Nails (Injuries, etc.):
Symptoms: Dogs with defective action wear their nails away (more particularly those on the forelegs) to the quick, which causes lameness. Some dogs’ nails are very brittle, and they crack and split to the quick, causing lameness. Toe-nails of dogs who do not have sufficient exercise turn over as they grow, and the point becomes embedded into the pad, causing swelling, suppuration, and great pain. The dew-claws of dogs who do not get the chance of digging often grow to a considerable extent, which weakens and makes them liable to break, which often happens, and the quick becomes exposed and bleeds, causing the dog to go lame as if he had a broken leg. If they do not break, they grow, entering the pad as previously described.
Treatment: In cases of a dog wearing the claws away through defective action, as a rule, treatment is of little use; but if the dog is made to exercise on grass land, the nails will grow to an ordinary extent, and the dog walk much better, but the relief is only maintained whilst he is not allowed to run on hard roads. When the defective action of the limbs causing undue wearing of the nails is due to partial general paralysis—as the sequel of distemper, for instance—then it is only temporary, and will pass off as the patient improves in health and strength. To remedy the cracking and splitting of the nails is often a difficult matter. In some cases benefit is derived by the application of tar ointment, which should be well rubbed into the nails twice a day. The frequent application of glycerine is also a good remedy. In very bad cases, especially when only one nail is affected, it may be extracted.
When a nail has grown too long and injured the pad, the nail should be cut close to the quick without making it bleed; and when there is any festering, hot bread or linseed-MEAL poultices should be applied for a day or so. Afterwards the wound should be dressed with boracic ointment, and the foot kept in a canvas bag for a few days.
When a dew-claw becomes broken, it is nearly always through the quick. In such cases it is necessary to remove the claw by extraction with a pair of tooth forceps, and not by cutting, or the quick will be injured, and the nail will grow deformed. Afterwards anoint the raw surface with boracic ointment, cover over with a pad of boracic wool and bandage.
Four Celebrated Stud Dogs: Buck Stone, British Stone, Dick Stone, and Rex Stone.
The property of Walter Jeffries, 28, Grove Park, Denmark Hill, S.E.
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