Dew Claws

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I have read that some breeders remove dew claws to their puppies. Can anyone tell me why? health concerns? cosmetic?  I do know that some doodles have had it done due to a medical reason.

I can't find anything written as to pros/cons. Just curious if anyone knows the reasoning.

 

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Not sure but my guess would be because of the fact the fur covers them and it's a clipping danger. Daisy's were removed and I am glad...both my granddogs have had their dew claws injured and one had to be removed (a way bigger deal when they are adults). They take forever to heal when they get snagged.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I think I read once that if they weren't removed surgically, it was easy for them to get torn off accidentally. Which causes a lot of pain and bleeding. I know that Darwin still has his, and I can see how it would be easy for them to get caught and ripped on something. 

 

That could be totally wrong, just something I think I heard?

[F, Calla & Luca]

We've had discussions on this. I think it's to prevent accidental injury and for ease of grooming. But do claws do have some functions. Here's just a sampling.

Dew Claws 1

Dew Claws  1

[Elizabeth & *Kosci*.]

Dogs don't need dew claws. But having a long haired dog the main thing is not to forget to trim them as they can grow a full circle and dig int the skin.( you don't see them in the long hair)

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

I disagree that they do not need dew claws!  The dew claw serves as an anchor when the dogs run and pivot and help secure their foot to the ground.  The dew claw is attached to the ligaments that run up the dog's leg and into the neck and shoulder, when the dew claw is removed that ligament is altered and by doing so dogs are at more risk of serious injury.  It doesn't mean they will get injured but the risk is higher with the removal.  Some would say that they are at risk of tearing the claw but in all of my research and interviews with vets (over 100 and many rural where hunting is popular) they were not seeing dew claw tears or removing them, so the majority of their clients have dew claws.

 

They also use them as we do our thumbs when playing and holding toys and food.

 

The con is housekeeping- most owners do not even trim nails let alone the dew claw- owners need to learn how to care for their pets and take care of all of their grooming needs.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Another downside for removal is that often the surgery is down on young puppies without anesthesia. In the olden days they used to say infants didn't need anesthesia either.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Iam glad Daisy does not have hers....like I said both granddogs have had injuries with theirs and they both took forever to heal. The boxer beagle mix still licks here as if it still hurts.The neighbor who has Cattle dogs has one that was injured and re-injured multiple times and finally the vet removed just the one, $375.

Daisy does not miss hers that I can tell.

[Adina P]

Our border collie clearly used hers to slowly scratch/rub her face--not in an allergic/itchy way but just to clean/groom/scratch the random itch here and there.

[Linda and Murphy]

I never had an opinion about it before.

BUT Murphy has ripped is dew claw out 4 times (not completely of course) just running in the grass. It was traumatic for him and for me. The first time all I saw was all this blood covering his white fur. I had no idea where it was even coming from.

http://www.doodlekisses.com/profiles/blogs/dew-claws-arrgh

[Angie, Hudson and Lily]

I just did a search for this topic the other day because Hudson's dew claws were removed when he was a puppy, but Lily's are not. I used to work at a vet clinic years ago, and most all breeders had them removed from their pups, so I just thought it was a pretty standard thing to do, until my mom got a German Shepherd puppy 2 years ago and his were not removed. I found out it is standard to leave them on GSD. Then through the info I found the other day, I found out how the dew claw is actually useful to the dog and having it removed is actually banned in some countries.

[Linda and Murphy]

Murphy is 100 lbs of course. Here are some images of his dew claw. Yes, that is my hand.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Murphy has gigantic paws!!