Claws falling out

MrsElle

MrsElle

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Our elderly Ridgeback seems to be losing her claws on both her hind feet.

She has arthritis and a very odd gait due to her damaging her nearside hind before we got her - possibly in a road traffic accident. We assumed that the non existant claws on her nearside hind were as a result of her foot action wearing them right down, but we noticed last night two were missing on her offside hind.

I rang the vets this morning (she could do with an MOT anyway) and explained, the vet is coming out next Tuesday to see her. We live in a very rural area and due to distance the vet visits each area on a certain day of the week. Of course in a dire emergency he will come out immediately or we could manage to get to the surgery somehow, but the vet feels she will be fine until next week.

So, has anyone come accross this before?

She doesn't seem to be in any particular discomfort, no more than is normal with her arthritis etc anyway, her diet is the same, she is perfectly normal for her in every other way.

BTW, her claws on her front feet, and her dew claws are absolutely fine.

Ideas?
 
It stands for Chronic Degenerative radiculomyelopathy. There is also a condition which I think is auto immune related which causes the whole claw to fall out but I think that generally affects all 4 paws. Is she actually losing the claws or just wearing them very short?
 
Thanks, from the signs and symptoms don't think it's CDRM.

Her claws are actually worn down to nothing from what I can see, on one paw it looks as if she has no claws at all, they aren't visable unless you have a good look, on the other paw two are non-existant, the other two are fine.

I have attached a video of her taken this evening, poor old girls legs go totally at the end, but she loves going out and pottering accross the beach while the nutty two are galloping around at full pelt.

Here is the beautiful Lola:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfXyyaMMm64
 
That does look like a spinal problem ..CDRM..nothing can be done,sorry.I believe it is painless,but eventually it affects bowel movements and urinary incontinence.My old GSD had it,his back claws were worn away,and although he enjoyed a gallop his back end just did`nt sinc in with his front,so he`d turn and his hind end just did`nt.
 
We know her back end is going and she might not last another year but she is quite elderly although her actual age is unknown as she is rescue picked up the dog warden. We have had her 7 years and the vet estimated her to be about 5 years old back then, so she hasn't had a bad innings. She is the most loving and loyal dog I have ever known and I would like to think we have given her a happy middle and old age - her tail never stops wagging when we talk to her, so I hope this is an indication that she is content.

As previously mentioned, the vet is coming to see her next week for a general check up, so we will find the best way to manage whatever condition she has. She still loves a walk on the beach but is content to plod along with me while the others and OH make a faster pace.

OH isn't really a dog person, but he has said today that Lola can come and live in the house where she will be more comfortable, we both feel that we may not have her for very much longer so want to make the most of what time we have with her.

Am crying now, I adore that dog :(
 
Sorry, got my letters mixed up, was express posting :o

It does look a little like CDRM, sorry :( signals don't make their way to the back end of the dog and eventually it catches up with the front end if it is left too long.
It isn't painful and my old girl lived to 14, had the condition for the last 2-3 years of her life but the day she couldn't get to her feet, was the day we made the call - that is when it becomes too much for a weightbearing breed IMO, or when they cannot toilet themselves.

If she is still relatively mobile, don't panic, and of course, we're not vets x
 
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