I have a 4 month old pit bull puppy and in a few months I am going to get her spayed. While she is under for the surgery I was wondering if I should have her dew claws removed. I asked my vet and she said that it could be done at the same time as the spaying. Is it nesscarry to have these removed? Our other dog who is a Queensland has his and has never had a problem with his.
2007-07-09 08:55:55 · 20 answers · asked by Meadows Momma 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
It is her front dew claws
2007-07-09 09:02:35 · update #1
That all depends on the lifestyle of your dog. They don't usually cause a problem for dogs who aren't out running through the fields everyday. The biggest worry is that if you have an active outdoor dog, they could get the dewclaw caught on something and torn off which in the end results in another high vet bill and the dewclaw is taken off anyways. It's your decision in the end but talk more with your vet about it. Good Luck
2007-07-09 09:01:50 · answer #1 · answered by tbunny1us 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have been breeding dogs for many, many years and have never yet seen a dog with dew claws on hind legs! If they are not removed in the first 48hrs they are best left. It depends a lot on the lifestyle of your dog as to whether or not it is a good idea to do it now. If your dog spends a lot of time in rough undergrowth then it may be a good idea in case they get caught up. A ripped dew claw is not pleasant, must cause a lot of pain and bleeds like mad. Only you know how likely it is that your dog will be in circumstances where they could get caught up. If you don't do it now while she is under anaesthetic then you must keep them clipped.
2007-07-09 09:11:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. A dog does not need their dew claws in anyway and will not be left feeling vulnerable. often this is done when they are puppies. She will not feel anything because she will be asleep with painkillers, and with having her stomach cut open I don't think getting her dew claws removed is going to hurt much more. she won't feel a thing. It is safer to get them removed for the nail grows quickly and can grow into the leg causing problems. Also I have seen many dogs come into the clinic with their dew claws half ripped off and in great pain because they got hung up in something.
2007-07-09 09:06:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some dogs never do have a problem, but the operation can help prevent future injury. The dew claws can get stuck in your carpet or rugs and tear. If you think there's a chance this will happen, then you might want to consider having them removed. Just be aware the pooch will probably have to wear a cone until the stitches come out. We had our beagle's removed at 5 months during his neuter surgery, and he did very well with both operations.
2007-07-09 09:02:43 · answer #4 · answered by ♀B♀S♀ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had one of my dogs dew claws removed, because she had multiple ones (she is part Great Pyrenees and this is a trait of theirs), but I have never worried about it with any of my other dogs. If they are very loose and there is no bone growth that is holding them on, I would have them removed when she is spayed, because they are more susceptible to getting caught and torn on something.
2007-07-09 09:02:38 · answer #5 · answered by WebPixie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not necessary. Generally they are removed for showing an animal and probably historically had with hunting breeds. Removing their claw would help prevent the dog injury while being out in the brush. It is as unnecessary as having an animals ears cropped or their tail docked.
2007-07-09 09:34:18 · answer #6 · answered by funkydesign03 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not necessary, but you may want to consider it. People often have them removed if the dog won't let you cut his nails. It makes it easier to manage his nails because you can file his lower nails down by walking him on concrete. But you always have to cut the dew claws. So if you don't think clipping his nails is going to be a problem, don't worry about it.
2007-07-09 09:00:31 · answer #7 · answered by Bambi 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You don't have to. Most breeders do it when the dog is only 1 day old so that they won't be in to much pain, and they do it so it won't be in the way. but most of the time you just have to cut it just like the rest of the claws on the dogs paws.
2007-07-09 09:29:05 · answer #8 · answered by Cowgirl13 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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.
In some countries removing the dewclaws is illegal, as removing it is unnecessarily painful to the dog, in addition to the fact that the dewclaw will rarely or never suffer injury leading to amputation.
In addition, for those dogs whose dewclaws make contact with the ground when they run, it is possible that removing them could be a disadvantage for a dog's speed in running and changing of direction, particularly in performance dog sports such as dog agility.
2007-07-09 09:02:28 · answer #9 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes, dew claws only get in the way.
2007-07-09 09:00:01 · answer #10 · answered by Smoothie 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