The Lowdown on SLO

Abbreviated to SLO, Symmetrical Lupoid Onychodystrophy is an autoimmune disease affecting the claws. The part of the claw that attaches the nail to the body is called the nailbed. SLO causes the body to target and attack these important nailbeds. Due to the poor nailbed, these nails then either crack, split, or fall out completely, and the area also becomes very inflamed. It is a nasty disease, and can be incredibly painful, resulting in reduced mobility, and potential for secondary musculoskeletal problems due to a change in gait in an attempt to avoid pain.

Due to the nature of this disease, it is highly likely to be underdiagnosed as it can be easily mistaken for trauma or infection. This means the disease is considered to be uncommon, though it is more common in some breeds than others. Breeds most commonly affected include the German Shepherd, Bearded Collie, Gordon Setter, Rottweiler, Labrador, Schnauzer and Greyhound.

In this blog we will discuss the causes and symptoms of SLO, how it is diagnosed, what conventional treatments are available, and how you can support your dog naturally alongside conventional treatment.

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Causes and Symptoms

Because SLO is an autoimmune disease, there is no specific, pinpointable cause of it’s onset. Autoimmune diseased tend to happen spontaneously and have no known cause, however there are some factors which may play a role in a dog getting SLO, such as:

• Genetic predisposition: some breeds are genetically more prone to it! Some individuals may also suffer a genetic mutation causing the gene associated with SLO to change.
• Infection: infections can cause traumatic weakness to the nailbed.
• Exposure to toxins: whether these are environmental or through vaccines or flea treatments, such toxins can have a major effect on immune regulation.
• Underlying health causes: there are potential links to thyroid dysfunction.
• Dietary deficiencies: dogs lacking essential Omega Fatty Acids, Biotin and/or zinc may be more susceptible to the onset of nail conditions, including SLO.
• Dietary Sensitivities: some studies suggest a link between SLO and food sensitivities/the inflammation caused by food sensitivities.

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There are a number of symptoms associated with SLO. The unusual quality of SLO is in it’s name ‘symmetrical’ referring to the fact that the disease affects symmetrical nails; the same nail or nails on each paw. Symptoms which may be seen include:

• Onychomadesis: sudden onset nail loss. These nails can break very easily or even fall off!
• Unusual regrowth: when regrowing, the affected nails often grow back an unusual colour, are brittle, thicker than usual, and/or an unusual shape.
• Reduced mobility: the dog’s willingness to walk can indicate nail troubles.
• Swollen nailbed: inflammation in the area of the nailbeds can be visible to the eye, or can be noticed when the dog begins gnawing at his or her paw.
• Secondary infection: infections can occur in the now-vulnerable nailbed.

If you notice your dog’s nails changing suddenly, breaking frequently on light exercise, or splitting regularly seemingly for no reason, head to your veterinarian!

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Diagnosis

When you visit the vet with your concerns, you will have an in depth conversation with them, regarding your dog’s clinical signs, and breed/family history. The vet will likely want to rule out other common causes of your dog’s symptoms first and foremost. Let’s take a look at the diagnostic testing they may carry out:

• Physical examination: your vet will carry out a thorough examination of your dog to rule out trauma to the foot or nails which could present similarly to SLO.
• Biopsy and analysis: a biopsy of tissues around damaged nailbeds will be performed if the vet suspects SLO, and an analysis carried of the cells in these tissues carried out. This would reveal any potential bacterial or fungal infections which may cause damage to the nails, and would also be the definitive test to make an official diagnosis of SLO.
• Blood test: to test for thyroid issues that may affect the nails, and also check for auto-immune disease.

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Conventional Treatment

Once a diagnosis of SLO has been made, unfortunately there is no cure, however the disease will require management for life. Some individuals can have medications reduced over time if and when the condition stabilises, however frequent check-ups are required to ensure the medication amount doesn’t need to be increased at any time. Some of the suggestions your vet may make include:

• Immunosuppressants: these drugs aim to reduce a flare up of auto-immune disease. When taken long term, it is essential your pet has regular vet checks and blood tests!
• Antibiotics: to treat any detected secondary infections. Sometimes a vet may prescribe the antibiotic ‘Tetracycline’ which paired with Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) can be useful for their immune remodulation effects.
• NSAIDs: Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory medications may be recommended to reduce inflammation and pain in the toes/paw.
• Claw cutting: keeping nails short can help relieve pain, and prevent further splitting of the nails.

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Natural Support for SLO

As always, our approach is often supported by veterinary care, so we tend to look at this as a complementary approach as opposed to alternative. Here’s our top tips to support your pet naturally:

Tweaking the diet is one of the small changes you can make, that will make a big difference for your pet. Feeding a fresh food diet can be beneficial as they’re minimally processed, and often much higher in Omega Fatty Acids as well as antioxidants, which all go some way to reducing inflammation and disease. Ensuring your pet’s fresh diet contains plenty of foods with anti-inflammatory qualities can also aid those with SLO. Feeding an inflammatory, processed diet to a dog with an inflammatory disease can be the difference between sound health and anti-immune flares. Examples of anti-inflammatory foods include oily fish/sardines, raw egg, leafy greens, and algal oil.

If you or your vet suspects any food sensitivities, it is very important these are removed from the diet entirely as including them can affect the paws and nails due to the chronic inflammation this would cause. If you are unsure on what your dog is sensitive to, an elimination diet should be carried out. One study suggests a novel protein diet may be most appropriate.



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Supplements and herbs can be beneficial in your pet’s diet to aid management of SLO. We would recommend considering some of these options:

• Omega 3: this one is essential! adding as much omega 3 into the diet is very important here. Try to use a few difference sources in rotation for the broadest range of omega 3 to be consumed.
• Biotin: this supplement is another supplement we highly recommend for a dog with SLO. Biotin should be given with utmost importance, as it aids health claw growth.
• Zinc: many dogs are deficient in zinc, which can impact claw health due to it’s role in keratin production and the immune system.
• Curcumin: the active compound in turmeric. This potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant is another great option for those with SLO.
• Vitamin E: this vitamin is another potent antioxidant, and is also an immune modulator.
• Rehmannia Tincture: this herbal tincture is traditionally used to achieve autoimmune balance.
• Astragalus Root: similarly to Rehmannia, this herb is traditionally used to balance autoimmunity.

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A coupe of minor lifestyle changes can aid comfort for your pet too – as previously mentioned, keeping nails short is important to reduce the risk of further trauma, and pain. Using protective dog footwear when out on walks can also help to protect painful nails and nailbeds, and keeping paws clean and dry helps to reduce the risk of bacterial or fungal infections.

If your pooch has been struggling with their nails, it’s not something to brush off, or put down to trauma from an exciting adventure walk! Always check with your vet – they will be able to diagnose any potential SLO issues in your dog, and you can get your dog on the right track to recovery! You may also benefit from our dietary help, so please don’t hesitate to book in with our team!



Team MPN x