Dew Claws

[lara2913]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

I have yorkies come to me for grooming and have had to send their owners to a vet because the dew claws have become ingrown....some have got hung up on fences, etc. As, a breeder I remove them at approximately 3 days of age at the same time the tails are docked. However, they can be done at the time of spay/nueter and removal of baby teeth. They serve no purpose

In your opinion they serve no purpose, in my opinion they do. I have watched my dogs use them to grip things. Sure there is going to be dogs who injure them, but there will also be many that don't. You could say that about so many things, I currently have stitches in my hand from injuring it. I wouldn't have if I didn't have a hand. Most dew claw injuries are caused by people not keeping them trimmed properly, not because they are simply there. I personally don't see the point in removing something 'just in case' they injure it later in life. My yorkies are not docked either.

We are all entitled to have an opinion, it doesn't mean either of us are 'right'.

[JosieBishop]

Thanks everyone for the information. This is very helpful.

[sweetr72]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

I have yorkies come to me for grooming and have had to send their owners to a vet because the dew claws have become ingrown....some have got hung up on fences, etc. As, a breeder I remove them at approximately 3 days of age at the same time the tails are docked. However, they can be done at the time of spay/nueter and removal of baby teeth. They serve no purpose

Reece is 15 months and going for his neuter on the 17th..can they still remove his dewclaws??

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by lara2913

In your opinion they serve no purpose, in my opinion they do. I have watched my dogs use them to grip things. Sure there is going to be dogs who injure them, but there will also be many that don't. You could say that about so many things, I currently have stitches in my hand from injuring it. I wouldn't have if I didn't have a hand. Most dew claw injuries are caused by people not keeping them trimmed properly, not because they are simply there. I personally don't see the point in removing something 'just in case' they injure it later in life. My yorkies are not docked either.

We are all entitled to have an opinion, it doesn't mean either of us are 'right'.

Yes, we are all entitled to our opinion and I did give mine. You live in the UK and I in the US, so there are differences in tail docking, dew claw removal, etc. In the US dew claws on yorkies for the most part are removed. And as another person stated and much of what I have encountered with some breeders here, either they weren't aware of the process, didn't know how to do it themselves, or couldn't afford to have it done. Since I was taught by my mentor how to do this, it is something that I do.

A greater percentage of the time I have clients that aren't comfortable with trimming their dogs nails and they aren't done on a regular basis....hence the ingrown dew claws.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by sweetr72

Reece is 15 months and going for his neuter on the 17th..can they still remove his dewclaws??

It is something I would suggest you discuss with your vet. Will he be uncomfortable, of course, I wouldn't lie to you. Please discuss it with your vet.

[sweetr72]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

It is something I would suggest you discuss with your vet. Will he be uncomfortable, of course, I wouldn't lie to you. Please discuss it with your vet.

Thanks!! I will definetly ask him..I keep them nice and trimmed and have had no problems thus far..but it is a pain in the butt lol..

Dawn