Dew claw

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by lisaly

I posted in the other dew claw thread. My Katie has dew claws. She comes from a breeder whose lines are from working dogs, and along with conformation, she trains them a lot in obedience and agility. There is a reason for keeping dew claws intact. Katie is my first dog with dew claws. She is extremely active when she plays and retrieves her ball, and she hasn't had a problem with them. I was trying to understand why she left the dew claws, and I came across the following article:

http://www.caninesports.com/DewClawExplanation.pdf

I was glad that Katie has her dew claws after I read this document.

Thank you for this article!! I have printed this and, after I get this thought process validated by several very influential teaching vets, I will be including this in my puppy pak information, and will no longer be removing dew claws. Seems yet once again, GOD actually knew what he was doing when He stuck that skin tag with a claw in it, up all dogs legs....remember, "dog" is "God" spelled backwards, so He I think, took special care with the construction of this wonderful creature!! So, I will acquiesce,and will cease from trying to improve on His design!!!! Now, God, TAILS, PLEASE!!!

[BabyGirl Rosie]

I did have Mikkis removed at the advice of my vet. I know some don't agree with it, but I don't regret doing it. He explained the pros and cons to me. After discussing it, I elected to remove them. I don't think it has to be done so I would discuss it with your vet. He/she will determine what is best for your baby.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Due to proprioception of the other ligaments and tiny musculature in the infant dog wrist, I was given to understand that dew claw removal in the average dog would not inhibit its leg health and that only a very, very active dog such as an earth dog could tend to have problems.

[mimimomo]

I didn't read everyone's posts, but just wanted to share the danger of having a dew claw...if you're like Momo. He had his torn off while playing w/his fav ball. He likes to roll his ball under the couch & bat it w/his paws back & forth. Our old couch @ the time had a sofa bed, so there was room for him to play w/his ball w/out it disappearing under the couch. I think this is how he hurt himself...maybe it got caught on the fabric or something, although I never found his nail.
One night, he kept licking his paw, darting back & forth, licking, darting back & forth & so on. It was weird, so I picked him up thinking he had something stuck on his paw & to my horror, his paw was bleeding!
His dew claw was totally ripped out. I put clotisol on it & he screamed. He was bleeding so much that the bandage I put on him was seeping w/blood. Took him to the vet & they cleaned it & bandaged it up real good. His nail grew back fine.
We threw away that old ugly couch when we moved loll. He now purposely drops the ball from the leather couch & barks to tell me to pick it up for him. He likes playing w/me too.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

I didn't read everyone's posts, but just wanted to share the danger of having a dew claw...if you're like Momo. He had his torn off while playing w/his fav ball. He likes to roll his ball under the couch & bat it w/his paws back & forth. Our old couch @ the time had a sofa bed, so there was room for him to play w/his ball w/out it disappearing under the couch. I think this is how he hurt himself...maybe it got caught on the fabric or something, although I never found his nail.
One night, he kept licking his paw, darting back & forth, licking, darting back & forth & so on. It was weird, so I picked him up thinking he had something stuck on his paw & to my horror, his paw was bleeding!
His dew claw was totally ripped out. I put clotisol on it & he screamed. He was bleeding so much that the bandage I put on him was seeping w/blood. Took him to the vet & they cleaned it & bandaged it up real good. His nail grew back fine.
We threw away that old ugly couch when we moved loll. He now purposely drops the ball from the leather couch & barks to tell me to pick it up for him. He likes playing w/me too.

Yikes! Bet that hurt a lot. From the way they gone on when one gets to close to the quick in trimming toenails, I can only surmise that all their toes and nails have a quick/nerve in them and imagine amputating that nerve and its surrounding digit during activity is acutely painful. So glad Tibbe doesn't have his - well, he does have a tiny vestigial one that the vet/breeder either missed or perhaps it grew back, if they can. I am most careful of his leg because of it and always watchful. Since it is so tiny, I don't know if it would be easier to come off or harder to hang up on something. I think most pups are removed at 3 days of age or something when the tiny structure is just rudimentary and undeveloped.

Hope Momo is all recovered and has no more such incidents.

[My baby Milo]

I know this sounds dumb but do they just have dew claws on the back paws? My Milo his on the back but I haven't saw any on his front paws.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by My baby Milo

I know this sounds dumb but do they just have dew claws on the back paws? My Milo his on the back but I haven't saw any on his front paws.

Callie has them on the front

[My baby Milo]

Milo has pads but no nail. Does that mean they were removed? That is the ones that is up from his foot right? He only has 4 nails on his front paw