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Changes in the
Toes or Nails of Giant Schnauzers
By Katharina Keil & Gudrun Draeger
Translated by Enid S. Lagree
Editor's note: This article appeared in the July 1991
issue of Pinscher and Schnauzer, the monthly magazine of the German
Pinscher‑Schnauzer‑Klub. Five photographs accompanied the article.
Photos not reprinted in Steps.
Reprinted from Giant Steps © Jan.-Feb. 2004
Changes of the toes or nails occur or can occur in
all breeds of dogs. What is striking, however, is that there is a
breed disposition (above average predisposition) for toe and nail
problems in Giant and Standard Schnauzers.
In Giant Schnauzers mainly the blacks are affected
(we never saw a single case in a pepper/salt.) In Standards the
number of affected dogs is almost the same in blacks and
pepper/salts. One must be suspicious of heredity when a collection
of cases in a single breed is found. In American literature there
is a conspicuous absence of anything written on the subject. Are
these toe and nail problems limited to our German lines?
Disorders of the toes or nails are many faceted and
include infections of the nail beds, the nails, and the toes
themselves. The cause for these disorders can be bacterial or
fungal. Tumor formation is another problem. The tumors are almost
always malignant but they do not always metastasize. Some degree of
lameness of the affected legs is typical. Very frequently one sees
distorted nail growth; for example the nails will suddenly become
very long, splinter, break off, and will not grow back normally.
When only one toe is affected there is a high probability that a
tumor is present rather than an infection, which normally affects a
number of toes.
Below is a case study:
Female Giant Schnauzer‑4 years old.
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March '88: Splintered nails growing on all four
paws.
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April 88: Splintered nails removed and submitted
for laboratory examination; tests revealed a bacterial infection.
Appropriate treatment prescribed.
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May 1988: After showing some improvement, the nails
splintered again. Test results revealed a fungus infection.
Appropriate treatment prescribed.
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June '88: Another bacterial infection; then after
treatment a period of remission until March '89. This dog suffered
a reoccurrence of infection of the nails the following spring,
which continued.
Often, even after an apparent 100% recovery, from
either bacterial or fungal infections, long‑term success is not
achieved. The same is true for tumors of the toes. It is important
to note that after repeated microbiologic exams, the cause may be
clearly defined. However, when the problem reoccurs, the cause may
not be the same. Therefore treatment must be varied. It was striking
in this case, that the disease was confined to the nails and the
nail beds and the toes were not involved.
Once obvious swelling is visible, it is too late for
the treatments prescribed above to be successful.
Instead, it is
recommended that in such cases early amputation of the affected toes
and not just the nails is essential. A complete pathological
examination of the toe should follow. Because antibiotic therapy for
the inflammation of the toes is rarely successful, amputation is
warranted to spare the dog a lengthy recuperation. Immediate (don't
wait weeks) amputation of a toe with a malignant tumor is highly
recommended to minimize the opportunity for the tumor to
metastasize.
The following case history:
Female Giant Schnauzer whelped 1981
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October 87: Right front nail inflamed.
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November 87: Nail is very smelly, removed.
Pathology: chronic inflammation.
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January 88: Removal of the right front thumb-nail.
Pathology: chronic inflammation.
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June 89: Two right front nails and toes removed.
After treatment complete recovery.
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August 90: Splintering of a back right nail.
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September 90: Amputation of the nail and the toe.
Pathology: malignant cancer.
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February 91: Amputation of the left front
thumb-nail; Pathology: cancer
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March 91: Back right nail is broken, did not grow
back, clear swelling (photo 1)
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April 91: Amputation of the back right nail. At the
same time amputation of a toe on the front right with an extremely
long nail that suddenly became very painful, (photo 2) Pathology:
front right cancer, back right: chronic inflammation.
With so many operations it is obvious that the dog had to live with
only two toes on two legs. Photos four and five show that the dog
has no difficulty in walking and is much happier without the painful
toes. Afterwards, in a statement, the owner indicated that his dog
was once again living a full and happy life.
This article is reprinted with permission by Enid S. Lagree and
first appeared in the GIANT HOTLINE, a publication of the South
Central Giant Schnauzer Club.
Help! Has Your Giant Had a Toe or Nail Problem?
The article, "Changes in the Toes and Nails of the Giant Schnauzer",
caught my eye because in the late `70s our first male Giant, Geffroi,
developed an infection of the toenail bed that started with one toe
and eventually included every nail on all four paws. Five Giants
followed Geffroi into our lives-two of which also experienced toe
and nail problems. Our current Head Boy Giant is missing two toes
but as the article points doesn't appear to notice their absence.
The authors, Keil and Draeger are correct when they suggested that
there is a dearth of information about the subject in American
Veterinary literature. Beyond the P& S magazine article, I've only
seen one other article on the subject of claw disorders. Entitled "Lupoid
Onychodystrophy in Dogs", it appeared in the Journal of the American
Animal Hospital Association (May/June 1995, Vol. 31) and describes
an infection of the toe nail beds affecting all the claws.
This article is available for review online under Canine Claw
Disorders via Google. The authors of the article point out that
"Claw disorders of the dog are the focus of very few publications in
veterinary medicine. This paucity of published information is, in
part, due to the fact that claw disorders rarely are encountered as
the sole manifestation of dermatological disease in dogs. In
addition, the definitive diagnosis of claw disease often requires
the surgical amputation of the third phalanx of an affected digit.
Many owners, understandably, are hesitant to have this done to their
pets."
I have never seen anything in print concerning inter-digital cancers
or cancer of the toes or toenail beds. However I know of a number of
Giants besides mine that have had inter-digital melanomas removed as
well as toes due to squamous cell carcinoma.
It would be most interesting to hear from Giant Schnauzer owners
with dogs that have experienced nail and toe disorders of any kind.
If there is enough of a response perhaps we can include a review of
the replies in the Giant Hotline. I'm not expecting lengthy case
histories but would appreciate information such as:
• color and sex of the dog
• age of the dog at the onset of the problem
• description of the progression of the problem
• veterinary diagnosis
• prescribed treatment
• success of the treatment
• did the problem reoccur or did any other problems involving the
toe and nails crop up later?
You can e-mail me at:
ELagree@htcomp.net
Or reply by
mail: #7 Prospect Street Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. After October
15th: P.O. Box 513 Clifton, TX 76634
This article is reprinted with permission by Enid S. Lagree and
first appeared in the GIANT HOTLINE, a publication of the South
Central Giant Schnauzer Club
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