What would you do about this nail issue?

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

So about 5 weeks ago I took Hunter to the vet because she was chewing two of her nails down really, really far.  One of them is really dry, brittle and is peeling. The vet couldn't figure out what the problem was and said that fungal infections in the actual nail itself are really uncommon in dogs but not impossible.  The pads of her feet and the skin on her foot were perfectly fine.  The vet gave me some antiseptic type pads to clean the nails with 4 times a day.  There has been some improvement, not a lot but there is still peeling and she is chewing some, not as much.  

This afternoon I was downloading some photos and ran across this one.... I was not home when it was taken and somehow did not notice Hunter's nails.....

Now mind you this was taken a week before the nail issue but I am certain this has to be the cause, and that is NOT doggie friendly nail polish either.

Any suggestions on how to treat Hunter's nails now that I can be 99.9% sure that is nothing fungal related?  My daughter (the kitchen beautician) suggested putting this stuff called Mavala on the fur area to make it taste gross when she goes to chew, I am not convinced.  She said it was pretty funny I had no issue's using it when my younger daughter was still sucking her fingers and I wanted her to stop but I am afraid to use it on Hunter!!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Denise, I'm confused by this post.  Is your daughter painting Hunter's fingernails and you think she developed a fungus?  Or she had the fungal infection prior to this photo, or....  are you teasing us?

Or, you took Hunter to the vet not knowing your daughter was painting the nails?

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Ask the vet if Mavala is okay to use on Hunter's nails since she already saw Hunter a few weeks ago. 

It seems to me if it is safe for a baby it would be okay--but I know better than that.  Not always so true

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

Im not sure how "safe" things like that are - if it works and you dont eat it, I guess its fine for humans and dogs, but if it doesnt work.... who knows

[F, Calla & Luca]

This stuff Mavala sounds awful, I read the ingredient list. I guess if this was the issue I'd hope Hunter will get back to leaving her nails alone.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

The word Mavala sounds awful too...  it sounds like a cuss word in another language.  I can't use that here but just know that it does   :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

Ha.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I used to wear stuff like that to stop me biting my nails - it tasted nasty, but didnt stop me lol. I found a way to use my teeth and not let my lips or tongue touch the stuff

Im not sure if 1 coat of nail polish would cause such problems.

Joanne - i think she took Hunter to the vet not knowing her daughter was painting her nails

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

That's how I understood it too.  Kids.  Good grief.  Even my older sons certainly start some funny stuff with the dog when they come around.

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

Exactly Kaytlin :-)  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm wondering how the nail polish came off the nails? Did she chew it off or did the kitchen beautician remove it? If the latter, I'm wondering if the nail polish remover could have caused her nails to become dry, brittle, etc?

You might try giving her a 500 mg evening primrose oil capsule every day, they're good for the nails as well as the skin and coat, and may help with the dryness.

(Don't use EPO in dogs with a history of seizure disorders.)

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

I always give her 1000mg of EPO a day for her general itchy skin and in the dry, cold winter months I up it to 1500mg...  it has really helped overall.  Do you think if I up-ed her back to 1500mg that might help?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Might; as long as she tolerates it in the winter, no harm in trying.