View Full Version : Dew claws
I was told that if I was going to have the dewclaws removed that I had to do it between 3-5 days old on the pups. Is that true? And for the husky/wolf breeds is it absolutely necessary? I know that it is if its a show quality or registered dog..but our pups are neither...
lassie
06-16-2006, 03:20 AM
Yes i m sure thats right. We keep our on the roughs.
p.s. grandma . they are probably cheaper to keep than the two legged variety
so i don't have to do it to them then. and it's not going to compromise their health?
dogdaze
06-16-2006, 07:14 AM
Last Monday we were at the dog park and had a nasty dewclaw problem. Gus, the black-headed dog, tore a dewclaw toenail off somehow. Do you know how much that bleeds? Blood was actually dripping off his foot. By the time I got him and cracker into the car and to the vet, blood was everywhere. From one little toenail! I wish Gus didn't have dewclaws, but that's not an option. He only weighs 17 lbs and I think he could have bled to death. Not to mention the blood ruined my brand new Columbia shorts!
lassie
06-16-2006, 08:06 AM
Dewclaws are fine left on providing puppy purchasers are aware they need cutting like any other nail. In 30 years i have never had any injury of any kind to a dew claw.
Front or back dew claws? My lot all have their front dews and I've never had any problems with them, only thing is they need clipping a little more often as obviously they're not able to wear down while walking etc. However I have experienced and seen problems with rear dew claws and it's quite common for them to catch on things and tear :( - very painful for the dog and also a lot more stressful to have surgery to remove them (if needed) when they're older.
so what is the best/most appropriate age to have them removed? My pups are coming up on 5 days old tomorrow and if we are going to do it I just want to make sure we do it before it's too late
Between 2-5 days seems to be the most common age.
lassie
06-16-2006, 03:18 PM
Yes but what have they the front or back or both???????????
ruffian
06-16-2006, 05:21 PM
Generally people do not remove front dew claws, as they have muscle attached, back dew claws are generally just a flap of skin with a nail, and usually stick out, unlike front ones.
If you are going to get your pups altered before letting them go you can have them done at the same time, my chow had it done when she was spayed, BYB who didn't know better, and she had double dew claws on blth feet.
double dewclaws? I was wondering about that b/c the pups have 2 nails on each of their dewclaws on both front and back. Didn't know if that was normal or an abnormality. But then having the back ones removed when they're a few weeks older is ok?