Hi Sandra,
Welcome, but sorry you have to be here. My boy Bossdin (RIP) had SLO, amongst other things. He lost all his nails twice. The first time they grew back they were quite deformed, the second time they were all normal bar one that was a bit crooked.
I think he had a mild case of the disease as he never had to go on steroids and was only on antibiotics when necessary. He was on pain meds when needed, I kept a supply at home. I believe one of the reasons his case was mild was because I had access to the sea. The fresh salt water did wonders for helping to clean any infection and to dry and shrivel up the quicks. It was also great for helping a loose nail finally fall off, with little pain. If you don't have access to salt water try soaking his feet in a salt water solution or Epson Salts.
I maintained him on the high dose fish oil pills only. After he lost his nails twice he had more issues with nail bed infections (treated with courses of antibiotics.... if really bad and a brilliant cream called Neo-Topic) than he did with the nails actually breaking and falling off again.
Once the new nails grow in, it's important to keep them as short as possible. I learned to trim Bossdin's myself. Many people suggest using a grinder trimmer.....pedi-paws or something similar.... .. I brought one of those too, but he hated it. I had better success with the ordinary cutter type (don't know what it's correct name is). It was important to hold the nail firmly though, at the base, to help minimise any movement and therefore possibly discomfort.
All the best
Dee
Welcome, but sorry you have to be here. My boy Bossdin (RIP) had SLO, amongst other things. He lost all his nails twice. The first time they grew back they were quite deformed, the second time they were all normal bar one that was a bit crooked.
I think he had a mild case of the disease as he never had to go on steroids and was only on antibiotics when necessary. He was on pain meds when needed, I kept a supply at home. I believe one of the reasons his case was mild was because I had access to the sea. The fresh salt water did wonders for helping to clean any infection and to dry and shrivel up the quicks. It was also great for helping a loose nail finally fall off, with little pain. If you don't have access to salt water try soaking his feet in a salt water solution or Epson Salts.
I maintained him on the high dose fish oil pills only. After he lost his nails twice he had more issues with nail bed infections (treated with courses of antibiotics.... if really bad and a brilliant cream called Neo-Topic) than he did with the nails actually breaking and falling off again.
Once the new nails grow in, it's important to keep them as short as possible. I learned to trim Bossdin's myself. Many people suggest using a grinder trimmer.....pedi-paws or something similar.... .. I brought one of those too, but he hated it. I had better success with the ordinary cutter type (don't know what it's correct name is). It was important to hold the nail firmly though, at the base, to help minimise any movement and therefore possibly discomfort.
All the best
Dee