CIMDA

Thanks for your answers.  One further question if I may - if my dog is on Doxycycline at the recommended dose how much Niacinamide a day should she be on.  I  can see how much she should be on if taking Tetracycline which is three times a day - should she be on the same amount but given just once a day or is the doseage different.  She weighs 26kg and the vet has put her on doxycycline, biotin, fish oils, evening primrose.  Do you have any links on line where you can buy it for dogs as I have looked with no success.

Many thanks again.

Carol

I have a five year  old greyhound bitch who out of the blue, about a month ago lost the outer nail on her front right paw.  (Incidentally this was approximately 10 day post her booster).   This was in the house and there had been no apparent trauma but we assumed she must have caught it on something.   It was hanging off and bleeding quite a bit so she had to go to the vet and with a light sedation they removed the nail and gave her some pain meds and antibiotics.  Over the last month the quick has gradually shrivelled and formed a hard coating (resembling a rice crispy).  She has been otherwise well in herself.  Then over the last week I have noticed her persistently licking the two nails adjacent to the one that she lost.  She did not appear to be in any pain from them and had been enjoying her walks as normal but when I tried to have a closer inspection she went for me as they were obviously annoying her and were painful.  These nails looked hollow and on looking on the web at SLO nails they are pretty much the same as the two affected ones. I also think she is probably developing a problem with her back right foot as a couple of the nails look as if they are splitting up the centre on the underside and she occasionally limps on that leg for a few steps when walking or if she has been laying down on the sofa all evening.   I was pointed in the direction of your website which is extremely helpful and intend getting Bobbie to our greyhound vets next week but I know they are not particularly up on this condition and wanted a better understanding of the condition myself before the consultation. 

I have a couple of questions which I hope you will be able to answer.

1.  Does the use of steroids only accelerate the treatment process or is it something I should consider if she loses multiple nails at once?
2.  On the information given it would be easier for me treat her with Doxycyline from an administration point of view.  Is there any evidence that one particular antibiotic is more effective than the other an also is one more expensive than the other?
3.  Am I better getting prescribed veterinary EPAs or are human ones bought from a health food shop just as good?  If so what sort of doseage should she have; she weighs 26kg.
4.  Does she only need the antibiotics if the nail beds are infected or are they important in addressing the autoimmune element of the disease. What should I be looking out for as signs of infection?  At present she is well in herself although a little more subdued than normal, there is no apparent discharge from the nails, the toes are not swollen or hot and she does not appear to be in any obvious pain on walking.
5.  How do you know when to stop the antibiotics and just carry on with the EPAs and what is the average length on time that most dogs are on the antibiotics for if they are not used in combination with steroids?

Sorry to ask so many questions but I want to be as clued up as possible when I visit the vets.

Many thanks in advance for your help.