Does anyone have any idea???

[Lucyr]

I am off to a specialist with my dog a week Thursday but in the meantime I have been trying to find someone who might have a clue what is wrong with her…

Basically 3 1/2 yr old Akita who up until now has been in great condition, no health problems etc.
Last summer she started to trip up and I put this down to her nails getting really long, really quickly.  Her nails have always been kept short as I show her.
Over time her pads became paler and started to look dry and get very cracked around the edges (not your normal dry dog pads though).  Her feet also started to smell really horrible like sweaty feet!!
Trip to the vets and we got malaseb shampoo and viacutan tablets and also zincaderm tablets.  She seemed to improve then the improvement plateaued (sp).
The nails can only be trimmed the tiniest bit because the quick is right down and they are growing so quickly she looks neglected!!!  Her pads have also become worse…big bits are flaking off.  I did think immune problems but she is showing no other symptoms e.g. sores.

She is going up to Langford on the 29th and will most likely have biopsies.  The specialist has said he knows of nail problems in Akita’s but not something that effect the nails and pads as badly as my vet has described.

Any ideas????

Lucy

[Anonymous]

I thought of immune conditions as well but could it be an environmental issue? Do you use any kind of cleaning fluids outdoors to clean patio’s etc? I’ve heard of diets deficient in fat sometimes causing ‘soft pads’ but i don’t know if that would make the claws grow faster than normal.

[*Nick*]

Wish I could help but we’ll send good wishes instead!

[Sweetypye]

Sounds like an autoimmune issue to me too, good luck at Langfords, they are great.

[Justine&Rafe]

I may be toooootally off the point here – and defo check out autoimmune first, but just in case it isn’t has the vet checked out for fungal stuff?

I know in people athlete’s foot can develop into trench foot when fungal stuff goes bad, with similar symptoms (but obviously human not canine), particularly the bad smell, cracked and soft soles are very much symptoms of fungal issues.

A fungal problem could be caused by immune deficiency anyway, or if your dog has had antibiotics, particularly for a prolonged period.

If it is, don’t take any rubbish about a fungal issue being treated with antibiotics – this will suppress some symptoms, but not the cause of them.  Really easy to treat with long term use of probiotic tablets, and monitoring her diet to eliminate sugars.

If the cause does turn out to be an autoimmune thing, check out “candidiasis” on the internet, and how that has links with human autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue and all sorts of stuff.  It may be a good idea to probiotic her up in any case, as this will help out her immune system (to stop it to have to continually fight against pathogenic bacteria in the gut!).

And good luck with it, hope you get to the bottom of it and she gets better soon.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like an autoimmune to me too, your going to the best place.
Let us know what they say.
Malaseb shampoo waste of money your would be better trying a surgical scrub
Val

[Justine&Rafe]

Lucy, I’m totally intrigued by this… Have been doing some research on t’net… (I hope you don’t mind!!)

Apparently husky/malamute types (so your akita would count in this) often have a genetic problem with zinc absorbtion – I believe that would be the condition that your vet was describing.  This could lead to flaky/cracked pads etc.  Just for a bit of a bigger picture, is she showing any other symptoms; lethargy, itchy skin, chewing or licking at her paws, or any change in behaviour?

Immune diseases are clearly no 1 on the list, but cracked pads can also be caused by the zinc deficiency (this sometimes goes hand in hand with immune conditions), allergies, and apparently athlete’s foot too – which in itself can be caused by a thyroid problem.

Found this link quite handy…

http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:bG4-TPrquA0J:www.petshealth.com/dr_library/pad.html+canine+athletes+foot&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=uk

Good luck at the specialists and good luck in the meantime.

[Anonymous]

Dogs that are low on zinc are sometimes itchy round the nose can devlop sores and most common is the loss of pigment.

xxps can’t get the link up
Val

[Justine&Rafe]

Val – Could be because I copied a cached link.  Here’s the proper version!!

http://www.petshealth.com/dr_library/pad.html

Should work…

[Lucyr]

Thanks for your help, really appreciate it.  I will look through what you have put on as links so I can sit down and take it all in!

Loki has been on Zincaderm so maybe this will help over time.  She hasn’t been itching, she had abit of dry skin on her nose but it came to nothing – I assumed it was to do with her now being inside all the time with the heating on (she used to spend more time in her kennel as she prefers the colder weather).  She has seemed very lazy and is very temperamental at the moment but I put that down to her being in pain – you can see how uncomfortable she is when she’s walking.

And no of course I don’t mind you looking into it for me!

Thank you

Lucy & Loki of course!

[Lucyr]

Just an update for the people who have helped me – after going to the specialist the initial thought is that she had – Lupoid Onychodystrophy a type of immune problem that can’t be cured but can be kept under control luckily!
She will have to undergo a bit of surgery to take her nails off and its going to be a long road to recovery but atleast we have something to aim for.
She’s back up to Langford next Friday for her dew claw and toe to be removed for tests and also pad biopsy’s – something tells me she’s going to be an extra spoilt girl for a while!

[Izzie]

Missed this Lucy  :-[

Is it def Lupoid Onychodystrophy?

Best of luck with girlie esp with the biopsy.  :-*

[Justine&Rafe]

Ta for keeping us updated – let us know how it all goes with her – poor little thing!  I recommend some black pudding and (Rafe’s latest fave) corned beef rations to keep her emotionally ok – you know it – look in those eyes, she really really needs it!

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Good luck Lucy. hugs to girly x

[Lucyr]

The specialists initial thought was Lupoid Onychodystrophy and she was even more sure after examining her properly – she will be doing biopsy’s and tests this Friday so that is to also check for another type of immune problem that could be effecting Loki’s pads.  I have since read up on it and scoured the internet and everything rings true about Loki’s nails and this immune problem.  Not the best outcome but i’m just glad I have an answer and we have something to work towards now.

[Author]

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