Dealing with Dewclaws

[jenptcfan]

What are the pros and cons of having a dog's dewclaws removed?

I've never had a dog with problematic claws before, but my beagle has dewclaws and if I don't watch her nails very carefully, the dewclaw will grow and grow until it's almost poking her in the foot. I keep it trimmed back enough so that this hasn't been a problem, but I know some people opt to have them removed.

I hate to make her undergo any unnecessary procedure, so I just wanted to hear from others who have dealt with this. She's due for her shots in Feb., I think and I'll talk to her vet about it then too.

 

[Sabina41]

if I don't watch her nails very carefully, the dewclaw will grow and grow until it's almost poking her in the foot.

Good gracious sounds like your dog has super claws...Woosh! "I swear I turned my back for 1 second and they were this long again!" How often are you checking and trimming her nails if it gets that bad?

Most dogs have their dewclaws removed within days of birth. I'm sure a vet would remove them for you if you insisted, but it would be a much more tramautic procedure at this point because it would involve full anesthesia and the surgical amputation of two toes, bones and all. In pups it's not a big deal and they quite literally are pulled off because it's all cartilage at that point and not formed bone. To amputate them now just because you can't keep up with trimming her nails once every week or two is mildly absurd.

-Ashley

 

[alwayz_remember_Calvery]

If the dewclaws are loose and get caught on stuff, then i'm all for getting them taken off. If they're tightly attached to the foot and the only reason you want them off is because you have to watch them closely or they'll grow into the foot, is a bad reason. I understand the reason completely. We had a dog with dewclaws and he hated getting his nails trimmed and that dewclaw was even more of a nuisance.
I don't think your issue is one that is causing the dog pain and should be left the way it is. It hurts when dogs get their dewclaws removed and even more when those dew claws are still very well attached, i just don't think it's worth it

 

[jenptcfan]

Good gracious sounds like your dog has super claws...Woosh! "I swear I turned my back for 1 second and they were this long again!" How often are you checking and trimming her nails if it gets that bad?

Most dogs have their dewclaws removed within days of birth. I'm sure a vet would remove them for you if you insisted, but it would be a much more tramautic procedure at this point because it would involve full anesthesia and the surgical amputation of two toes, bones and all. In pups it's not a big deal and they quite literally are pulled off because it's all cartilage at that point and not formed bone. To amputate them now just because you can't keep up with trimming her nails once every week or two is mildly absurd.

-Ashley

Thanks for your kind opinion.

I do keep them trimmed back, and they've never been long enough to hurt her, but if she goes a couple of weeks without them being cut, they're noticably longer than the other nails (because the other nails actually touch the ground and are filed down some by that) and you can tell that they kind of begin to curve in as if they'll dig into her foot if they're left alone. I haven't and won't let them get to that point.

Dewclaw removal is just something I've heard of and I wanted to know if most people do have them removed or not. If most people that have them removed do so within days of birth, that's good to know. Again, this is my first time with a dog that has them and she didn't come to live with me until she was several months old, so it's still kind of new territory for me.

If we could keep this flame free, it would be great! Thanks.

 

[jenptcfan]

If the dewclaws are loose and get caught on stuff, then i'm all for getting them taken off. If they're tightly attached to the foot and the only reason you want them off is because you have to watch them closely or they'll grow into the foot, is a bad reason. I understand the reason completely. We had a dog with dewclaws and he hated getting his nails trimmed and that dewclaw was even more of a nuisance.
I don't think your issue is one that is causing the dog pain and should be left the way it is. It hurts when dogs get their dewclaws removed and even more when those dew claws are still very well attached, i just don't think it's worth it

Thank you for your post.

They really don't seem to get in the way. She doesn't seem bothered by them at all. She does hate getting her nails clipped (really she just hates sitting still for any reason!), but I don't mind wrestling with her once a week to do it. I just wasn't sure if there was any other reason that people normally have them removed (if most people have them removed).

You provided some good information. Thanks again.

 

[awashinlove]

I honestly don't see reason to get this digit removed even in situation where it seems to get caught. If a dog's active it will stay smooth and trim like the rest of the nails as it offers God-given traction while running at high speeds, it's not there for no reason. Most people won't remove them, and even many breeders now opt not to.

I'm fond of my dog's dewclaw, it's the only one he lets me clip with ease.

 

[jenptcfan]

I honestly don't see reason to get this digit removed even in situation where it seems to get caught. If a dog's active it will stay smooth and trim like the rest of the nails as it offers God-given traction while running at high speeds, it's not there for no reason. Most people won't remove them, and even many breeders now opt not to.

I'm fond of my dog's dewclaw, it's the only one he lets me clip with ease.

Thanks for your input.

Her dewclaw doesn't touch the ground though, so it doesn't get filed down like the others do from normal activity. It's up a little higher than the other nails.

But if there's no reason to get it removed, that's OK with me.

 

[awashinlove]

Thanks for your input.

