ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the basic principles of the diagnostic work-up of nail and paw disease. Animals are presented for swelling of the claw or digit, and variable degrees of onychomadesis, paronychia, onychodystrophy, erosion and ulceration. Vasculitis of the paw pads is characterised by acute onset, variable pain, variable erythema and oedema. Symmetrical onychitis is an idiopathic condition affecting only the nails in dogs, where nail plates separate from the underlying quick and dry, brittle, misshapen nails regrow. Onychomadesis with exudate under the claw plate of one or a few claws is the most common clinical presentation, although sometimes the loss of a nail is not noticed and only the dry, brittle nails are questioned by the owner. Footpad corns are most commonly seen in Greyhounds, in both racing and non-racing animals. Affected dogs develop small, well-demarcated, hard, slightly raised areas of hyperkeratosis on their pads.
