To remove or not remove Dew claws? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

DaniMarie · 10-05-2009, 09:45 PM

My Poppy is being spayed on the 30th of October.

The vet nurse asked if we wanted her to have her back dew claws removed during the procedure.

I asked if it was necessary and she said it was purely cosmetic and not necessary.

Reading things on the internet has me VERY confused.

I don't want to perform an unnecessary procedure on my baby, so I'd like to ask opinions on this.

Thanks!!

Lee B · 10-06-2009, 05:28 AM

As she will be under anesthesia at the time anyway, I would do it. It's one less set of nails you have to worry about, as well as a "danger" to your pup: they get caught up in things and ripped/torn, which is extremely painful.

I've only seen dew claws on front legs - not the rear. Does she have them on the front as well? My pups had theirs removed when their tails were docked, so I really don't know if back legs are common or not.

DaniMarie · 10-06-2009, 05:30 AM

They were removed in the front by the breeder.

I have no idea why she didn't remove the back as well.

livingdustmops · 10-06-2009, 05:31 AM

I would remove them also since your little one is already under. You didn't say anything about teeth. Almost all Yorkies need to have some o f their baby teeth pulled as they have not fallen out on their own. This is more important to me than dew claws being removed. Did the vet say anything?

DaniMarie · 10-06-2009, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by livingdustmops

I would remove them also since your little one is already under. You didn't say anything about teeth. Almost all Yorkies need to have some o f their baby teeth pulled as they have not fallen out on their own. This is more important to me than dew claws being removed. Did the vet say anything?

Not at all, actually.

He checks her teeth every time she comes in, but hasn't said a word about having to pull teeth. Her appointment is for the 30th so I'll take her in for an extra check-up before that (all of her bloodwork and testing is done prior to her surgery on the same day).

She'll only be barely six months, is that old enough to worry about having teeth pulled?

The vet insisted he wants to spay her before she goes into heat the first time...my husband and I have both been nervous about having her go in for surgery so young.

jeanm1963 · 10-06-2009, 05:35 AM

I posted this a while back in the breeder section, My vet REFUSED to do this and I wondered why? My vet said it is VERY VERY painful almost like removing your fingernail.. it can also remain painful forever..
I was really concerned that my vet wouldnt do this so I posted in the breeders section, they to said it is NOT nessesary to do this later on, as long as you keep them trimmed they will be fine. My vet will NOT remove dew claws under any circumstances if they are not new born puppies.. she said she has seen many complications and finds that leaving them is less harmful then removing them at spay/neuter time.
You may want to post this in the breeder section and they can give you a more indepth explanation. My puppy is 10 months old and she has no complications with them at all!

jeanm1963 · 10-06-2009, 05:38 AM

Dani , I just notice that you are from Ma, I use South Costal vets they are excellent and very familar with the Yorkie breed they have 3 vets , none will remove dew claws, my puppy got spayed around the same time, I opted for Laser surgery.. she was just fine.. I had it done early and picked her up at 8 pm before they closed.. I wanted her to be home with me instead of at the vets since no one is there over night !! My Laci was around 4.5 pds at her spay time and she did GREAT!

livingdustmops · 10-06-2009, 05:39 AM

Almost every vet would prefer to put these little ones under only once and weight is very important. My vet wanted them at least 3#'s. I wouldn't worry about the 6 months of age (unless she weighs under 3#'s) but is she going to have to be put under again to pull the teeth? You can open her mouth and see if you see double row teeth and if you do the vet should pull those at the time of the spay.

Yorkies have terrible teeth/gum issues so this is important.

livingdustmops · 10-06-2009, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeanm1963

I posted this a while back in the breeder section, My vet REFUSED to do this and I wondered why? My vet said it is VERY VERY painful almost like removing your fingernail.. it can also remain painful forever..
I was really concerned that my vet wouldnt do this so I posted in the breeders section, they to said it is NOT nessesary to do this later on, as long as you keep them trimmed they will be fine. My vet will NOT remove dew claws under any circumstances if they are not new born puppies.. she said she has seen many complications and finds that leaving them is less harmful then removing them at spay/neuter time.
You may want to post this in the breeder section and they can give you a more indepth explanation. My puppy is 10 months old and she has no complications with them at all!

You are right...I wasn't thinking when I posted as I was more concerned about the teeth...I would leave the Dew claws alone also. I also would do the laser.