Her dewclaw doesn't touch the ground though, so it doesn't get filed down like the others do from normal activity. It's up a little higher than the other nails.

But if there's no reason to get it removed, that's OK with me.

Yep, they're positioned high and only used when running, or when they do those side skids that most dogs do to stop themselves. They need high levels of exercise to ever put use to them.

 

[jenptcfan]

Yep, they're positioned high and only used when running, or when they do those side skids that most dogs do to stop themselves. They need high levels of exercise to ever put use to them.

Oh yes. LOL The side skids always make me laugh, but I had never thought about her using her dewclaws then. Good point.

 

[Sabina41]

They're also often used to help hold things when they are chewing on them (bones, etc.), much like our own thumbs.

 

[awashinlove]

I never thought of that, Sabina. My dogs just hawk their treats down, they never get their paws on 'em!

 

[alwayz_remember_Calvery]

I honestly don't see reason to get this digit removed even in situation where it seems to get caught.

Have you ever seen a dog with loose dewclaws? The ones that aren't really attached to the foot? The get caught on things like the carpet, the furniture, and stuff like that. Not only do they rip up the carpet and the furniture (and i don't think that's a reason to get them off) but i imagine that it feels kind of like a hang nail, but bigger. The nail will get caught on something and when the dog tries to pull it's foot back it pulls and i'm sure it hurts.
Only when they're loose like that should they be removed

 

[awashinlove]

Have you ever seen a dog with loose dewclaws? The ones that aren't really attached to the foot? The get caught on things like the carpet, the furniture, and stuff like that. Not only do they rip up the carpet and the furniture (and i don't think that's a reason to get them off) but i imagine that it feels kind of like a hang nail, but bigger. The nail will get caught on something and when the dog tries to pull it's foot back it pulls and i'm sure it hurts.
Only when they're loose like that should they be removed

The dewclaw is especially designed for tugging, and it's a very liberated little appendage. I'm sure it doesn't feel any different than when you or I get our pinkies tugged by a blanket or something. If it's properly kept after, it won't get stuck. If an article happens to pull the claw away from the leg for a moment, that's fine, and happens with all digits. Most vets would agree, and many won't remove it, and in some countries it's illegal.

 

[alwayz_remember_Calvery]

The dewclaw is especially designed for tugging, and it's a very liberated little appendage. I'm sure it doesn't feel any different than when you or I get our pinkies tugged by a blanket or something. If it's properly kept after, it won't get stuck. If an article happens to pull the claw away from the leg for a moment, that's fine, and happens with all digits. Most vets would agree, and many won't remove it, and in some countries it's illegal.

have you ever seen a loose dewclaw?

 

[awashinlove]

have you ever seen a loose dewclaw?

Oh, tons. In fact, more are incredibly loose than closely bonded to the leg. I'll see if I can get a picture of my dog Jackson's dewclaw, which is incredibly loose. People always suggest it needs to be removed, but it obviously doesn't bother him, just like I've never seen another dog bothered by one, and he's so active he'd freak if we did that. God didn't make a mistake with those claws. They're meant to pull and stretch.

 

[Evee]

Have you ever seen a dog with loose dewclaws? The ones that aren't really attached to the foot? The get caught on things like the carpet, the furniture, and stuff like that. Not only do they rip up the carpet and the furniture (and i don't think that's a reason to get them off) but i imagine that it feels kind of like a hang nail, but bigger. The nail will get caught on something and when the dog tries to pull it's foot back it pulls and i'm sure it hurts.
Only when they're loose like that should they be removed

I asked my vet just last week.
My dog had a loose one.
She said they are like a baby tooth they will fall off and regrow.
She said once the dog is grown she didn't suggest getting them removed.

 

[LegacyOfLove]

Dewclaws, if you are going to have them removed, should be removed when the puppy is just a few days old. As they grow older and the "quick" moves down into the dewclaw it would require your dog to undergo surgery with anesthesia to remove it.

Smaller breed dogs are more likely to get them caught on things like carpeting. With larger breed dogs, this isn't as great of a concern.

My male Golden, Einstein had his dewclaws removed BY his breeder (yes, she did it herself - and she botched it!) One of his dewclaws was removed okay. The other one, however, grows out upside down and inward facing. Also, it doesn't have any visible quick and grows out looking like a shriveled up twig. Because of that we have to keep it trimmed every 1-2 weeks or he will get it caught on his own fur -or - we could have it removed to the tune of about $200.00. Our female, Cheyenne has her dewclaws still and hasn't had any problems with tearing them.

I know a lot of (breeders) will have them removed out of routine or common practices, but anymore I don't see the reasoning behind it with the larger dogs as the dewclaw is located pretty high on the leg as compared to a small dog. And a "botched" dewclaw removal can make things even worse for the dog. I guess the way I see it is that nature put the dewclaws there for a reason. Unless there is a medical reason to have them removed, they should stay where God put them.