Dew Claws

[Roxy's CD]

I just saw a thread involving dew claws and I have a question.

Both of my little guys came from "broken homes" let's say. So neither of them had gotten any shots, de-wormed or much less a vet had even looked at them.

I've asked my vet about removing the dew claws and she says that unless we've had any problems with them, (getting ripped running through a forest) that's it's best to just leave them because they hadn't been done as a pup.

She also said that it's tiresome, major surgery once a dog is older.

Should I get them removed? I check their feet/nail often and trim them once every two weeks. I've never seen any blood or they've never felt uncomfortable while I touch each nail and move it around.

[rowdy ridgeback]

I have a little sheltie that I got from a shelter in Japan 8 years ago so she has to be about 10 or 11 now. She still has her dew claws. The vet told me the same thing. She still has them and I have never had a problem with them.

[zoe08]

I think they would be fine. Zoe still has her dew claws also. So as long you keep them trimmed they should be ok.

[SummerRiot]

Definately keep an eye on them, but they should be fine if they haven't caught them on anything.

Some breeds like the Great Pyranese even have a standard for HAVING dew claws. So, they can't pose that huge of an issue. Just more nails to trim lol

I personally dont like them though. I'm glad Riot, Crosbie, Jada and Chime all had theirs removed as a pup.

[MomOf7]

Dew claw removal is more for dogs who work in rugged conditions. Like labs.
Labs out in a field or hunting can and have had thier dew claws ripped by various things. They bleed alot. I always remove dewclaws from my puppies for this very reason. Otherwise I wouldnt if there wasnt a need

[yoko]

yoshi's an extremely active dog she camps and hikes with me and she has her dew claws and they've never been torn or anything i just keep them trimmed. but i think i have read some where they can be loose or attached or something like that and the loose ones can be injured a lot more easy

[Roxy's CD]

Yeah, I've heard that too about "loose dew claws", I asked my vet about my guys and they said there's were fine.

[elegy]

unless they're big and floppy and not attached to the bone, i wouldn't. both of my dogs have front dewclaws and other than getting grass stuck in them once in awhile because they do use them when they corner while zoomying, they're a complete non-issue.

[gaddylovesdogs]

My two mutts have their front dew claws. The claws have snagged knitted stuff before, but they quickly fulled their foot away and got untaggled, and it hasn't happened often. My lab doesn't have her dew claws.

[cowgurl6254]

My puppy has all of his, but the back ones are being removed when he gets neutered. They are huge and are constantly flopping around and getting hung on things. He even yelps if he steps on them the wrong way. If yours aren't causing a problem though, I wouldn't worry about them :)