Charlie's foot is bad again - Upd # 9

[Scooter's Mom]

Jennie, I googled cutaneous horns. I don't think that's it. This is the actual nail.

It's really tight together, but reminds me of this:
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/popup?id=3897859

It's really long and spiralled/circled into itself almost like a snail shell. I think the nail just didn't stop growing like the others have.

I'm confident the new vet clinic will get it taken care of!

[Randi]

Lots of good thoughts for Charlie that his nail gets fixed and there'll be no pain. Hopefully, the new vet is good, and gentle with him.

[catmandu]

I have to keep an eye on Michael My Dream Cat as he has nails that grow like that and curve into his paw pad.
But it doesnt seem to cause him pain, although he doesnt like when I put alcohol on it to disinfect the pad.
We are hoping and praying that Charlies paw is all right Saturday.

[Catlady711]

A cutaneous horn grows from the pad of the toe, the nail grows from just above that. Jack and Pooky both have cutaneous horns and I just trim them when I trim the nails. Doesn't bother them as it has no blood supply or nerve endings. If it's causing pain to the animal it's not a cutaneous horn.

Not knowing if the previous surgery was a single toe declaw and they didn't get all the material out, or if it was just removing the offending part temporarily, it is very possible for a nail to grow back.

It's kinda like having an ingrown toenail surgery done on people, if all the material isn't scraped out, or removed the nail will regrow. I also am familar with that as my dad has had to have 3 toenail surgeries done because his keep growing back. I've only had the one surgery (both big toes) about 1 1/2 years ago and mine still havent grown back. I think it's a difference in doctor experience and dilegence (sp?)

Either way I hope they can find a more permenant solution so Charlie doesn't have any more problems in the future. I hope everything resolves soon.