What do you think about dew claw removal?

Question

I've heard that some people remove dew claws from dogs when they are puppies to prevent injuries later, but are these injuries common enough to justify their removal as a regular practice? My dog still has hers and they haven't caused any problems.

The breed I'm specifically asking about is the Chihuahua.

Answer 1

I do not suggest removal of these claws. Yes, if they catch it on something they could rip it off and there would be blood and the dog would be in pain but this does not happen commonly, especially on inside dogs. The most likely cause for your dog (being the breed she is) is people letting the dew claws get to long and her catching it on a blanket or carpet or such. If you keep her properly manicured then you should not have any problems. Good Luck!

Answer 2

I would never do it indiscriminately to every puppy as some people do. I can see removing them if there is a legitimate concern, such as with a hunting dog, but as a general rule, I don't think it's necessary.

However, my dog has really weak and sensitive skin due to his allergies. His face itches a lot, and no matter how often I get his nails cut, he tends to rip his cheek open with his dew claws. He's had to get stitches before because he cut himself so badly. I wish he had had it done as a puppy, because at 11 years old, I'm not willing to put him under anesthesia for any unnecessary surgery. But I think that the cases where having the dew claws removed are few and far between, and it should not be done as a routine practice.

Answer 3

Dew claws should be removed if the dogs breed standard calls for it.
However, dew claws should be removed when the pups are three or four days old. If they were not done at that age then it should be discussed with your vet because later removal is then an involved surgery that requires anesthesia. Some dew claws are tight to the leg and should pose no problem, but some are loose and are easily caught and torn. Very painful!
As a dog groomer we see over grown dew claws because there is no way for the dog to wear them down in any way. These over grown dew claw nails can grow back into the leg and create very painful sores.
We also see the dew claws matted up in hair and giving fleas a great place to irritate your dog under all that. We see dew claws torn by owners who thought it was a mat under that hair and couldn't understand why they couldn't brush it out!
There are many reasons to remove them on many breeds. If you have a breed that requires them to have them to be shown and you want to show, then it is up to you to determine the safety and comfort of you dog first.
If your dog has had problems due to having them on consider having them removed by your vet regardless of the breed standard as long as you are not showing your dog or if you are done showing your dog.
When done at only three to four days of age it is quick and easy and a minor proceedure. The pups never know it happened and the benefits are for a lifetime. It is sort of a "why ask for trouble" decision. I remove all of my puppies dew claws at three days old and have always been glad I did.
I also have a breed that when shown, it was a disquailfication to have them on. So, if they had any when born they were to be removed.

Answer 4

The dogs breed is important but so is what they will be doing. I had a dog who used to tear her dew claw because she was a wrestler but my current dog hasn't torn it once but he doesn't wrestle. My last girl had her dew claws removed after one to many tears.

Some breeds aren't meant to have dew claws at all and if they are present, they should be removed.

This of course only applies to the front dew claw, some dogs will develope a rear dew claw and that may need a different criteria for removal.

Dew claws do not assist an animal in defense. An animal who jumps on tree, fences or people is more likely to catch the nail.

It sounds like your dog is fine with hers so I wouldn't bother with the surgery unless there is a breed standard issue or rear dew claws.

Best of luck

Answer 5

It really depends on the breed. Personally, I am in favor of removing very loosely attached dewclaws (like rear dewclaws for most breeds) either shortly after birth (preferable) or at the time of the spay/neuter surgery. My friend has a hound mix with rear dew claws that quite frankly are only being held on by skin and blood vessels. If he hadn't already been neutered when she got him, she would certainly have had the vet remove them. She's been lucky in that he has never caught them on anything, even as active as he is, but it's still not a risk she would have taken if she had had the option of removing them at an earlier age. If your dog still has her dewclaws and it hasn't caused any problems, then that's great! I wouldn't recommend surgery specifically for the dewclaws if they aren't causing any problem and she isn't doing anything that is likely to rip them off.

In the past, these injuries certainly were common enough to justify removal as a regular practice...that's why it began in the first place. These days it does seem unlikely that most house pets would injure themselves. Working dogs are still at a high enough risk of injuring themselves while performing the task they were born to do to justify removal as very young puppies. However, there is no way of knowing at a few days after birth (when the dewclaws should be removed) which dogs are going to end up as spoiled house pets and which dogs might end up with real jobs that put them in real danger of injuring loose dewclaws. It is far better for the breeder to just make sure that all of the pups have their dewclaws removed when it's appropriate than risk even one of their puppies suffering the tremendous pain that comes with injuries (which are sometimes bad enough to count as traumatic amputations) later in life.

Answer 6

this is a mixed bag question. I tend to be someone who wants to leave the dog in its natural state. But.. if the dog is going to require frequent clipping such as a poodle, shitzu, maltese etc etc, its better for the dog to have them removed when VERY young pups.

For other breeds, its the choice of the owner and breeder. Personally if the dwww claws were not done at a couple days old, the same time that tails would be docked, I would avoid doing it. On an adult dog it can be quite invasive and painful to remove them, so I wouldnt do it then eaither unless there was a good health reason.

Candice

Answer 7

I never had reason to remove the dew claws on any of my dogs. I've seen some breeds actually have double dew claws!

I've been told that certain breeds get them removed, due to the high energy level, which increases the chance of injury.

Yet, I never met a dog that ever actually had an injury due to their dew claws.

Answer 8

The only breeds that I have ever heard that are recommended to have them removed are hunting dogs, I assume because of them running in the woods. I do know though that since alot of people have problems "remembering" to cut their dogs nails, having their dew claws would just add to the problem. I had a doxie that his dew claws grew so quickly I was trimming them every 2 weeks so they didnt grow into his skin! Finally I had them removed, he did just fine and never messed with them while the healing process was happening.

Answer 9

You MUST include the breed for this question.

If it's a Pyr, NOOO! do NOT remove them...

I personally don't believe in removing dew claws. I doubt there are enough injuries to warrant automatically doing this surgery.

But some breeds have very bad results from having the dew claws removed, and the Pyr is one of these.

Answer 10

Dewclaws should be removed when the puppy is 2-3 days old. At that age, it is a painless, bloodless procedure.
If the dewclaws have not been removed and the dog is mature, it's a major surgical procedure to have it done, and I wouldn't recommend it unless the dog is frequently injuring himself by tearing them.