Nail Cracks in Elephants

• Predisposing factors that may lead to foot diseases in captive elephants include lack of exercise, lack of regular foot care and inspection, nail and sole overgrowth and lack of trimming, inappropriate enclosure surfaces (hard unyielding substrates contribute to the development of foot problems, for example by trauma and by lack of opportunity for digging), constant direct contact with dirty and wet surfaces in which pathogens can proliferate, malnutrition, excess feeding/insufficient exercise leading to overweight elephants which put more stress on their feet, arthritis and inherited poor foot structure. (B22.34.w12, B454.1.w1, B454.16.w16)
• The possible causes for nail cracks in elephants include trauma, nutrition, genetics and environmental factors. (B22.34.w12)
• "Nail cracks are likely due to overgrowth of the nail, trauma to the nail, or constant exposure to hard or wet substrates." (B454.16.w16)
• Nail cracks have been associated with inadequate wear and/or inadequate trimming, leading to abnormal pressure on the nail, particularly in combination with moist conditions. (B10.49.w21, B64.27.w4, B454.5.w5)
  • Maintenance in damp conditions makes the nails soft and more likely to split under pressure. (B10.49.w21)
  • Once a crack starts, for whatever reason, normal expansion and contraction of the foot during locomotion tends to increase it. (B22.34.w12, B454.16.w16)
• Frequent lying down and getting up on hard surfaces may predispose to cracks of the middle toes of the hind feet. (B454.5.w5)
• Stereotypic rocking behaviour on a hard surface predisposes to cracking of the lateral toe nails on the front feet. (B454.5.w5)
• In arid climates the nails may dry out excessively and lose their normal flexibility, which increases the risk of cracking. (B454.5.w5)
• Poor conformation predisposes to nail cracks. (B454.5.w5)
• Nail cracks in juveniles may be associated with boisterous play. (B454.5.w5)

Further information on Disease Agents has only been incorporated for agents recorded in species for which a full Wildpro "Health and Management" module has been completed (i.e. for which a comprehensive literature review has been undertaken). Only those agents with further information available are linked below:

• Non-specific physical trauma

In Elephants:

• Elephants' toenails are not designed to be weight-bearing structures. (B22.34.w12, B454.13.w13)
• In general, nail cracks are more commonly seen in older elephants as a result of a combination of problems, such as an accumulation of insults to the foot over many years. (B454.5.w5)
• Nail cracks may develop in the front or hind foot nails. (B454.16.w16)
• Horizontal and vertical nail cracks have been described in elephants. (B22.34.w12)
• Vertical nail cracks are more common; they may start from the cuticle and extend distally to the nail tip, or vice versa. (B22.34.w12)
• Superficial nail cracks may only affect the cornified nail; deep cracks may extend into the corium of the foot. (B22.34.w12)
• A nail crack may be complicated by infection and eventually reach the bone causing phalangeal osteomyelitis. (J2.28.w2, P9.1.w7)
•  For further information on nail infection/abscesses see: Nail Abscess in Elephants

Clinical signs:

• Visible split in the nail, horizontally or vertically. (B22.34.w12)
• Discomfort, if the crack extends into the corium. (B22.34.w12)

• Predisposing factors that may lead to foot diseases in captive elephants include lack of exercise and lack of regular nail and sole trimming, inadequate enclosure surface, constant direct contact with dirty and wet surfaces, and lack of inspection of the sole. (B22.34.w12, B454.1.w1)
• Rasping of the nail surface for cosmetic reasons may predispose to development of cracks by thinning the nail wall and removing the periople. (B22.34.w13)

• Inspection of the nail crack and grooving of the crack with a hoof knife to assess its depth. (B22.34.w12)

Treatment:

