THE MINERAL-COMPOSITION OF NAILS IN NORMAL DOGS AND COMPARISON WITH SHED NAILS IN CANINE IDIOPATHIC ONYCHOMADESIS

The mineral analyses of nails from 32 normal dogs were determined by a tomic absorption spectrophotometry or colorimetrically. Data were comp ared with the mineral analyses of nails from 21 cases of idiopathic ca nine onychomadesis. German Shepherd dogs were significantly over repre sented (P < 0.005) in the affected group compared with a reference hos pital population. Significant increases in the concentration of calciu m (P < 0.05), potassium (P < 0.05), sodium (P < 0.0005) and phosphorus (P < 0.05) were found in nails from affected dogs compared with nails from normal animals. The mineral composition of nails from affected G erman Shepherd dogs was significantly different from that of affected non-German Shepherd dogs. Normal ranges for the mineral concentrations of normal canine nail are presented for the first time. The different composition of nails from affected German Shepherd dogs compared with nails from other breeds suggests a different aetiology to the onychom adesis, although the cause of the problem remains speculative.