Hey Bec,

There is no cure for this condition - this is a life long immune issue that may be helped by an immune boosting diet and supplements such as colostrum and quercetin. This is an excellent article on the matter so I will copy and paste.

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SLO is thought to be an autoimmune disease that targets the toe nails. The hallmark of autoimmune diseases is that the body mistakenly forms antibodies against part of itself. If it's antibodies against our our red blood cells then we destroy our own blood and become anemic. If it's antibodies against our joints then we become arthritic. In the case of symmetrical lupoid onychodystrophy, Greyhounds form antibodies against their toe nails, and reject them.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS?

• multiple nail loss
• licking the nails
• visible oozing around the base of the nail
• separation of the nail from the quick
• limping
• infection
• odor

TREATMENT

• this must be treated as an immune disorder, not a simple infection
• loose and painful nails should be removed - usually under anesthesia
• there is often a 6-10 week lag time to see a good response to treatment
• treatment must extend over a period of at least many months, and in many cases, years
• relapses are common
• medications may need to be adjusted based on response to treatment -there is no single successful protocol
• SEE YOUR VETERINARIANbut go in with information about the disease and treatment. This is not a common diagnosis and many vets might not be familiar with it.

MEDICATIONS (any doses mentioned here are for greyhounds - other breeds need their own levels)

• in all cases, essential fatty acids should be started immediatelybut because of the nature of the disease, it may be 6 weeks or longer to see improvement. The recommended dose is 180 mg eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) per 10 pounds. Sources of EPA are:

• The 1000 mgfish oil capsules contain 180 mg EPA, so a 60 pound Greyhound should get 6 fish oil capsules a day, a 70 pound Greyhound should get 7. These are readily available over-the-counter.

• 3V HPcaps

• Derm Caps ES

• Vitamin E400 IU every 12 hrs
• if the problem is severe or advanced at diagnosis, the following medications are also used:
• tetracycline and niacinamide (500 mg each every 8 hours for an average sized Greyhound)
• pentoxiphylline (Trental) - some vets prefer this over the tetracycline/niacinamide combination
• prednisoneand azathioprine should be avoided if possible, but in resistant or very aggressive onset cases, prednisone can be dosed in greyhounds at 15 mg total dose per day, and then weaned down as soon as possible.
• Pain medication - this is a very painful condition and there can be some relief with NSAID's likeRimadyl, Deramaxx, etc.

A WORD ABOUT DIET

Most dermatologists agree that one of the possible triggers for this disease is food related. Thus, treating your SLO dog as a severe food allergy patient might be of some benefit. This involves very strict dietary restrictions, and the details should be discussed with your vet. Foods that have proven useful include Eukanuba Veterinary Diet (Response FP - a fish based food), IVD foods, Hill's ZD, and other truly hypoallergenic foods.

PROGNOSIS

This disease tends to remain a life-long problem with afflicted dogs, but it is also one that can almost always be controlled with medication. With luck, over 6-8 months, new nails will regrow and your hound will be pain-free.

Source to view article in its entirety: http://www.grassmere-animal-hospital.com/SLO.htm