The “Gunk” is a culmination of build-up from your pet's natural skin oils and diet, dust, cat litter, anything they walk on/ in throughout the day. As you can imagine, this leads to loads of microbes (bacteria, fungus) mixed into this lovely nail gunk.
A dog with yeast infections on their paws can have red, irritated, and itchy paws. The underside of the paws, between the pads, is affected most often, but yeast can occur anywhere on the paws. Sometimes a brown discharge can be seen in the nail beds.
Take a closer look at your dog's paws to identify the nail infection symptoms. You'll notice a swollen nail bed and pus oozing out of it. Also, you'll notice discoloration in the affected claw; for example, the broken white claw will turn black and vice versa. Furthermore, the nail will be soft and brittle.
Why did my dog's nails turn brown? Finally, nails that turn brown can also be the result of yeast infection. Dogs that have a history of allergies are more prone to these infections. You will notice nails growing longer than usual and the quick also turning brown (the blood vessel and nerve inside the nail).
Nail discoloration, where the nail turns red, brown, or black, is usually due to an injury with internal bleeding and bruising under the nail. But it can also be a fungal, bacterial, or protozoal infection. Sometimes it happens because of tumors or damage that allows dirt and debris to collect under the nail.
Dehydration is another potential cause of dark cuticles. Some medical conditions like fungal infection, heart disease or kidney problems, skin cancer, etc may also cause the skin around nails to turn black. In such cases, consult a doctor to treat the internal problem.
Just like our own nails, your dog's nails get dirt beneath them which can transport a lot of mud into the house. We don't usually notice that dirt at first…and then it dries and falls out somewhere inside the house!
Melanonychia is the term for dark pigmentation of the fingernails or toenails. The discoloration can be a natural occurrence in people with dark skin, but it may sometimes indicate health issues. Melanonychia is a nail condition in which melanin is present in the nail plate.
Paws or Other Body Parts
When dogs lick their paws excessively, a build-up of porphyrins from the saliva turns the fur around the area pink or rusty red. Over time, the stains can turn a darker brown. While the staining is only unsightly, excessive licking is often a sign of an underlying medical or behavioral issue.
Melanonychia can be caused by inflammatory skin diseases that affect your nails. It can also be caused by inflammation due to friction from shoes and biting your nails. Poor nutrition. Malnutrition can cause melanonychia, especially a lack of protein, vitamin D, or vitamin B12.
discolouration of the nail – it may turn white, black, yellow or green. thickening and distortion of the nail – it may become an unusual shape or texture and be difficult to trim. pain or discomfort – particularly when using or placing pressure on the affected toe or finger.
Nail psoriasis and nail fungus are two of the most common causes of nail changes. 1 Both conditions cause changes in the texture and color of your nails. They may have similar symptoms, making it hard to tell the difference.
Symptoms include lethargy, bloody nasal discharge or nosebleeds, nasal pain, sneezing, or pain around the nose area. Treatment typically involves infusing the affected dog's nasal passages with a liquid anti-fungal medication, although a second treatment may be necessary in some cases.
Nail fungus is a common infection of the nail. It begins as a white or yellow-brown spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. As the fungal infection goes deeper, the nail may discolor, thicken and crumble at the edge. Nail fungus can affect several nails.
Symptoms of a yeast infection include red, itchy skin, discolouration, and a sweet, musty odour. If a yeast infection is present in the paws (one of the most common areas), the paws will become red and itchy, and there may even be a brown discharge present in the nail beds.
Brown spots on the skin of dogs with spotted coats are normal. But spots also occur because of age and sun exposure. Parasites, yeast, bacterial infections, and underlying disorders like cancer, Cushing's, or Addison's disease may also create brown spots or hyperpigmentation on the skin.
In the earliest stages of a yeast infection, the skin on the paws will most likely be pink or reddish. In later stages of the infection, the skin will thicken into an almost leathery texture, and usually gray or even black.
Dogs often lick their paws excessively if they are itchy, irritated, or painful—just like they tend to lick their wounds.
Porphyrin staining can be a normal cosmetic issue for many dogs rather than a health concern.
If your toenail or fingernail is thick, fragile, separating from the nail bed and brownish, whitish or blackish, you may have a mycotic nail. This fungal infection can affect anyone, but you're more likely to get it if you have diabetes, psoriasis or athlete's foot.
Hydrogen Peroxide Soak
A hydrogen peroxide solution can also be a good soak for treating stained nails. For soaking your nails, always use diluted hydrogen peroxide. Mix it with water in a ratio of 1:4. Soak your nails in the solution for 8 to 10 minutes.
Nutritional Deficiency
Usually not consuming enough vitamin B12 causes the development of brown or darkish patches around the fingernails or under the nails. Another way you can tell if you have a vitamin deficiency is if your nails are thin and brittle.
At a minimum, you should clean your dog's paws during bath time, but make a habit out of doing quick checks every week. If your dog has long fur, they might need paw checks after each walk.
Beyond comfort, neglecting your dog's nails and paws carries serious health risks. Dry paw pads can eventually crack and split, providing easier access for germs and parasites. Overgrown nails can cause your dog's feet to splay unnaturally, reducing traction and making walking painful.
But what is flea dirt? It's not just regular dirt—it's actual flea feces, a mix of blood meal and flea waste. Finding these little black specks on your pet's skin means you must get your pet on flea medication as soon as possible to get rid of this pesky problem.