Dew claw removal

[Babyblue5290]

I looked around a bit, but couldn't find much about the removal of dew claws. I was wondering what everyone's opinons where about the removle of the dew claw on dogs?

I don't know much about this so I don't have much of an opinion yet. Although I have heard about dogs getting their dew claws stuck in things and getting the nail ripped off. Chloe doesn't have dew claws and Lucas does. Lucas has never yet got it caught in anything so I don't see much validity in that statement yet.

So what do you guys think? Is it just an unescesary surgery? or a nescesary one? and why?

 

[Renee750il]

This older thread might help you, BabyB http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1477

 

[Love4Pits]

I don't know too much about it I don't think its all that important. My Aunt and Uncle own two dogs (funny because they hate my dogs and my lifestyle) one named Decker is a Aussie Cattle Dog/Something else mix and he still has his Dew Claws and is prefectly fine before we used to call them hawk claws lol.

 

[bogolove]

I had Brady's removed for the reason I described in the thread Renee posted. He had floppy ones that were almost like an extra toe but with no bone and I thought as active as he is that they might get caught on something and torn off. Other than that reason, I don't see any real reason to remove normal looking ones. Brady's just stuck out and were floppy.

 

[Babyblue5290]

I was wondering because when I went to the Humane Society today to volunteer one of the dogs had dew claws on his front and back feet. The other volunteers where all like "What are those?", "I thought most dogs didn't have them anymore?", and "One mentioned them geting stuck in things and All responsible breeders remove the dew claws.
So I was wondering if it was really important.

Hey pits do you remove the dew claws? Or do you leave them? Or do your dogs even have them?

Oh and Renee thanks for the link. I looked through the first few pages, but didn't see anything on dew claws. That really helped. Thanks!

 

[smkie]

Shaffer has them..if he was a few days old i would have them removed, but at this age..it isn't necessary. If he ran like Victor does then i would..vic gets his feet in enough trouble as it is..he has already torn a huge chunk out of one pad and run a stob thru the skin on the side of his foot/leg.

 

[Love4Pits]

Depends on the type if there like what bogo said yes they go. Most huskies they don't even get them but usually if they do have them we just leave them. I havent had a problem yet.

 

[Babyblue5290]

Ok, so only if they are floppy and stick out do they get removed. Otherwise it's pretty pointless. I got it thanks.

 

[Renee750il]

Check the link again. It must not have transferred properly for you. I just checked it and the entire thread is about dew claws and the pros and cons of having them removed or leaving them.

 

[Babyblue5290]

Check the link again. It must not have transferred properly for you. I just checked it and the entire thread is about dew claws and the pros and cons of having them removed or leaving them.

I read through the entire thing. I saw the cons, but only if they stuck out and were all floppy with no bone did I see a pro for removing them. I didn't see any other pro's except that. Was there more that I didn't get or something?

 

[Renee750il]

That's pretty much it. If they're floppy and in danger of catching on things and tearing it's best to have them removed. If they're attached with bone and your dog uses them for things like holding and grasping then it's usually best to leave them alone. If the dew claws are left alone though, you do need to make sure you keep those nails trimmed.

 

[Babyblue5290]

Ok that's what I got from it, so thanks for the link.

 

[EliNHunter]

I think a lot of breeders go ahead an remove dew claws (for showing, I think?). Anywho, my Hunter had had his dew claws removedk so he must be from a breeder, huh?!? He licks and wipes his little face like a cat, so it's probably good he doesn't have them!

 

[CreatureTeacher]

Some breeds, like Sharpeis, sometimes have dew claws on the front and back feet. Weird, but true.

You got it, Babyblue. Some vets will tell you to have dew claws removed "just in case", but dogs do actually use them (unless they're not formed properly) so they aren't just vestigial things. In all the dogs I've had, I've never had a problem with dew claws. I know that problems can arise, but if you keep them trimmed properly they seem to do well.

 

[EliNHunter]

But it's their poor little "thumbs"?

 

[Renee750il]

Mine use them like thumbs.

 

[Love4Pits]

I once saw a pic on a site can't remember it off the top of my head but there was a pic of a dogs paw where its dew claw was alowed to grow so long with out being clipped its was almost a complete "O" shape. My dogs who have them I keep clipped like CT said.

 

[CreatureTeacher]

Yep, they're pretty useful little thumbs, as far as non-thumbs go. I've even known dogs that use them to deal with their own eye boogers. None of my dogs, of course. They'd rather rub their eye boogers on my pillows....

 

[Love4Pits]

Hitch use's his to clean out his eye boogers! I always thought it was cute im sure others of mine do I just don't think about it.

 

[RD]

Ripley's dewclaws are removed. It is common to remove the dewclaws on smaller breeds, they usually are not formed well and in some breeds like Chihuahuas and Papillons (who have slightly prominent eyes) they can injure their eyes with those weird dewclaws.

Dakota's are stiff and compact. I keep them short and they've never gotten caught on anything.