Callie's dew claw
 

Callie's dew claw has been swollen and red for over a month probably closer to 2 months. Vet put her on a pretty strong antibiotic and I was told to soak it every day in Epsom salt for two weeks we did that and it looked the same if not a little worse so back to the vet we went she they gave us an oral anti fungal medicine and then stuff I was supposed to rub into her dew claw then soak it in warm water and rub the dew claw when it was in the water she said if this worked to continue it for a full month but if there was no change in two weeks we needed to come back and x-rays needed to be done. Well it is not any better after the anti fungal meds for one day the redness seemed to go away but its back and still looks the same. She goes in to be groomed Thursday and we get this done at the vets office so the vet is going to look at it on Thursday sense we will be there. I am thinking that it is going to have to be removed because I am not sure what else there is to try. If they have to remove it I know its surgery and she will have to be put under anesthesia but is it going to be hurting her when she wakes up? Is it a dangerous surgery? Do I get the other front dew claw removed also? Any opinions or information about this would be greatly appreciated. Callie had gotten this dew claw stuck 2 or 3 years ago and it pulled the nail off where the nerve and vein where exposed so they had to sedate her to cut them back and cauterize it so this dew claw is about half as thick as her other one. I just really hate dew claws right now and am tired of them causing her pain.

I'm sorry to read this, I was hoping she was on the road to recovery. I wonder what's going on, do you think she might be chewing/licking it? I guess I would want to know why it's not healing before I decided on the surgery. I don't think the surgery is dangerous, of course there is always a risk with anesthesia, but taking them off as an adult is much more problematic than taking them off the first few days. Yes, she will be in some pain from the incision afterwards, but I doubt if it will be that since it will be stitched. When she got hurt two years ago, it sounds like that would really be painful. I think I would be tempted to do both dew claws at the same time, you'd be so mad if she recovers from this and rips the other one. Anyway, sending prayers of strength and wisdom so you can make the best decision for her.

I would think that they could remove it using a local anesthetic with some mild sedation instead of general anesthesia. I wonder why Callie's dew claws weren't removed when her tail was docked. That's what they did to Huey when he was like 2 days old? I was told it was standard practice.
Good luck! She will feel much better once it is gone. If they DO use general anesthesia, are you gonna have them remove the other one, too? I would hate for you and her to have to go through this again.

Haha, Nancy..same post! I just type more slowly!

I'm with her all day and if I have a doctors appointment my Grandpa is with her and all of us are watching her very close and she is not really messing with it if I do see her start to I tell her no and she stops right away. Thanks

She came from a puppy mill so I guess that's why they didn't remove them.

I think as an adult, they have to go under, the dew claw has grown in more deeply.

Ahhh, makes sense. I'm sure she will do well and feel much better with it gone.

Taylor, I don't know enough about dew claws, but if surgery is necessary for Callie, I think I would lean toward having both removed.

I'm sorry Callie and you are going through this. You both are in my thoughts and prayers.

I don't have any experience with dew claw removal either; but if my vet suggested they be removed, I would. It sounds like Callie's has been an issue and may continue to be. HOpefully your vet will have an answer for this.

The dew claw surgery is pretty quick. I use to assist the Vet in all surgeries and that was one of the quickest surgeries he did. He pretty much cuts it off and sews it up and wraps the paw up. The biggest thing is making sure the Vet gets the whole dew claw out.. if some is left it can grow. I have seen it grow back and it's not pretty.

Post surgery for them is hard. I've seen some dogs take the surgery harder than they took a spay surgery. Pain medication is a key factor. Removing dew claws is really hard on them. Removal of Callie’s would be my very last resort.

Yeah I am definitely taking it seriously and the vet said she is trying not to have to remove it but I'm not sure what it left to try. Can you go into detail a little more on why its hard for them? Can they walk afterwards? I feel like obviously I would like to just get it healed but sense this is her second problem with this dew claw I wonder if its just going to continue to have problems.

At Callie’s age the removal of her dew claws is considered an amputation. Some dew claws are attached with a joint and some are only attached by flesh.

Recovery can take up to 2 weeks depending on how Callie tolerates pain. They will usually not want to walk on their paws for a couple days, it will be very painful. Since she is older and getting it done consider she will need a longer recovery time. Usually older dogs that have it done are walking on it by a week.

I'm hopping the vet has something up her sleeve but just trying to prepare for the worst. I am pretty sure hers is attached with a joint the way it feels. I have heard it is an amputation and I think that's why thinking about it makes me a little sick to my stomach and sad that she might have to go through that. Just wish I could take it for her the pain and everything.

