brittle nails

Question
I have a 2 year old Min Pinischer.  She has had dry nails that crake and break off.  She seems to be in some pain.  I took her to two different vets now, but no luck.  Aswell, I have talked to many groomers about the problem.  I have upgraded her quality of dry and wet foods, and treats also.  I started giving her a multi vitamin.  I tried anti-fungle creams and anti-biotics.  It has been going on for 6 to 8 months now.  I do not know what else to do.  Can you help?

Answer
Hi Crystalthe reason I am so late answering you is, I have been trying to find out something about it.
It is not something seen very often. Very rarely actually.
I called my vet this morning. I had no luck finding anything on the web, and of course without seeing the dog he can't make a deffinate diagnosis. He said that it can either be a vitamin defeciency problem a hormonal problem, or even a fungus.
I would suggest keeping up to vitamins, and maybe cutting out the wet food, and just going with a top quality dry food.
The dry foods help clean their teeth, which is important.
Some formulas of the better dog foods have an anti-tartar ingredient added to help keep the teeth clean.
What brand of foods were you feeding before?
I would go with Science Diet, Iams, Walthams, or Natural Choice.
Those are all top foods. They have all the nutrients, and come in the different formulas for the dog's age, activity etc, and they have no fillers, like the less ecpensive grocery store brands.
Protein is what helps our nails be healthy, so it is probably the same for dogs.
When a dog's coat lacks luster, and the dog is otherwise healthy, I add an egg a day to their diet, to give some extra protein. It helps shine up the coat. I fry it in vegetable oil, and the extra oil and extra protein in the egg helps the coat some.
For the tendernbess, you might try some Bag Balm.
It is a salve for a cow's teats, that have become dry and crack from a calf nursing. It lubricates and helps heal the sore skin. It is great for other scrapes and other not serious wounds. Rub some of it into the flesh around and under her toenails. It might just help some.
It is also great to put on a child's scraped knees too, and is great for chapped hands and skin. It soothes and they heal faster. I have used it on my skin if I get a scrape.
Our Petsmart here carries it now, but before that, I got it at a feed store.
It comes in a square, green, tin container, and is called, simply "Bag Balm"
Also, try another vet. some of them, sadly, don't know beans about what they are doing.
They are just like Medical doctors. There is a big difference between one who finishes in the upper percentile of their class, and those that finish in the lower percentile.
Good luck with this. I hope you find some releif for her soon.
Charlotte