painful and it can cause bleeding followed by excessive licking.
If you cut his nails, you will notice when they become brittle. In some cases, you can even see that the nail will shatter once you trim it. Once this happens, one of the issues from above is present. Honestly, it is always a better decision to take the dog to a vet immediately and rule out any severe diseases and causes.
With a bit of luck, your dog will have a simple problem that you can solve easily.
A Few Interesting Facts About Dog Nails
When we are discussing nails, we must explain a few interesting facts. The first one is that dogs who spend all their time indoors will have longer nails. This is because they can’t wear the nails by rubbing them on the hard surface. Dogs who live outside do this by rubbing their nails against the pavement, asphalt, and more while walking.
If you see a dog licking or trying to bite off his nail, it means that the area around it is itchy. This can be due to some infection. Many of you will forget the dew claw nail. It is still a nail and you need to trim this one as well.
Ideally, you will check the paws of your pet 1-2 times per week. You will see any foreign objects in the paw, grass, rocks, or something else. Address these accordingly.
The Final Word
Dogs Nails Are Brittle? When dogs’ nails are brittle, your pet has a problem. You need to examine the paw and the nail. If you notice any other side effects take him to a vet. Brittle nails are not normal in dogs and they mean that your pet needs attention. Luckily all of the causes are treatable and there won’t be any complications or further problems.