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.

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.

I just use small scissors and snip them off, but you have to make sure you get all of it or they can grow back. There are some video's online, check youtube.com and there are several that show you from start to finish. You may have already seen some.

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.

I'm so glad that you are going to take the puppies in to the vet for their dew claws removal. It is just not a good idea to try to wing it and experiment with Youtube videos or other online ideas.

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!

Thank you so much, I was afraid you might take my post the wrong way. I didn't notice you were in Canada, but I've heard some great things about the Canadian Kennel Club, and I wonder if they might have similar classes? I really wish you success with Yorkies in the future, you sound like you have all the qualities to make a great breeder! :)

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.

I have seen this done in a video once but have never actually tried it. Do you use locking hemostats or something else? They are so tiny I would assume you would use the little hemostats as well?

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.

My vet charged only $10 to have the puppies done. I did my new puppies dew claws myself. I have a youtube vid of this guy that shows how it is done using the clamp method. This works best for me and then I bandage up their wounds so that mom doesn't lick them.(only for a few hours) You just have to make sure you get the entire claw or it will grow back.

I can post the link later or search for it on youtube under dew claw removal clamp method.

Isn't this EXACTLY what Nancy was advising against??? check out youtube? Use oragel? OMG. :eek: I have never seen this procedure done, but just reading this diy stuff made me gag and I almost barfed! $30 some bucks in not a lot to have it done by a vet!

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.

Thank you.. I have some small ones. Where did you get the ones that you use?

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

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.

I have been shown how to do this procedure by my vet- it is a SURGICAL AMPUTATION! As with any surgical procedure there is some risk, however slight. Where I live it may soon be passed as law that my vet will not be able to perform tail docking, so she has shown my how to do both tail docking and dew claw removal. I can't believe that someone would try to teach it over the internet!!!!!:eek::mad::eek:

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.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

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.

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.

No, a vet doesn't have to do it, but performing this procedure does take skill. No way should it be taught via the internet. Something I wouldn't do, you are taking personal liability if something should go wrong.

Elle, is not saying that it should be done by a vet, but not done unless one is instructed up close in personal by a vet.

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.

For sure. We're on the same page!

I am not going to debate with you on this issue.. If you think it's crazy that is your opinion. If you want to come and start a fight I will not engage in it.
Have a nice day.. I am off to do dewclaws this morning..

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.
The reason Terri Shumsky and others put out video's in this area was so breeder can learn from a pro...

PS: where did you get the idea this was her first litter? She never said that..nor is it true..

Exactly!!

I have not removed any skin tags before, and I have a lot of the darn things.. Never had the dr do it either, never thought of it..LOL.. Thanks for that bit of info because I hate the ugly things on my neck..Think I will go do some snipping on myself after I do the pups..hehe..

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.

Here you go...


He has helped me a lot with this vid. :) Taping and dew claw removal. I did the same method and my puppies were perfectly fine.

They were born in winter and there was no way on Gods green earth that I was taking them out at 3days old!!

Hope this helps you...

Ok wait, I'm a bit confused, so let me try to get this right. The very first time you did dew claws yourself you had no one to help or tell you how to do it other than a book and youtube? If that's right, that's downright scary.

OP,
What I'm saying is, something like removing dewclaws by yourself without any prior knowledge, is freaking crazy. Trimming the nails already freaks me out enough. I am NOT saying that breeders who have been taught how to do it correctly by their vet or mentor should not do it themselves, but for people that are doing it for the first time ever and not trained on how to do it? Do you really have no other option than to do it yourself? You couldn't at least called your vet and run it by him? You'd prefer to get advice from a complete stranger on the net? If you seriously think that's fine, then well I can't change your mind. I guess you just have a stronger stomach than me. I don't even want to watch the vid, I am so close to barfing right now just thinking about it.