One of my girls has suddenly developed very sore feet with her nails falling off, lots of discharge and bleeding and very lame. She suffers from food allergies and has had lots of ear infections. I have her on an elimination diet which is helping the ears but its her feet that are the biggest worry. She is booked in at the vets tomorrow for a GA to remove all the nails that are lifting and to have her feet and ears cleaned. All four feet are affected and both my vet and I beleive it is diet related. I have read that giving essential fatty acids plus vitamin E would help her immune system but I'm not sure if giving them would compromise the elimination diet. Does anyone have any suggestions please.

Lots of good info on the cimda website x

I have a Bearded Collie with a similar problem.  Lots of supplements are recommended, one I feel benefits my old girl a lot is zinc.

Oh poor you and poor dog.  I have one dog with severe allergies and another dog with SLO (Symmetrical Lupoid Onychodystrophy) but I'm pleased I'm not managing both in one dog like you are as it's a lot for them to handle isn't it...

This is one of those conditions that, once you start researching, you realise is actually quite common.  From the research I've done I disagree that it is diet related - i.e. it's not likely to have been caused by a dietary deficiency unless your dog is so intolerant to some foods that she has a severe gaps in her diet.  However I do agree that in many cases it can be managed by making improvements to diet and supplements are a must, they really do help.

I have mentioned this topic a few times on here since my boy was diagnosed in Aug 2012 - here is one of the early posts.  Spelling is a factor when you're researching SLO and dyslexic fingers can really limit your search results so I usually cut and past the dratted name from one of the vet sites but if you search the ChampDogs site (using the box at the bottom of this page) for Lupoid this is the bit we all usually spell right!!

I'm happy to answer questions as I'm managing the condition quite well nowadays but you might get the answers you need from my other posts too.  Currently I give Viacutan Plus, an essential fatty acid supplement, and Onychotin tablets daily.  These were prescribed by the vet but I buy them online as you don't need a prescription.  I also use a bunch of other things that I'm certain help including plenty of fresh liver for the zinc and garlic and fenugreek tablets to counter infection.  Incidentally have you had her blood tested, for possible SLO causes, but also to identify specific allergens?  I think a York Test is always money well spent as a dog with severe allergies can't always wait whilst you try an elimination diet.  Given that she is serious enough to need a GA for an ear clean and nail clip I'd want answers sooner rather than later :)

In the meantime give a daily paw soak in salted water and make sure you have plenty of Hibiscrub to wash her down after every walk.  Make sure you have sharp nail clippers and also get a small easy to handle pair so that you can cut them close - I use some wire snipper things from my husbands tool box to good effect and I'll double check what they are actually called when he gets back.

Good luck at the vets tomorrow - I hope all goes well xx

Satincollie is another member who has a dog with this condition and gave me a lot of good advice.  We all probably do much the same but with a little tweaking here and there.  A vet with experience is vital too

Thank you everyone, great reply dogs a babe. I do wash her feet off in hibiscrub but not the salt, will start that as well. Poor girl treats me with great suspicion in the house as all I seem to do is grab her and clean her ears or stick her feet in a bowl! I'll get the vit E and EFA's today, I think I read somewhere it has to be quite a high dose. My vet, bless him, was going to do a whole lot of reading last night as he has never seen a dog so badly affected in all four feet and every nail as my poor Enya. With all the probs I have had with her over the yrs part of me wonders how much more I can subject her to. It's soul destroying seeing her so worried in the house when it should be the one place she should feel safe.

It's quite a shocking condition when it first starts.  My boy just started losing whole nails - they simply slid off like a glove off a finger.  Horrid (for both of us!)

My dosage for a 30kg dog:
Viacutan Plus, an essential fatty acid supplement, 6 pumps per day.  I use the pump dispenser as it works out cheaper than the capsules
Onychotin tablets (biotin) 1 tablet daily.
I buy both from Hyperdrug as this is the cheapest I've found

Additionally I give Garlic and Fenugreek tablets from Dorwest Herbs, a maintenance dose of 3 tablets twice a day. I also give a little extra salmon oil in the evening and maintain the fish part of his diet with a few fish kibble pieces in every meal.  Otherwise he's raw fed...  I cut liver into small pieces and feed these straight from the freezer.  I try to remember to give liver every few days

My dog rarely loses whole nails now, but I do still see some lifting and splitting.  It's important to keep the site clean and this is where washing and soaking help.  I also use a pump antiseptic spray as I really want to avoid infection.  If the nail/quick is ever a very painful one (my boy is actually quite stoic) I give a dose of Metacam and wait for it to take effect before cutting the offending nail.

I've got into the habit of doing all my medication, checking etc after a walk and when I'm washing both dogs.  I apply Dermacton to my allergic dog when he's damp - as it spreads better.  I cut/check all dogs nails when they are cold and wet.  Cold dulls the pain and the water makes the nail a bit softer and less prone to cracking or splitting.  The hose also has the added bonus of moving all the hair to one side so I can see better!  Both dogs know when I get a 'medical look' but are generally pretty good.  Ears are an issue as both dogs have had Pseudomonas and I check for this quite frequently but otherwise I really do try to leave them in peace.  I can't bear it when they try and hide from the ear cleaner stalking lady!!

Well we are back from the vets, He removed all the nails she still had as they were all loose and lifting. Got one very sore girl sleeping it all off at the moment. Have had various tests done, including bloods but think it will just confirm she does have SLO. Hopefully she will start to feel better over the next few days. I'm now stocked up on enough supplements to last a few days and have just ordered the rest on line. Thank you Dogs a babe for your help, it's most appreciated and very very helpful.

Hi yes I have a bc bitch with this but thankfully she seems to be well maintained on the high doses of fish oil  biotin vit e and vit b complex which my own vet suggested I add. Initial treatment was however with tetracycline and nicacinamide as well. Hope you manage to get this under control for your girl aswell roscoebabe.

Satincollie would you mind listing your daily dosage and recommended suppliers please - oh and your dogs weight. We are doing ok but I wonder if I could/should add the vit B and I'd like to rethink my amounts of fish oil & vit e combo...

Many thanks

Hi dogs a babe Kitten is 18Kg and get Fish Oil 1200mg twice a day EPO 1300mg twice a day then vit e 400 iu twice a day, vitamin b complex and Onychotin 1 capsule once a day

Thanks satincollie. 

As Red Dog said, do check out the CIMDA website.  This is an immune mediated disease rather than an allergy as such. I found CIMDA so helpful when I had my lovely boy, now sadly gone, diagnosed with systemic lupus. Amazing help and info...so knowledgeable. Forum based, so others can share experiences too, and get moral support ...so badly needed when you are dealing with such tricky diseases.

Quick update. Enya is feeling a lot better over the last few days, her feet are healing nicely, the nail beds are looking clean and dry and the pads are not as swollen. Her ears are looking good as well. Her coat has lost the nasty greasy yeasty feel and smell as well. She is still on the elimination diet as it suits her and I don't want to upset her progress. Thank you again everyone for all the info.