Quote:
Originally Posted by yorkiekist  Dews claws are taken off as they can become a hazard to the dog and to others. Alot of dogs, especially big eyed dogs, (bulldogs,pugs, shih-stu) can claw themselves in the eye and if not treated properly, can loose the eye. Also, have you ever been clawed by a dew claw as the dog is running by you? Also, the dew claws can snag in the dogs hair or sticks, rocks, etc and cause a big cut and sometime the claw/toe is almost ripped off the dog.I would rather have a day old puppy feel 10 minutes worth of pain that they wont remember as apposed to days or weeks of pain from an injury. I do all my dews and tails. My puppies only cry for about 10 minutes as I put them on mom to nurse just as soon as I get done. It takes me less that 5 minutes per puppy. They start nursing and fall asleep within minutes. |
Dewclaws are not routinely removed here in the UK. All of the dogs I have had over the years including the dogs my mum has owned when I was little had dewclaws, this adds up to a staggering number of dogs (we've never had an only dog!).
Only one of those dogs had to have her dewclaws removed as she caught them on the back gate, she was also the only one to ever hurt anyone with them (my poor mum!) Maybe they were abnormally large or deformed I don't remember I was only young!
When I got my OESD I asked the vet if he would remove his DC as they too were very large and he hated having them touched or clipped. My vet refused, he said unless he has a problem with them, to leave well alone. In the 6 yrs I've had him he's never had any trouble with them though I do get the vet to clip twice yearly at his check-ups!
FYI my 'Bobtail' DOES have a tail! Some may say he looks silly but I wouldn't have it any other way!!!