Originally Posted by jvdb (Post 3112645)

As many of you know, my puppies were born on friday during the day. It being the weekend, I had to wait until today to make an appointment for dew claw removal for my babies (no tail docking since the mommy is papillon and if they take after her they would look awfully silly with docked tails).

I am an advocate for dewclaw removal - when my 2 adult babies eventually get fixed I will have their dewclaws surgically removed at the same time.

Anyways to get to the point, I called two vets in my area, both wanting to charge me $38 PER PUPPY just for dew claws - and one only has a front set! (they won't lower the price for that one) Plus they cannot even get me in today, I would have to wait until tomorrow which is day 4.

I have hear rumor of breeders removing their own dew claws and had contemplated doing them myself even before I heard about the price in order to avoid exposing them to germs at the vet's office.

I am trained as a Registered Nurse so of course know sterile technique, which gives me more confidence to do this myself. How many of you do your own dew claws? Does anybody have some good advice on technique? I almost prefer the sterile scalpel or scissor method but it seems that many prefer the clamp/hemostat method, however I worry that those little claws are too small to maneuver with a clamp?

Anyone have some advice? I'm not a bad mommy for contemplating this am I?

Originally Posted by Mardelin (Post 3115263)

Exactly, what Nancy was posting. Leading someone to a Utube video, instructing them over a forum thread, is not educational or safe.

While I remove dew claws and doc tails myself, I didn't start performing the procedure until I had several instructional sessions with my vet and mentor. Assited both on several litters before they both felt I could do it on my own.

Originally Posted by Elle (Post 3115425)

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Originally Posted by Elle (Post 3115389)

It does not matter what a vet charges. A vet must do it. These puppies didn't ask to be brought into this world. You can't learn how how to do them on the internet. This is crazy to ask a question like this. Being a nurse, you should understand this more not less.

Originally Posted by mommadog1 (Post 3115442)

Elle, are you a breeder? The vet does not have to do it. This is common practice for breeders. This is after all the breeders forum and we can teach these things even over the internet.

It's ok that you don't agree, but you really have no right to tell people what they can or cannot do. She asked for help and it was given to her. I personally walked her through it OFF thread. You shouldn't call her crazy, that just isn't right.

There is another thread (I posted the link) and nobody had a problem when that poster asked.

Originally Posted by mommadog1 (Post 3115442)

Elle, are you a breeder? The vet does not have to do it. This is common practice for breeders. This is after all the breeders forum and we can teach these things even over the internet.

It's ok that you don't agree, but you really have no right to tell people what they can or cannot do. She asked for help and it was given to her. I personally walked her through it OFF thread. You shouldn't call her crazy, that just isn't right.

There is another thread (I posted the link) and nobody had a problem when that poster asked.

Originally Posted by Mardelin (Post 3115434)

Removing dew claws and Docking Tails myself, is not about a financial savings for me. My vet & mentor strongly advised that I learn, so that I would not subject pups to the possible exposure of diseases in a vet's office. And per my vet, a pup should be kept from drafts, kept in a safe, calm enviornment and keep stress to a minimum.

Originally Posted by Elle (Post 3115477)

I didn't call anyone a name. This is her first liter. A vet should do it. People do them with their fingernails, tweezers etc. But in this case a vet is the answer b/c a mentor isn't available. I stand firmly that it is CRAZY to do or say it's okay giving instruction to a person online. It's not just snip snip like trimming a shrub. A person without any exp doesn't have experience handling the puppies at this age.

It's proper to do them yourself when you know how. Not learning how online willy nilly. It is crazy. Take them to the vet.

Originally Posted by Elle (Post 3115477)

This is her first liter

Originally Posted by YorkieRose (Post 3115566)

In a perfect world everyone would have a tip top mentor. Many have no mentor and look to this forum for help..that is the reason I come here. There are things a breeder must learn. Vets do not always learn what is the easiest and leasr stressful way to do many procedures.

Removing a declaw is no more of a surgical procedure then when I cut off skin tags on my neck...most vets turn it into a surgery, blood and stitches, screaming puppies and stressed out moms...

Use a clamp, twist it off..check it for a few days to make sure it is healing...
Good luck

PS..I might add..my doctor told me to ice the skin tag and snip it off myself..done it for years.

Originally Posted by Leesha (Post 3115600)

I learned from the youtube video which was very helpful and then my vet checked them out and asked how I did it and told me excellent job!

My breeder is too far away so I learned the only way I knew how do and do have the Veternarian Book on caring for dogs. So it is possible to learn from youtube.

I gagged when I hear things from people that aren't helpful to others that are only seeking for information!

Knowledge is power and why keep it to yourself. If that is her only way of learning then so be it.

Not everyone has a mentor to follow.

BTW I have more than enough money to take them to the vet and I choose to do it myself and have my vet check them out on their first visit.