Dew Claw Removal Yourself 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? |
I'm always a little upset with threads like this, while you may be a trained surgical nurse, I'm afraid that the next person who reads the advice given will have no training at all. Can't the price for dewclaw removal be tacked onto the price for puppy? If you don't have a mentor who will train you, perhaps you could work out something with your vet and he will train you? The problem with people giving step-by-step advice on a forum is it could be wrong, or someone might misunderstand a part of the procedure, or it could sound so doable that many breeders will start doing it themselves. This is exactly the reason why people want to see dewclaw removal outlawed; someone shouldn't attempt it who has just read a paragraph or so on it. You do sound like a person who could be trained to do it properly, and I hope you seek out an experienced person to train you. I've read that the AKC has classes; perhaps you could look into that? |
I have been breeding for several years and tails and dewclaws were always something that I had my vet do for me. The price you have been quoted is about the same price that I pay for the procedure. As there is a possibility that vets where I live may not be able to perform the tail-docking procedure, my vet demonstrated the procedure to me with a litter that I had done last week. I feel that with the right equipment, and possibly another training session that I may feel comfortable doing. It is a minor procedure, but it is a surgical procedure non the less and I would never feel comfortable telling someone online how to do it. One has to check very carefully to make sure that all the bone from dewclaws has been removed properly so as not to cause a problem with bone coming through the skin later. Also the way I was shown is not a bloodless method, one has to cauterize quickly and I would not want to walk someone through it online. |
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Hi Nancy, I appreciate and understand your concern. I certainly would hate to see some of the nursing tasks I see advertised as "do it yourself" all over the internet - sometimes people don't understand how dangerous something can be if not done properly... which is why I am still hesitant to do so myself even with my background. I even probably would have become a vet had it not been for my allergies. Unfortunately I am in Canada so no AKC classes here, I will probably go ahead and get the vet to do these ones. I don't plan on having any more litters from these two. In a couple years I would like to get into seriously breeding Yorkshire terriers for the betterment of the breed. The concept of selectively breeding to produce certain coats and traits intrigues me. I just love the breed so I think at that time I will go ahead and get training to preform the task myself. |
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I think that is you feel comfortable doing it, then go for it. It is very easy to do. I normally do it right after they are born because they do not seem to feel it, not even a whimper! And I can get it easier because it is so soft (the bone and cartilage). If you can get some numbing cream use that before you do it. If not then use oragel to numb it up. if you want you can PM me. When I started doing dews and tails (on cockers) I was shown how to do it. But it took me a long time to be able to do it without cringing.. Also, if you do still want the vet to do it, he can do it up until they are a week old without any problems. My vet wont do it past 4 days though. |
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Some of the videos that I have seen on Youtube are a bit much. I remember once watching someone just trim a Yorkies bangs and thought to myself the sheers they were using looked like something I would trim my hedges with! :eek: Kind of disturbing! |
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Declaw removal is very simple..I wish you had a mentor, but it is what it is...use a small clamp and simply give a few twists..off them come and mine never regrow...very little bleeding to none with a clamp...very little destress to the pup. |
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I think I might try it that way next time. I have been doing it the same way for 20 years. I guess I should find that video again. I have a litter due, well she was due friday so she is making me wait..lol Thanks Karla |
I use a very small, pointed, locking clamp. The size of the clamp is most important...if it is wide you will not be able to do a small claws..I found some that are not curved and the end is quite pointed. |
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I can post the link later or search for it on youtube under dew claw removal clamp method. |
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I learned how to crochet on youtube. I also learned that I NEVER want to breed bc of youtube. I guess people learn what they want to learn from youtube. |
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I prefer to do it myself because most vets cause more pain especially when they want to stitch them when there is no need for it and just causes them to scream in pain. The last time I took pups in to have them done and tails done was awhile ago and it cost me over 200.00 for 4 pups and they screamed bloody murder.. I don't really care about the cost but the comfort of the pups and mother is what is most important to me. For those of you who do not know, vets do NOT numb the dews or tails when they cut! PS: this IS the breeders board and this is part of breeding. The video I was speaking of is very detailed and done by a professional. I will post it so people don't run around following any video.. |
Here is another thread about doing dews and tails.. http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/bre...deo-maybe.html |
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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. |
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