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04-27-2012, 07:12 PM | #1 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: USA
Posts: 506
| Rear dewclaws - to remove or not, anyone else with this dilemma? Ok, I've been holding off but really want to hear what others think about this. As most of you know by now - Benjamin came to me from the shelter. He was intact when there, they neutered him before releasing him. I wish they'd allowed me to use my own vet and I would have done the rear dew claws at the same time! But the decision wasn't mine, nothing leaves that shelter intact. So anyway - to the point, Benjamin has very loose dewclaws on his rear legs. Just flaps of skin with claws attached. As a vet tech I've seen so many dogs with nasty injuries from rear dewclaws that catch! I don't want them to become a problem - right now it's fine but never know when something could happen. With the respiratory stuff going on I wouldn't even consider putting him under right away, just looking for opinions. Should I have them removed? Or just leave them alone? I'd love to hear from others who's had them removed or has decided to leave them be. With no teeth, I hope it's a long long time if ever before they'd be another reason to have him put under anesthesia, of course I know it's always a risk especially with a dog so tiny - is it worth it?
__________________ Momma to King Louie Missing my angels California Lily and Benjamin Button, forever in my heart |
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04-27-2012, 07:21 PM | #2 |
I ♥ my girls! Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: With My Yorkies
Posts: 18,980
| When I got Mikki she had her dewclaws still. I didn't even know it. I took her in for her spay and the vet called me. He highly recommended having them removed so I did it. He also told me about the risk of injury and them growing into their skin as well and infections. So I made the call to get rid of them. It was easier because we did it at the time of spay. However, per my vet's recommendation, I would have done it even if she wasn't getting spay. I am glad that we had them removed and don't have to worry about them.
__________________ Momma to three sweet Yorkie girls Rosie Marie, Mikki Leigh , and Lily Mae Grace! |
04-27-2012, 07:37 PM | #3 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NJ
Posts: 1,812
| I would leave him alone myself. Why take a chance if you don't have to?
__________________ Beware of Nestle Purina Cozy (4/06), Roxy & Zoey (2/08), Lucy (4/09); Buddy 4/09- Rescued 12/11); Mika ('98) & Tallulah ('00) RIP Harley 4/2009; Lucky 11/2010; Zoey 4/2012 |
04-27-2012, 08:37 PM | #4 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: USA
Posts: 506
| K, now I have one of each opinion LOL If they where attached to tendon and bone, and firm I wouldn't worry, but they're only attached by skin so they're very loose and dangling. Front dewclaws don't worry me - but rear ones I worry about catching and tearing. I've seen some pretty ugly wounds caused by rear dewclaws tearing! Not worried about them growing into his foot - he's very good about his nails being trimmed so I just trim them once a week, so they'll never be a problem there.
__________________ Momma to King Louie Missing my angels California Lily and Benjamin Button, forever in my heart |
04-27-2012, 09:17 PM | #5 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: At Home
Posts: 8,386
| My Allie whom I adopted last March (2011) has all 4 of her dew claws. However the back ones are just as you describe. I do notice that at times they seem to bother her. Now the ones on the front are more attached to the bone and don't seem to be a problem. I am considering having the back ones removed when she is under for teeth cleaning. I thought when I took her in this year for her yearly visit they would say she needed a teeth cleaning, but they were just fine. So I will wait until that needs to be done.
__________________ [SIZE="3"VICKI & ALLIE[/SIZE] |
04-27-2012, 10:57 PM | #6 |
YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cherryville, North Carolina, US
Posts: 371
| I'd have them removed once his respitory issues are dealt with or maybe they can give a local and not put him to sleep to remove them |
04-27-2012, 11:11 PM | #7 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: USA
Posts: 506
| I actually just thought of that! I'll ask my vet about it and see if she'd be comfortable doing it that way - I still probably won't until he's 100% because even though minor I'm sure it'd cause some discomfort for a little while and don't want to add any stressers no matter how small!
__________________ Momma to King Louie Missing my angels California Lily and Benjamin Button, forever in my heart |
04-28-2012, 04:12 AM | #8 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: upstate ny
Posts: 5,847
| Personally if I had to put them under just for that, I wouldn't do it but at some point in the future you had to then I would go ahead with it. |
04-28-2012, 06:31 AM | #9 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: USA
Posts: 506
| I'm very uneasy about it as well unless another reason develops. Unless of course my vet thinks she can remove them without putting him under with just a local pain block. They're so loose I don't see why she shouldn't be able to!
__________________ Momma to King Louie Missing my angels California Lily and Benjamin Button, forever in my heart |
04-28-2012, 06:36 AM | #10 |
I ♥ my girls! Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: With My Yorkies
Posts: 18,980
| I would talk to my vet and see what she advises. I think that might be the best way to go. And then you could talk to her about using just a local pain block to see if that is an option or not.
__________________ Momma to three sweet Yorkie girls Rosie Marie, Mikki Leigh , and Lily Mae Grace! |
04-28-2012, 06:42 AM | #11 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: USA
Posts: 506
| Plan to call her today and discuss it! Also have a holistic vet I'll use for different things - he may be more likely to agree to something like that so will ask him as well.
__________________ Momma to King Louie Missing my angels California Lily and Benjamin Button, forever in my heart |
04-28-2012, 06:48 AM | #12 |
I ♥ my girls! Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: With My Yorkies
Posts: 18,980
| Good luck! Let us know what they say.
__________________ Momma to three sweet Yorkie girls Rosie Marie, Mikki Leigh , and Lily Mae Grace! |
04-29-2012, 12:17 PM | #13 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: USA
Posts: 506
| After carefully discussing this with my regular vet, we both ended up deciding it wasn't worth putting him under to do it. She said at his age, not only are there probably nerves attached that would probably make it painful even with a block to try to remove it without fully putting him under, but if he's gone 7 years without them causing a problem they probably won't. So we decided if they do become an issue we'll address it, or if there ever becomes another reason we have to put him under we can take care of it then, but if not we'll leave them alone.
__________________ Momma to King Louie Missing my angels California Lily and Benjamin Button, forever in my heart |
04-29-2012, 02:13 PM | #14 | |
I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member | Quote:
I should have read the whole thread before I answered!
__________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills – Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America – Breeder Referrals | |
04-29-2012, 03:07 PM | #15 | |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: USA
Posts: 506
| Quote:
__________________ Momma to King Louie Missing my angels California Lily and Benjamin Button, forever in my heart | |
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