Dewclaws!?

[dog_gurl]

So I was thinking on removing the dewclaws on my chihuahua puppies. I read about it on the internet and i have pretty much all the stuff I need. I just need some advice. They are very tiny so it should be easy. I read that they should be done when they are 3 days old and tomorrow they will be 2 days. Just let me know what you all think...

 

[MafiaPrincess]

Only if you are taking them to the vet. It's not something to do yourself without solid knowledge.

 

[MysticRealm]

I couldn't imagine doing it to my own puppies even though I have never seen it done, but to cut or whatever a piece off a living dog, I couldn't do it. I would have it done to my dogs though (I want to show dogs and dewclaws on most breeds now a days only hang by threads and can easily be torn off by accident if caught on anything)

 

[Cazian]

Sorry but for me I just dont understand the need to remove Dewclaws, Ear Cropping or Tail Docking.
Here in England, the Animal Welfare Bill received royal assent on 8 November 2006 and became law on 6 April 2007. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 makes it illegal - with an exemption for working dogs - to dock a dogs tail.
This will change the face of Crufts.
For my part I would say leave what God gave alone.

 

[Herschel]

Unless you're planning on some serious performance or work, then I don't think you need to remove them.

Herschel actually ripped one while we were playing fetch in the park one day. I noticed it because his paw was covered in blood. I checked it to see if he was OK. My response? We kept playing fetch, maybe even with more intensity. Then we walked 2 miles. He didn't even notice it until we got home and put hydrogen peroxide on it.

 

[bubbatd]

I know I couldn't do it !!! I could barely do the toe pinch test on puppies !

 

[Spiritus]

Don't do it by yourself if you don't know how. Reading about it on the internet is not enough knowledge. You can severley damage ligaments and bones in the leg.

I have mine done by a breeder who has been doing it for 35 years. He will not do them if they are older than two days old, and prefers in the first 24 hours. Every day you wait, the bone calcifies more and more, making it a more and more painful procedure. If you want them off at this point, have the vet do them. It's usually no more than $5.00 - $10.00 per puppy.

 

[Denaluvscorgis]

If this procedure is done, than it needs to be done by a vet!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please DO NOT do it yourself. I really don't see the need to have them removed personally. My Corgi has them removed (they were done by the breeder) and my Dacshund has his and has not had any problems with them.

 

[mamasobuco]

My vet told me that large dogs have much more problems with their dew claws than small dogs. I wouldn't think your pups would need them removed. I would talk to your vet first. There are arguements either way. Some people think they need them for better traction when running. On the other hand I've seen older dogs with their dew claws hanging and it looked so painful. My boy buddy has ripped of the nail on one of his and cracked the other one down the middle. Both were very painful and very bloody.

 

[bubbatd]

Dog Gurl .... by now it should have been done . Did you do it yourself or have it done ??? How did it go ???

 

[Doberluv]

Sorry but for me I just dont understand the need to remove Dewclaws, Ear Cropping or Tail Docking.
Here in England, the Animal Welfare Bill received royal assent on 8 November 2006 and became law on 6 April 2007. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 makes it illegal - with an exemption for working dogs - to dock a dogs tail.
This will change the face of Crufts.
For my part I would say leave what God gave alone.
__________________

Dog gurl lives in Illinois, not England. There isn't such a law here. Whatever government regulations and control you enjoy, aren't always enjoyed by all, especially in America. She wanted to know about how to go about removing the dew claws, which can cause trouble. My Chihuahuas go on hikes in the woods and race around my property through fairly heavy brush and it's very plausable to catch one of those things on something and tear it. I don't know what her Chi puppies are going to be doing, but if it's done at the right age and done properly, it's a valid concern to want to prevent injury and problems later in lieu of a quick prodedure at a very early age, by a vet or experienced and qualified breeder.

I hope you went to a vet. Let us know how they are.

 

[noludoru]

I'm going to :hail: what Dober said and point out that if we ought to leave all animals alone the dogs likely to be working dogs should have their tails left alone as well. Sadly, the bill isn't preventing neutering, hair-trimming, nail-clipping, or tooth removal for health reasons as well. It's okay though, I'm sure the next bill will take care of that.


Dog Gurl, did you go see your vet?

 

[dog_gurl]

Nope I didn't do it so I guess it won't get done. I don't see what the big argument is about removing dewclaws anyway. I just thought hell if they can be cut of when their babies with little or no pain that's just one less nail, or two less nails I guess, that i have to cut and file when it comes time. It's my own decision not anybody else's.

