What is the purpose of a dewclaw?

Question

My dog has dewclaws on his hind legs and I was wondering what their purpose was? I was also wondering the benefits of leaving them or having them removed.

Answer 1

They have no purpose.

When my dog had a litter of puppies, the vet told me I had to bring them in at six days old to have the dewclaws removed.

As someone else stated, the bad thing about them is you have to trim them, and if your dog doesn't like you to do that, I mean REALLY doesn't like it, it may be worthwhile having them removed, if that is an option.

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Answer 2

Dewclaws on the inside of the front legs and occasionally on the hind legs. Unlike the front dewclaws, the rear dewclaws tend to have little bone or muscle structure in most breeds. There is some debate about whether the dewclaw helps dogs to gain traction when they run because, in some dogs, the dewclaw makes contact when they are running and the nail on the dewclaw often wears down in the same way that the toenails on their other toes do, from friction with running surfaces. However, in many dogs, the dewclaws never make contact with the ground; in this case, the dewclaw's nail never wears away, and it must be trimmed to keep it at a safe length.

There is also some debate as to whether dewclaws should be surgically removed. The argument for removal states that dewclaws are a weak digit, barely attached to the leg, so that they can rip partway off or easily catch on something and break, which can be painful and prone to infection.

Answer 3

In most modern breeds, dewclaws should normally be removed as a puppy. When dogs were more feral the dewclaws were used for helping hold things and to pull apart their prey. In most dogs now, the dewclaws have no purpose and tend get damaged easily.

I would not put an adult dog under to have dewclaws removed unless the dog has injured them however.

Here is a breed that still uses their dewclaws, The Norwegian Lundehund
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/lundehund.htm

And I have to say that NO DOG should rely on traction to cut it's nails down. If your dogs nails are hitting the ground, concrete, or your floor then they are too long!

Answer 4

The dew claw is a vestige of a claw that was used back when wolves were built differently, but since then they have changed through evolution. It's like the appendix in humans--when we had a different diet, the appendix had an actual purpose, but over time it's shrunken and lost its original function. It happens in other animals, too--horses have 4 small bones in their legs which used to be toes in earlier horses--the middle toe gradually enlarged into what is now the hoof. And whales once lived on land, but went back to the sea--they still have underdeveloped legbones near their tails.

Answer 5

It doesn't really serve a purpose. You can have it removed if you like, it is usually done at the same time puppies get their tails docked (2 or 3 days old). The only trouble may be if it gets caught on something, otherwise it's harmless. Just remember to trim the nail so it doesn't get too long and curve around into the toe.

Answer 6

They can be removed from very young pups. Its a claw that is no longer useful but some dogs are born with them. Now all they are good for is getting hooked into the rug.

Answer 7

My puppy has them and when I have her put under to be spayed I will have her dewclaw's removed.

Answer 8

I hate declaing but it takes the claws away so the claws can't hurt you. Maybe they were really sharp and the previouse owner was afraid someone would get hurt,or they just wanted it declawed. I think getting some cats who like to hit and claw at you to get declawed but it feels in humane!