Nails Growing On Tail HELP PLS
 

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, between trouble staying logged in and real life, I've slipped. But please, I need help from someone.

A while ago, I noticed that Shannon, my 10 year old GSD, had what looked like a nail growing out of the middle side part of her tail. Within 2 weeks, it had developed into a cluster of 3. It looked exactly like a dogs nails would, same shape, and had a curve just like a nail. At first it was white, then turned black, and even felt hard like a nail, but the first one if scrapped with your nail would sort of dissentigrate in tiny black thingys and fall off. The base was connected to her tail, and if pushed to the side, you could see the skin was raw underneath the "nail". It's not painful, nor seemed to bother her.

I took her to the vet and low and behold, the vet said it was the same material as what a dogs nails were made of, except did not have a quik. She proceeded to cut it, near the base, just like the nails on her feet! I decided I wanted a second opinion, went to a different vet, and showed them the growths without telling them what had already been diagnosed when it grew back long again. I got the same diagnosis, yes, it's the same cell material that makes the dog nails, and she also cut it with the nail clippers, and said to get it cut at the same time as Shannons nails were done! It didn't bleed, no quik, and still didn't bother her. Now she has a few on her neck!

Has anyone ever heard of this? I'll try to post a picture in the next couple of days when they grow long again, to show exactly how it looks (even curves like a real toe nail when it gets too long).:eek:

Please, if you've ever heard of this, or have a website I can read about it, or know why this is happening, please post it here. BTW, all blood panels were normal!

omg, I have no idea Shannon, but that must be so freaky! If my doggies had that, I'd be panic central, even if they were harmless.:o

You can't get the whole growth removed?

(ps, glad you're back.:) :grouphug: )

weird. I'd loved to see that if you have pictures.

Get an x-ray, it's just a guess, but certain types of tumors will grow things such as hair and nails out of them, so it could be something like that.

ok time to post....my guinea pig has that on her paws. I never got it checked because it looks like a result from her having her paws in dirt all the time. No matter how clean a piggy cage is there's still poo pellets she steps on.
I don't want to suggest your dog's dirty and needs more cleaning. I don't know what he's around, whether he isn't washed after enough , or whether this "thing" is a result of dirty fur. I have no idea :confused: If vet doesn't know...who would??but they don't know everything. maybe it's something that can be removed surgically?

lol Jiorji, Shannon's doggy is a show doggy. I think Kenzie is as clean as it gets.

yeah no, i'm NOT suggesting he's dirty that's why i don't know what to say...so i said if the vet doesn't know what it is...we're no better. I'm speechless. lol so odd

I'm actually not even sure it's the same thing they have.

I guess if it's just clumpy dirt, you can cut it out (worst case scenario) but if it's attached (like a tumor or growth) you can't get under it.

I remember another member on this board with the same question...
[url]http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=21108&highlight=nail+tail[/url]

here it is...maybe you can get in touch with them and see what they were told

[QUOTE=cpietra16]I remember another member on this board with the same question...
[url]http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=21108&highlight=nail+tail[/url]

here it is...maybe you can get in touch with them and see what they were told[/QUOTE]

cpietra 16, I went to the link you supplied,l and the picture link the original poster put up says page not available, and the email address he supplies is also not valid:confused: Thanks for trying to help though, I wish I had seen that pic, but in the replies there, they confirm it is indeed a nail, just like shannon has! Glad to know the vets and I are not crazy:eek: I only wish I knew the outcome! I've sent a pm, hopefully they'll reply, I'm worried sick, but I don't have much hope they'll reply as their profile says their last activity was Nov/05 Edited to add, I tracked down his business, and the emails are returned from there as well, uggg

sorry to hear that. I was hoping you could get some answers. I'll keep trying other sources

wow, please keep us posted!

The next time that you speak with your vet, ask him/her what the medical term is for this condition. I would be interested to read on this.

Lola Bologna

:ca:

Update
 

[QUOTE=cpietra16]sorry to hear that. I was hoping you could get some answers. I'll keep trying other sources[/QUOTE]

Great news! I was able to track down the OP's business that you directed me to, and called them! Their vet said it IS a nail and it's some type of genetic mutant thing some dogs have. Their dogs nail just fell out one day and never grew back, either did the one on their BC's neck which had grown after they posted here! Not dangerous just make sure she doesn't chew at it! I'd like to sincerely thank you cp for directing me to them, and also a very, very sincere thank you to the OP for calling me back from Tenn. She's sending me a pic of the original nail on tail and I'll post it as well as Shannons when I get it!

What a relief, and THANK YOU AGAIN!

great to hear...I'm glad you got some answers.

The OP gave me permission to post the pic of Wilsons nail growing on his tail as the Vet as cut Shannon's short so it's hard to see. Shannons should be long enough in about 2 weeks to take a clear picture, as it seems hers grows much longer than the OP's. I'll post Shannons as soon as I can! Here's what it looks like, weird huh
[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/shannon1233/Kenz/WilsonsTail0003.jpg[/IMG]

at least you know what it is and what will happen that is great news

Glad to hear that you got a positive answer. Fingers crossed for Shannon. :fingerscr :fingerscr

Great News!

Thanks
 

This is my first post - we just discovered a nail growing on our dog's tail and I freaked out and started looking for info. Thanks Shannon for your helpful post! I am very relieved that it is nothing major!

Why Pets.ca IS SUCH A GREAT FORUM:)
 

[QUOTE=rayoung;311363]This is my first post - we just discovered a nail growing on our dog's tail and I freaked out and started looking for info. Thanks Shannon for your helpful post! I am very relieved that it is nothing major![/QUOTE]

I'm soooo glad you found the help needed, THAT'S WHY PETS.CA IS SUCH A GREAT SITE!!!!!!
Btw, expect more to pop up on different places, my vet said once they have those cells, they tend to be prone to growing more. Shannon has several on her neck now, but I still get them checked periodically to make sure they're nothing more serious, but I also tend to be an overprotective mom! I'd suggest you keep an eye open and also always get these usual growths checked :)

OMG So glad I found this - my dog also has this growing from her tail. I had no clue what to google so I just entered "dog" and "growing out of tail" and got this, lol. A nail is exactly how I would describe it. It's pretty dang long and curves upward. I tried to cut it but its so thick and tough that I'm going to have to find something else to cut it with...Clippers wont open big enough!

[url]http://www.gsdhelp.info/cancer/kerato.html[/url]



I looked this up and it is called keratocanthoma . I never knew this could happen to a dog's tail . I would be really worried if my dog had nails in his tail.

We have a dog that occasionally (three or four times over the past 4 years) develops them on his face. They're there for a few weeks or months, then the faulty follicle goes dormant and the nail falls off.

I've never heard of one too thick to cut with a clipper, though, teh squishy--your dog's nail might be worth a trip for a vet evaluation.