• Treatment aims to stop advancement of the crack and allow the nail to grow back, and to prevent development of abscesses. (B454.5.w5)
  • The nail should be trimmed or rasped and rounded off at the bottom, to remove pressure from it, particularly pressure immediately adjacent to the nail crack. (B10.49.w21, B454.5.w5, B454.16.w16)
    • If the smaller side of the nail adjacent to a vertical nail crack is trimmed to be non-weight-bearing, and kept so by trimming/rasping every two to four weeks, the crack will gradually (over several months) grow out in that direction. (B454.5.w5, B454.16.w16)
  • Mild cracks of the nail should not be rasped, in order to avoid removing the protective periople. (B22.34.w12)
  • Trim and explore the crack, checking there is no necrotic tissue present which could lead to abscess formation. (B454.16.w16)
  • Remove any dark, foul-smelling nail material and any foreign material. (B454.5.w5)
  • Superficial cracks can be grooved with a hoof knife and an equine hoof dressing applied to prevent further extension of the crack. (B22.34.w12)
  • Making a horizontal notch dorsal to a vertical crack appears not to be effective in preventing the crack from expanding towards the cuticle. (B454.5.w5, B454.16.w16)
  • The feet should be kept dry. (B10.49.w21)
  • On a daily basis, the crack should be examined and any dirt or faecal accumulation scrubbed away. (B454.5.w5)
• Cracks which reach the corium (laminae) need more aggressive treatment. (B10.49.w21)
  • In general, deeper cracks should be grooved in an V-shape with a sharp horse knife until it is opened, in some cases, only when necessary it should be opened to the corium. As the corium is approached, local anaesthesia is applied to the crack, using a sponge soaked in 2% lidocaine. (B22.34.w12, B454.5.w5, B454.13.w13)
  • Antiseptic such as iodine should be applied daily. (B10.49.w21)
  • Very deep cracks which penetrate the entire nail and extend for any distance should have their edges thinned and the surface of the nails rasped. (B22.34.w12, B454.5.w5, B454.13.w13)
  • The nails should be trimmed to remove pressure which may lead to deepening of the crack. (B10.49.w21)
• If a necrotic tract is detected, all the devitalised tissue should be removed. Any necrotic debris is flushed out with saline or saline/hydrogen peroxide solution, followed by a topical treatment with an iodine solution. Antibiotic or antiseptic ointment is used twice daily to prevent infection and allow the normal growth of the nail. (B454.5.w5, P1.1996.w2)
  • If the lesion cannot be fully opened for flushing and treatment, soaking the foot in a tub with hot Epsom salts softens the tissues and makes treatment possible later. (P1.1996.w2)
• Chemicals agents used to prevent infection while the nail crack is healing include Kopertox, Metox, Supertox (Kopertox mixed with acetone), copper sulphate, zinc acetate liquid and gel, furacin ointment-DMSO, Nolvasan and Wonder dust. (B454.13.w13)
• Nail cracks may be protected after treatment with coal tar, acrylic patches, epoxy resin or fibreglass hoof repair products. (B10.49.w21, B454.13.w13, J4.171.w5)
  • Acrylic or epoxy patches, applied after all debris and necrotic tissue has been removed, may be effective in stopping cracks from expanding. (B454.16.w16)
  • If the crack has not been properly cleaned, such patches will prevent drainage and delay healing. (B10.49.w21)
  • Patches may come loose and may be of less use in elephants than in equines. (B454.5.w5)
  • Hoof restoratives, clamps, clips etc. are unlikely to withstand the pressures associated with elephant foot expansion and will prolong the time required for the lesion to heal. (B22.34.w12)
• In some cases protection of the foot from environmental contamination is needed. Specially constructed boots are fitted to keep the foot dry and clean. (P1.1996.w2)
• For further information on the treatment of nail infection/abscesses see: Nail Abscess in Elephants

Prevention:

• Adequate regular foot trimming. (B64.27.w4, P5.39.w1)
• Trimming of the nails with equine hoof nipping and/ or a rasp at least every two months, if the substrate is not abrasive enough and/or the animal is inactive. (B22.34.w12)
• Nails should be trimmed carefully with an abrasive pad or hoof rasp, so that the distal tips do not bear any weight when the elephant foot is weight bearing. (P1.1996.w2)
• Only the ground surface of the nail should be trimmed, not the wall, in routine trimming. (B22.34.w13)
• Regular exercise, preferably on natural substrates. (B454.5.w5)
• Provision of appropriate, clean and dry, substrates. (B10.49.w21, B214.3.7.w3, B336.53.w53)
• Rubber mats on concrete sleeping areas may be beneficial. (B454.5.w5)
• Provision of access to uncontaminated moist substrates and water is beneficial to foot health. (B454.6.w6)
• Adequate hygiene. (B454.5.w5)
• Adequate nutrition is recommended to maintain foot health. Biotin, protein and trace elements, such as zinc, selenium and arsenic are some of the nutrients to consider. (B454.3.w3)
• Correction of certain repetitive abnormal behaviours. (B454.5.w5)

• History & Documentation
• Physical Examination of Mammals
• Treatment and Care - General
• Environmental Assessment
• Necropsy of Mammals
• Chapter 2 - B36 Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases - Specimen Collection and Preservation
• Chapter 3 - B36 Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases - Specimen shipment
• Appendix A - B36 Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases - Sample specimen history form
• Medicating Elephants

• Elephants (Elephantidae - Elephants (Family))

(List does not contain all other species groups affected by this disease)