DaniMarie · 10-06-2009, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeanm1963

Dani , I just notice that you are from Ma, I use South Costal vets they are excellent and very familar with the Yorkie breed they have 3 vets , none will remove dew claws, my puppy got spayed around the same time, I opted for Laser surgery.. she was just fine.. I had it done early and picked her up at 8 pm before they closed.. I wanted her to be home with me instead of at the vets since no one is there over night !! My Laci was around 4.5 pds at her spay time and she did GREAT!

Thank you! It really reassures me that it isn't a necessary procedure. I just keep reading other people insisting that they should be done on many forums. Personally, I don't declaw my cats because of the many reasons not to and the harm it causes them....although I know that's not everyone's stance, it's something I feel strongly about.

This is my first dog, so I am pretty clueless. And she's about 4.5 pounds as well!!!

We are dropping her off at 8 am and picking her up at 6pm. We both took the day off to be around in case anything at all happens and scheduled it for a Friday so she can have us 24/7 all weekend.

Now I'm just nervous about this teeth business!!!!

DaniMarie · 10-06-2009, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by livingdustmops

but is she going to have to be put under again to pull the teeth? You can open her mouth and see if you see double row teeth and if you do the vet should pull those at the time of the spay.

Yorkies have terrible teeth/gum issues so this is important.

I'll definitely check this out and also have the vet check it out to be absolutely sure! Thank you!!

enavarra · 10-06-2009, 05:57 AM

I have never heard of back dew claws, but the front ones operate as their "thumbs" and help them pick up things (like holding a chew toy up to chew). I would not remove, unless they are spending tons of time running through the woods and brush where they could get caught on something.

At least that was my breeders advice . . .

TinyBit · 10-06-2009, 06:13 AM

this is a very touchy area with some breeders/owners but I would go ahead of have them removed during her spay. The back ones can get caught on things and pulled even more so than the front ones.
as for them not being removed, I can say that I got my Lacie from a very good breeder who did remove her front dewclaws, however they either did not notice or not did not check about back ones...my Lacie has double dewclaws on both back feet and they do cause her trouble. She can be seen hopping on three legs when the touch the ground. The claws also grown in a circle and make trimming very hard.
I also breed puppies so she has not been spayed, however if she should ever require to be put under for any reason, such as a c-section, I would have hers removed at that time.

Good luck with you decision.

Mardelin · 10-06-2009, 06:20 AM

It's very unusual that yorkies are born with their back dew claws. Front ones are usually removed between 3 and 5 days of age. I'd speak to your vet in depth, ultimately the decision is between the both of you. But, if you choose to go ahead, get everything done at once. Puppy teeth extracted, spay and dew claw removal.

Connie · 10-06-2009, 06:49 AM

My vet waits until their adult teeth are in to do the spay. That way he can also pull any baby teeth that haven't fallen out. I didn't get Maddie and Libby spayed until they were around 7-7 1/2 months, and I'll probably wait even longer to have Faith done, since she's small. Neither of my dogs went into heat before that time. If you get your baby spayed at 6 months, she likely won't be at the point where the baby teeth can be pulled and then she would have to be put under again in a month or two, to have her baby teeth pulled. As far as the dew claws, I have heard how terribly painful it is to have them removed once they are past the newborn stage. I wouldn't put a dog through that.

10-05-2009, 09:45 PM	#1
DaniMarie Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 138	To remove or not remove Dew claws? My Poppy is being spayed on the 30th of October. The vet nurse asked if we wanted her to have her back dew claws removed during the procedure. I asked if it was necessary and she said it was purely cosmetic and not necessary. Reading things on the internet has me VERY confused. I don't want to perform an unnecessary procedure on my baby, so I'd like to ask opinions on this. Thanks!!

10-06-2009, 05:30 AM	#3
DaniMarie Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 138	They were removed in the front by the breeder. I have no idea why she didn't remove the back as well. __________________ Mommy to Poppy & her kitty siblings: Sophie, Lily and Cubbie

10-06-2009, 05:31 AM	#4
livingdustmops Princess Poop A Lot Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 6,728	I would remove them also since your little one is already under. You didn't say anything about teeth. Almost all Yorkies need to have some o f their baby teeth pulled as they have not fallen out on their own. This is more important to me than dew claws being removed. Did the vet say anything? __________________ Cindy & The Rescued Gang Puppies Are Not Products!

