Why do dogs have Jew Claws?

Question

They seem to be worse than useless as my dog's occasionally turn inwards and get hooked into the flesh.

Their toes once touched the ground? Yikes! My dog's DEW claws are about 6 inches off the ground! How weird would that look - amgigantic toe coming out the side of her leg?

Thanks for putting me right re the spelling.

Answer 1

They are actually called "dew" claws. They are the physical remnants of toes that once touched the ground. They were used for grabbing and holding actions. They are often removed though because through breeding, they have become looser and (as you have seen in your dog) they get hooked not only on themselves, but on things in the field/woods, other animals, etc.

Answer 2

I found an answer for you online...

I can also tell you that if your dog has problems with their dew claws, you should bring them to the vet and possibly have them removed.


Why do dogs have dew-claws? Or what the heck ARE dew-claws?
Back to the ancestors again . . . 1000's of years ago we had 5 toes on each foot so that we could jump and climb to catch our prey. The dew-claws are up higher on the leg than our other toes and on the inside -- kind of like a thumb. Anyway, as we evolved and became faster runners, we really didn't need the extra toes, so they started disappearing. Today many dogs are born without rear dew-claws, but some breeds have all four present. Usually people have the rear ones surgically removed because they aren't attached as solidly as the front ones and they may get caught on something and rip. What really irks me is that many dog breeders think that dew-claws -- front and back -- are some kind of flaw that should be immediately removed so that we can look like YOUR idea of the perfect "breed standard". On the other hand, in a few breeds you have decided that we must KEEP our hind dew-claws in order to be perfect. Really people, would you just worry about more important issues!!

Luckily, I wasn't born with dew-claws on my back legs, and Mom says she has better things to do than having my front ones removed. By the way, since they're on the inside of the legs and above the ground, they're fairly unlikely to cause any problem . . . I kind of like mine. Do you think that it would matter to us how many toes (or other flaws) YOU have?

Answer 3

You mean dew claws...perhaps called so because they drag in the dew? They're a sort of vestigial "thumb" joint. A lot of vets will remove a puppy's dewclaws while they are still young if the owner wants it. At that age it just takes a bandage, no stitching, and heals really quickly. Sometimes they can get caught on things and tear when the dog is an adult, which is terrible.

Answer 4

I don't think they have them for any use. I seem to recall that the dew claw is just an evolutionary throw back to when dogs need a claw there to hold pray when they were hunting. You should be able to file down or cut but make sure that you don't cut them too short. if you look carefully you will be able to see the dead nail (which can be cut) and the live nail (which can't). If in doubt take to vet.

hope this helps Shirl

Answer 5

Apparently its a throw back to earlier times . A bit of the body now redundant. I have heard of some dogs having a lot of pain when they damage them but believe they can be removed if they are a problem. Ask your vet for their opinion

Answer 6

That would be Dew claws. My dog seems to use hers when she is cleaning/grooming her face,

Answer 7

hahaha it's not Jew Claws it's Du Claws, you can get them removed or just clip them. i am not really sure of their purpose. i have four dogs and their's just fell off.

Answer 8

du claws or due claws ask a vet to take them off

Answer 9

A lot of people get them removed and u could also take her somewhere to run but on cement to grind them down.It can b painful i would get them removed if u can afford it.