Hi

I wonder if anybody can give me some help or advice. I noticed a couple of weeks ago that my yorkshire terrier, Holly, has started to 'bite' her nails.  She seems to do it as she settles on my lap for the evening, she 'bites' at them so hard as if she's trying to pull them off - the sound of it is horrible!. 

I changed her food lately from Naturediet (she just wouldn't eat it - and it's so hard to get!) to Butchers (which she loves and which she's eaten before with no side effects) but besides that, there's nothing else I can think of that would bring this about.  I've even begun to wash her paws after walks in case she may be affected by something in the grass, but this hasn't made any difference either - so I thought somebody on the forum might have an idea of what it might be.
thanks
hollybelle

Do you cut her nails nice and short yourself, especialy the two dew claws on the front legs.  I have often found if I ahven't doen th4em for a while that they will ahve sen to these themselves, but have never had them chew the other nails.

If the nails are not overlong and causing ehr a problem from that angle I would be worrying about nail bed infection.

Are the nails nice and hard and in god condiiton, or are they flaky and brittle?

"I changed her food lately from Naturediet (she just wouldn't eat it - and it's so hard to get!) to Butchers (which she loves and which she's eaten before with no side effects) but besides that, there's nothing else I can think of that would bring this about. "

Paw licking and chewing is a common sign of allergies in dogs.   If you noticed she started chewing her paws after you switched to Butchers I bet it was the change in foods. 

I'd suggest you switch to a food that has fewer of the ingredients which commonly cause allergies.  James Wellbeloved, Burns, Arden Grange .. lots of choices.   If you want to use moist foods pick one that does not have any wheat in it, in particular.  Chappie seems to be fine for a lot of dogs (although I dont' know if it is wheat free.)

Just a note that once an allergic reaction happens it can take 4-6 weeks to eliminate it entirely once the source of the reaction is removed.

Hi Hollybelle,

I've known several dogs who've bitten their nails and as far as anyone can make out it's purely something they do that quickly becomes habit - just like people do!.  I personally see no wrong in it and as long as it IS only nail biting (not licking feet or boting toes etc which could mean something is amiss).

My brother's lurcher does it every night when everyone's settled down on the sofa.  She started as a puppy and is now 14 years old and it's never been a problem.

Debs

My Alfie also does this quite often, I think it is just a habit.

I have a Malamute that sits there biting his nails - it's never done any harm though, so I just leave him to it!

Hudson does it all the time :D

My Tara does this too! Again I think it's just a habit they get into, the same as we bite our nails. She seems to take comfort in it so I leave her to it!

Thanks for all your emails.  I had her nails cut a month ago but having checked them at the weekend, they appear to be very long, I think my dog groomer must have just barely clipped them, so I'll have them done again this weekend by another dog groomer, othrewise, her nails are hard and healthy looking. 

She had begun to bite her nails when she was on the Naturediet - not all the time but occasionally, as she is doing now on the Butchers so I'll leave her on the Butcher's for the time being and she how she gets on - it could be a comfort thing she does because as I said earlier she only does it at night-time when we all settle down for the evening, but I will keep an eye on it and if she starts biting her pads, then it'll be a trip to the vet.

Again many thanks everybody, you've put my mind at ease.

Cheers
Hollybelle

Hi Hollybelle
You could ask your groomer or vet or a knowledgeable doggy friend to show you how to clip nails.  Like a lot of things, it's easy when you know how, then you can do it yourself.

Hi ridgelover

I think I'll do that, I've never attempted to do it myself for fear of hurting them by cutting them too short (I also have a westie), but I will ask my vet or his nurse to show me.

Thanks

i always use a torch to see the quick, if the nails arn't completly black. it shows you how far you can cut with out hurting them.
hth
anna