I hate to hear poor Callie is still suffering with this. Here's hoping for answers for her. Keeping your sweet baby in my prayers. Here's a big (((((((((((((((((hug)))))))))))))))), Callie!!! ☼

I appreciate any prayers and I will make sure to update as soon as I know anything on Thursday.

Most surgery is a bit traumatic, but I wouldn't be too overwhelmed with the thought of it being an amputation. I'm guessing she would be happier with a few days of pain rather than a life time of irritation from it.

All dogs tolerate pain differently and it will vary based on what procedure the vet does (laser or not, etc.). If it has to be done it will be okay.:)

ETA: She probably won't want to walk on that foot but the good news is that they don't walk on their dew claws anyway.

I had no idea they could use laser for dew claws. After Max and his eyelid, I am all for lasers. In many uses, the recovery time is shorter, easier.

Thanks I really worry about things sometimes especially went it comes to Callie.

The dew claw is considered a digit.. correct? Like a thumb per say... You are cutting off the dog's digit. Amputation.

Being that it is located right above the paw.. closer to the pad due to the small size of Callies' paw (compared to a bigger dog's dew claw) I would think it would be very tender to walk on.. for more than a couple days. I've seen big breeds have this surgery and not want to walk on that paw more than 4 days.

There is no denying this surgery as a painful one. I would make sure I covered all pros and cons before I went ahead with the surgery.

I personally would not get hung up on the amputation word either...sometimes things must be amputated no matter what. The issue at hand may be that there is no fix for whatever is bothering Callie and it may be a necessary surgery. She is not talking about this as if it is an elective surgery. The dew claw has been an issue for a while. I had a pup whose leg had to be amputated and he faired no worse than any of my other ortho surgeries in terms of the recovery process. I, of course, kept him on pain meds for a few days just as I am sure would be done for Callie if this dew claw must be removed.

If this dew claw has an issue that they cannot clear up, the surgery might be necessary. No pros and cons to be weighed. This, as I said, is not being discussed as an elective procedure....at least that is not how I have read it.

If the dew claw is a recurring source of injury, pain, and infection... it's best to have it removed. All surgeries hurt. As pressure from the dog's weight is put on the foot while walking, this can be painful for the dog until the surgery site is healed. Just limit her activity for a few days... she'll be fine and won't look back!

Yeah its definitely not elective. I would love for her no to have surgery and have it removed but if the vet feels that's all that's left to do then it will have to be done.

Taylor, I can only give you my vet's exerience with it. She says it has not been a very traumatic thing for her patients and she hasn't had major issues with them not wanting to use the keg for days.

It is just going to depend on the pup and the surgeon.

I appreciate that and thank you so much. Callie has had many things done to her and has done pretty well through all of them so I think she will be ok just I am a worry wort and hate her having to have more things done. Heck after her LP and ACL surgery she was toe touching the next day. I do worry that if she is going to keep having issues with it the surgery would be better then the pain from having problems all the time with it.

If she needs the surgery, she will be just fine! She is lucky to have you, Taylor! :)

Thank you. I feel lucky to have her :)

*Update*
 

Ok sorry this is coming so late. The vet pulled her off of the oral fungal medicine she was taking and did x-rays and some cultures on it. Now we are supposed to soak her paw twice a day in the one medicine we have been doing, then put two drops of this new medicine on her dew claw and make sure she doesn't lick it until it dries after 5 to 10 minutes. We are supposed to do this for 10 days if there is no change we come back. The cultures come back in 3 to 7 days and if they come back with nothing that means its not a fungal and a few other things. X-rays showed everything was fine bone wise. We have decided if the cultures come back with nothing and then this medicine doesn't work that we are going to talk to them about removal of the dew claw because it is just going on to long and we have tried so many medicines that I don't think its fair to Callie to continue to go on with this swollen red dew claw when nothing is working.

:( Sad for Callie and her discomfort:(:( for you cuz I know you are worried and I know how hard it is to rest until your baby girl is better.

:)for your Vet who seems to be doing all the right things! Sounds like sound care and it sounds like you have a good plan of action. Your care of Callie is so thorough and I know she is in the best hands.

I hope this is all behind you both soon!!

Just an update the swelling is still about the same and the redness comes and goes.

Alrighty well the cultures came back negative on everything so we are going to continue what we are doing until Tuesday when the vet will call back to check on Callie. The dew claw has not been red in a few days and the swelling has gone down a little.