 

[SisMorphine]

When I found out my new pup still had her rear dew claws I was horrified. I'd heard more than one story about bloody dewclaws, blah blah blah. Especially being a high energy, high drive, working dog, I was freaking out.

Now at 6 months old I barely notice them. She's never caught them on anything, they've never bled, I've gotten used to the odd sight.

 

[animalcraker]

Dewclaws can be done on pups between 3-5 days of age. It must be done by a vet. I've helped with quite a few dewclaw removals and it's not something that you can just do at home.

 

[Cazian]

OK Let me deal with a few points here.

Doberluv says:

Dog gurl lives in Illinois, not England.

I had already worked that one out.

There isn't such a law here. Whatever government regulations and control you enjoy, aren't always enjoyed by all, especially in America.

I again had kind of worked that out on my own, but should there be the need to make a law ?
Well if you think it's OK to read an article on the internet and then think it's OK to cut flesh off of a Puppy on the Kitchen Table, then I guess there is, just like we have to make law's to stop people that think it's OK to own Dog's for the sole reason of training them to fight to the death in a ring.

She wanted to know about how to go about removing the dew claws, which can cause trouble.

The thing she should have been asking first is, Do I need to remove them? Then if she has good reason other than "it's the usual thing to do", is it something I can do at home or should I take them to the Vet?

My Chihuahuas go on hikes in the woods and race around my property through fairly heavy brush and it's very plausable to catch one of those things on something and tear it.

OK So you have a valid reason why you feel your Dog's may at some future date hurt his dew claw,
but its just as plausible that they may never have hurt them, its just as plausible that at some future date one may break a leg running around your property through fairly heavy brush. Going on your logic let's just lop off that leg right now.

I don't know what her Chi puppies are going to be doing, but if it's done at the right age and done properly, it's a valid concern to want to prevent injury and problems later in lieu of a quick prodedure at a very early age, by a vet or experienced and qualified breeder.

I have to agree most strongly with this point, if you have looked at all the pros and cons and still feel the need to get them done then for God's sake do consult a vet or experienced and qualified breeder.

noludoru Says:

I'm going to :hail: what Dober said and point out that if we ought to leave all animals alone the dogs likely to be working dogs should have their tails left alone as well.

Yes I also think that Dog's likely to be working Dog's should have their tails left alone as well.
Only those Dog's that WILL be working Dog's and there for have a VALID reason to Dock the Tail should be done.

Let's face it the only reason it became popular and later fasion and then the Breed Standard in the first place was because of the Pet Tax. Working Dog's were exempt from the tax and a working Dog was identified by having a Docked Tail, so many household Pet's found that they lost a tail.


Sadly, the bill isn't preventing neutering, hair-trimming, nail-clipping, or tooth removal for health reasons as well. It's okay though, I'm sure the next bill will take care of that.

OK So we are now going the sarcasm route.

Not sure if you have lost the plot here, can you not see the difference between hair-trimming, nail-clipping and cutting off a Dew Claw or Tail or part of an Ear ?
Tooth removal for health reasons ? You would do this at home on the kitchen table ? How about pulling out a sound tooth to just have a Gold one put in its place because it looks good ?

What's the excuse for Ear Cropping ? It makes a Doberman look fierce, maybe, just maybe the Cropping of a GUARD Dog's Ear's add to the WORKING Dog's ability to pinpoint sound directions.
But a Family Pet ? Why would you want a Pet that looked fierce ?

 

[Spirit2010]

Yes, please do it at the vet, and have him/her do it. I haven't read any of the posts, so don't get on me, please. Whisper, and Hershey have theirs still, and they haven't done anything to theirs. Hershey has had his for almost 6 years of his life.

 

[casablanca1]

After a fairly traumatic Christmas Eve tearing-of-the-dewclaw incident, I don't have it in me to be censorious of people for removing the cursed things. I wouldn't personally put a dog through even minor surgery for something uneccessary, myself, though.

 

[showpug]

Depends on your knowledge of the procedure and your breed standard. Does the standard call for them to be removed, or does it matter?

Bulldogs and Bullmastiffs for example should have their dewclaws intact and not removed.

I know many pug breeders that removed the dewclaws themseleves, but they know how and have experience. I have watched this procedure about a dozen times from my vet clinic days, but will probably still take my litter to the vet.

 

[bubbatd]

None of my many Goldens had their dew claws removed and there were no problems with any of them .