Hi I've just had a young bitch provisionally diagnosed as suffering with this she has lost one nail so far and has two others that are coming away from the quick. From my research online EFA supplements are an essential part of treatment but I am getting confused and going round in circles trying to discover what dosage I should be starting her on shes 18kg. All help appriciated.

I would have a look here
http://cimda.co.uk/smf/index.php

Thanks :-) I have read the information on there but I'm still a bit confused as to actual quantities of different products to give and if it should be products such as Viacutan or Efavet or go with Evening primrose oil and fish oil seperately.

If you join and ask questions they are very knowledgeable and helpful

I have joined the Yahoo group for SLO that is mentioned on there now just from searching on here I noticed that others had had experience of this, starryeyes for one, so thought I would ask here aswell.

> provisionally diagnosed as suffering with this

Hi satincollie, ditto - following a consult last week my vet has spoken with a dermatologist and this appears to be most likely.  She rang me today and everything I've read since appears to confirm the diagnosis, although I appreciate they would need to do a biopsy to be completely sure and I'm certainly not agreeing to a toe amputation for research at this stage, and nor did she think it was necessary.  I'm seeing her tomorrow with a list of questions and to fully investigate each loose nail to determine which can safely be left and which ought to be removed.

How are you getting on?  Did you get your answers?  What supplements do you have her on now?

Incidentally what do you feed her on currently?

Hi dogs-a-babe sorry I typed out a long reply last night and then pressed the wrong butten and it disappeared into the ether so sorry if this is too late
Kitten is on tetracycline and niacinamide 500mg of each 3 times a day Evening Primrose Oil 1300mg and Fish Oil 1000mg twice a day Vitamin E, Vitamin B complex, Onychotin once a day and Loxicom for pain relief.
She only has her dew claws and one nail left on each of her back feet so shes about through the nail shedding and consequently quiet happy in herself. We haven't actually actively removed any of her nails we kept them cut as short as possible and used boiled water and salt foot soaks when they have shed.

Thanks for the update.  As my boy is relatively pain free at the moment, still has most of his nails and appears to be resisting secondary infection, we are just going to look at supplements.  Viacutan an essential fatty acid supplement, and Onychotin - both prescribed by the vet.  He has to have his ears flushed on Thursday under a GA so they are also going to remove one particularly nasty nail and trim each of the others as far back to the quick as they can to reduce the risk of him catching them and damaging them still further.

I spent a bit of time last night analysing his diet and I realise that I may have inadvertently been helping him to manage this condition for some time.  However I made a few changes to his diet in March and I suspect that I'm now seeing the negative effect of those changes :(  Three key issues come to mind    1) I had reduced his once a week high fish meal to once a month      2) I dropped his daily Garlic and Fenugreek tablets and     3) I reduced the amount of fresh liver I feed him.

He's fed a well balanced raw diet so I'm pretty confident I don't I have any obvious gaps for a normally healthy dog but I do think that in his case he needs a little extra help.  I feel so damn guilty for changing things in March....

I'm going to take some pictures if I can so that I might track progress over the next few months.  Good luck with Kitten and thanks again for your reply :)

Oh I forgot to mention her food. She is a picky dog to start with and I had trouble getting her to eat anything consistently so I haven't changed her diet as yet but if she doesnt achieve remission once this nail shed is over than it is something else I will be looking at. She is fed Hills Chicken and Rice.
Edited to add Kitten wasn't put on the antibiotics for infection as she hasn't suffered from any either it is used for its secondary properties as an anti-inflammatory and antibody suppressent.

My 12 year old Bearded Collie has the complaint.  In addition to the supplements already recommended, I give zinc, on vets advice.

> I give zinc, on vets advice.

Thanks JeanSW - I know that fresh liver is high in zinc so I really wish I hadn't reduced his weekly amount.  Not much point in kicking myself really but I hate the thought that I might have contributed to this more severe phase.

However, it's always reassuring to find people you know, and can trust, that have the experience of the same condition.  This forum really is a godsend sometimes isn't it :)  Thanks to you both for your help

> This forum really is a godsend sometimes isn't it

You won't find me arguing with you there!  There may be times that we all have different opinions, but we all have the same passion in common!  :-)

If you get chance to chat with starryeyes, she was really helpful with me, and knowledgeable.  I believe that one of her Beardies has the problem.