Rest assured that most dogs with dew claws do just fine without having to remove the dewclaws. Remove Them! I do not remove dew claws either. The risk of dewclaw injury also may prompt dewclaw removal. Like Like As with many other elective procedures in pets (such as ear crops and cat declawing ), the thinking on dewclaws has been trending strongly toward just letting them be. The process of removing the dewclaws of a puppy This is done when they are between 3 and 5 days of age. Why Do Some Breeders Remove Dew Claws from German Shepherd Puppies? Many breeders choose to remove dew claws on puppies in the first week of life — because soon after birth the dew claws are more like fingernails than appendages. Not to mention the fact that dogs with dew claws who also like to dig a lot will sometimes irritate the dew claw, or even break the dew claw bone (not all dew claws have bones). Front dewclaws: All dogs are born with a … I like to help dog owners understand what’s ‘normal’ and what you can expect in terms of living with and training your dog — how to get through the ups & downs of potty training, chewing, teaching commands, getting your dog to listen, and everything else that takes place during that hectic first year! My dog uses his to stabilize a bone for chewing. Sometimes, the reason for removal of dew claws in puppies and adult dogs is simply to prevent the possibility of injuries later in life, when dew claw get caught … If you purchased a puppy from a reputable breeder, dewclaw removal may have been done when the dog was three to five days old. However, it can increase significantly depending upon the complication of the injury or disease. With our Great Pyrenees dog, it appeared early when he was a puppy that his rear dew claws were sticking out too far and could get caught on things. My daily motivation is to help first-time dog owners be better prepared from the first day your new puppy enters your home. Dew claws are the equivalent of a human thumb and in Goldendoodles they are found on the front legs above the paw. I use my thumbs. I’ve always trained my own dogs and help friends train theirs, as well. This procedure is one that some breeders can do themselves, with no apparent ill effect to the puppies, who recover quickly from the amputation. I always removed Dew claws but when tail docking became a ban here in GB I also stopped removing Dew Claws. Dewclaws serve no purpose other than getting in the way — they snag on carpets, they get caught on toys or furniture, and so on. Just remember, the procedure is considerably more complicated if you wait until your dog is older, when a veterinarian will have to perform the procedure under anesthesia. In some breeds, dog dewclaws may be removed to give the leg a smoother look. Injury Prevention from the Environment. Our Decision Regarding Our Dog’s Rear Dew Claws When I'm not training, walking, grooming, or making homemade treats for my dogs, you will find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). You probably won’t see this in a lumbering Newf, but you may in a Border Collie doing agility. why are dewclaws commonly removed? — Dr. Buzby’s ToeGrips for Dogs. This can help to prevent any further injuries to the dog. While dewclaws can be removed at any time, veterinarians will usually advise you to have them removed when your dog is less than a few weeks old. It does not affect them two at all, Lucy's are very floppy where as Indy's are closer to the leg. The extra amount that you would pay for the actual dew claw removal procedure is usually around AUD $70 or more, depending on your vet and your location. If the claws are not removed at this age, most experts suggest waiting until the dog is spayed/neutered to have them removed. (Think of it as amputating a thumb.). An American Cocker came in today had back dew claws, curled right round into the leg, all sore. If you purchased a puppy from a reputable breeder, dewclaw removal may have been done when the dog was three to five days old. Occasionally, if the claws were not removed, the dog may suffer an injury to one dew claw, and after this occurs, a veterinarian may suggest removing the claws then. For German Shepherd dogs, this is true at least for dew claws on the hind paws. Those on the side of removing declaws believe it’s better to remove them than to have to worry about all the problems they can create, such as: 1. Often, the next chance to have the dewclaw removal done is the time the dog is neutered or spayed. I like to have them removed because I do alot of outdoor hiking and activities. Professionally, I worked at a vet and have several friends who are veterinarians — whom I consult with regularly. (And just because I love animals so much, I also worked at a Zoo for awhile!) sereneecho. Why is it necessary to remove dew claws from a canine? As the pet dog grows older, anesthesia will be required and the surgery can be more difficult. My daily motivation is to help first-time dog owners be better prepared from the first day your new puppy enters your home. The claws often are just some skin with a nail hanging from it and often not even bone in it. Dog dew claws are often removed for cosmetic reasons, but very often it is to avoid painful injury in the long run. Many breeders choose to remove dew claws on puppies in the first week of life — because soon after birth the dew claws are more like fingernails than appendages. Dew claws can be removed in older dogs but it is a more costly and painful procedure. Donna shares her reasoning behind why she does not remove the dew claws on any of her dogs and her recommendations about dew claws in general. When I’m not training, walking, grooming, or making homemade treats for my dogs, you will find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). I’m a lifelong dog owner — currently have 2 mixed breed Golden Aussies that we found abandoned on the side of the road as puppies. While many people think that docking a dog’s tail is not really necessary, and many more people think that docking a dog’s ears is downright cruel and should be outlawed, there is a valid reason for removing the dewclaw: Dogs routinely suffer dewclaw injury. I like to help dog owners understand what's 'normal' and what you can expect in terms of living with and training your dog -- how to get through the ups & downs of potty training, chewing, teaching commands, getting your dog to listen, and everything else that takes place during that hectic first year! (Some breeders remove declaws themselves, but this is … Since we chose to leave Tenor’s dew claws intact, the vet said that we’d have to pay