10-06-2009, 05:35 AM	#6
jeanm1963 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Weymouth, Ma Posts: 2,584	I posted this a while back in the breeder section, My vet REFUSED to do this and I wondered why? My vet said it is VERY VERY painful almost like removing your fingernail.. it can also remain painful forever.. I was really concerned that my vet wouldnt do this so I posted in the breeders section, they to said it is NOT nessesary to do this later on, as long as you keep them trimmed they will be fine. My vet will NOT remove dew claws under any circumstances if they are not new born puppies.. she said she has seen many complications and finds that leaving them is less harmful then removing them at spay/neuter time. You may want to post this in the breeder section and they can give you a more indepth explanation. My puppy is 10 months old and she has no complications with them at all! __________________ I Support http://www.yorkiesinc.com/

10-06-2009, 05:38 AM	#7
jeanm1963 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Weymouth, Ma Posts: 2,584	Dani , I just notice that you are from Ma, I use South Costal vets they are excellent and very familar with the Yorkie breed they have 3 vets , none will remove dew claws, my puppy got spayed around the same time, I opted for Laser surgery.. she was just fine.. I had it done early and picked her up at 8 pm before they closed.. I wanted her to be home with me instead of at the vets since no one is there over night !! My Laci was around 4.5 pds at her spay time and she did GREAT! __________________ I Support http://www.yorkiesinc.com/

10-06-2009, 05:28 AM	#2
Lee B YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Land O' Lakes, FL Posts: 735	As she will be under anesthesia at the time anyway, I would do it. It's one less set of nails you have to worry about, as well as a "danger" to your pup: they get caught up in things and ripped/torn, which is extremely painful. I've only seen dew claws on front legs - not the rear. Does she have them on the front as well? My pups had theirs removed when their tails were docked, so I really don't know if back legs are common or not.

10-06-2009, 05:39 AM	#8
livingdustmops Princess Poop A Lot Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 6,728	Almost every vet would prefer to put these little ones under only once and weight is very important. My vet wanted them at least 3#'s. I wouldn't worry about the 6 months of age (unless she weighs under 3#'s) but is she going to have to be put under again to pull the teeth? You can open her mouth and see if you see double row teeth and if you do the vet should pull those at the time of the spay. Yorkies have terrible teeth/gum issues so this is important. __________________ Cindy & The Rescued Gang Puppies Are Not Products!

10-06-2009, 05:57 AM	#12
enavarra Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Roswell, GA, USA Posts: 21	I have never heard of back dew claws, but the front ones operate as their "thumbs" and help them pick up things (like holding a chew toy up to chew). I would not remove, unless they are spending tons of time running through the woods and brush where they could get caught on something. At least that was my breeders advice . . .

10-06-2009, 06:13 AM	#13
TinyBit It's a Yorkie Thing Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Walton KS Posts: 1,529 Blog Entries: 1	this is a very touchy area with some breeders/owners but I would go ahead of have them removed during her spay. The back ones can get caught on things and pulled even more so than the front ones. as for them not being removed, I can say that I got my Lacie from a very good breeder who did remove her front dewclaws, however they either did not notice or not did not check about back ones...my Lacie has double dewclaws on both back feet and they do cause her trouble. She can be seen hopping on three legs when the touch the ground. The claws also grown in a circle and make trimming very hard. I also breed puppies so she has not been spayed, however if she should ever require to be put under for any reason, such as a c-section, I would have hers removed at that time. Good luck with you decision. __________________ Loving Gizmo, Teddy, Duchess,and Faith : In Memory of My Duke of York 7-24-06 ~6-21-07 and Victorian Lacie Pearl 3-1-07 ~ 4-22-11

10-06-2009, 06:20 AM	#14
Mardelin Mardelin Yorkshire Terriers Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: California Posts: 14,776	It's very unusual that yorkies are born with their back dew claws. Front ones are usually removed between 3 and 5 days of age. I'd speak to your vet in depth, ultimately the decision is between the both of you. But, if you choose to go ahead, get everything done at once. Puppy teeth extracted, spay and dew claw removal. __________________ Mardelin *Yorkshire* *Terriers*

10-06-2009, 06:49 AM	#15
Connie Loved by Maddie & Libby Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: North Dakota Posts: 10,732	My vet waits until their adult teeth are in to do the spay. That way he can also pull any baby teeth that haven't fallen out. I didn't get Maddie and Libby spayed until they were around 7-7 1/2 months, and I'll probably wait even longer to have Faith done, since she's small. Neither of my dogs went into heat before that time. If you get your baby spayed at 6 months, she likely won't be at the point where the baby teeth can be pulled and then she would have to be put under again in a month or two, to have her baby teeth pulled. As far as the dew claws, I have heard how terribly painful it is to have them removed once they are past the newborn stage. I wouldn't put a dog through that. __________________ Custom doggie dresses and vests Memory is a country where I can go to see your face - but where do I go when I miss your embrace?