extra attention to keeping the toenails on the dewclaws trimmed. One of Darcy's girls was doing some field work and she tore a toenail off a regular toe....we certainly are not going to start hacking off toes. Favorite Answer. While there do not appear to be any studies on the incidence of dewclaw injury, a Google search on “dewclaw injury in dogs” yields 17,200 results and the first 350 of them are descriptions of dewclaw injuries and how to treat them. Typically, dew claws are removed around 3-4 days of age. Why Do Owners Leave Their Lab’s Dewclaws Intact? In some breeds, the removal is thought to improve appearance for the show ring. To date, I’ve written over 600 articles for dog owners on this site! It is normal, although not biologically necessary, that certain breeds will have more than one dewclaw on the same paw. Better to have it removed cleanly than to have your dog accidentally rip a dewclaw off, causing him unnecessary pain and risking infection. In many breeds — but certainly not all — the dewclaw has traditionally been removed in the first few days of a dog’s life. Some breeders don’t automatically perform a dewclaw removal, and some dog owners prefer to leave it in place until the dog has a problem and needs to have it removed. The majority of dogs with dew claws have them on their front paws. I feel it is barbaric. It can actually contact the ground and help with traction when a zooming dog is “cornering”. I certainly would not want my thumbs cut off. 2. A dog dew claw is similar to a thumb (complete with a toenail) — but it grows a bit higher up on the paw than the rest of the toenails on that paw. I had no idea about all of this before the research; just like you, I am a Frenchie owner, and research and write these blog posts to learn more about our boy, Claude. Why are the dew claws removed from dogs? My female Rott and my female Dane both still have their dew claws, but the rest of them had them removed two days after they were born. I’m a lifelong dog owner -- currently have 2 mixed breed Golden Aussies that we found abandoned on the side of the road as puppies. hunting, tracking, rescue, sled pulling, etc. Because they are hidden, owners are less likely to notice until the infection is really bad. As stated, this is due to the fact that the bones are not completely established, and eliminating them will be a lot easier. It grows high up on the leg. This usually happens when reaching through a chain link fence — or something similar — where the dew claw gets caught. I've always trained my own dogs and help friends train theirs, as well. I actually dont like to see Dew Claws. Overgrown dewclaws – people forget to clip them 2. Answer Save. I doubt Tooradin whippet racing club has either. Removing dew claws from dogs is often done, but there’s a lot of debate surrounding the issue. For these reasons, hunting dog breeders find that the best option is simply to remove the dew claw, thus removing any possibility of an injury. This is done so the dog won't rip or snag it on something in the field (i.e. Those dew claws provide balance while your Lab is running and keeps the wrist joints stable. If you choose to have this procedure performed it should done when a puppy is under 5 days of age and only after the area has been numbed with a local anesthetic (e.g., EMLA cream). If yours does too, then you’re probably wondering if a dog dew claw is just an “extra” toenail or if it’s actually used in your dog’s day-to-day life. Dew claws are frequently removed by breeders when the puppies are between two and five days old. I've been sharing my best ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998 (the same year that Google started... and before the days of Facebook and YouTube). When Are Dewclaws Removed? Professionally, I worked at a vet and have several friends who are veterinarians -- whom I consult with regularly. If dew claws are removed in the first few days after birth there it removes the risk of snapping off and splintering and a dog can get along throughout its life very well without them. Dewclaws are unnecessary toes on the backs of dogs’ legs. Likewise, removing the dew claws of large pups can cost more than declawing smaller breeds. Until better evidence comes in to the contrary, we will continue to do so. Centuries ago they probably had enough substance to them to act as functioning digits much like some dogs use their thumb claws (front dews). The risk of dewclaw injury also may prompt dewclaw removal. Again, if a dog had loose floppy dew claws then I can see the reason for removing them, but for just cosmetic reasons, I hate it, even though I did it with the 2 litters I bred. The vet assured us that he’d be just fine. To date, I've written over 500 articles for dog owners on this site! Ingrown nails – often, the dew claw is very close to the skin, making it easy for it to get ingrown 3. 5 Answers. And studies have shown that removal of the dewclaw (particularly the attached “non-floppy” kind) can lead to increased incidence of arthritis in the carpus (wrist) because the dewclaw helps with stabilization of that joint. Any pyr lover will tell you, never never never remove the double dew claws. What she and I did notice was when the dogs were using their paws to clean their eyes the claw removed the hair from around their eyes, or this is what my friend and I have thought. So, if you remove the dew claws, there will be muscles in your dog’s legs that will atrophy due to lack of use. We were encouraged to keep an eye on his rear dew claws for a few months — before making a decision regarding the future of Tenor’s dew claws when it came time for his neutering. Some breeds of dogs routinely have their dewclaws removed to “improve” their appearance in the show ring. Removing the dew claws from the front legs is something never done in Europe. Dew claws on the back paws is fairly rare for dogs in general. Many breeders remove dew claws within days after pups are born, because for years they were believed to be unnecessary and unsightly and could cause health problems if owners forgot to trim them and allowed them to grow into the skin of the leg. At 6 months of age, when when we made the appointment for Tenor’s neuter surgery, we realized that he hadn’t had any problems with the dew claws catching on anything — so we decided to leave them intact. But it’s somewhat common in certain breeds — including Great Pyrenees dogs. This is often done without anesthesia. It will also require post-operative care and more expense for the dog owner. Useful during movement. 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