Dew Claws - remove them?

Steve · Master

Dew Claws - remove them?

Suzanne · Guru

ouch!! - she does always seem to be catching them doesnt she Steve.....arg...

maybe worth considering to be honest....can be an easy thing to do - depending on how they are attached as some dogs dew claws kinda just hang as it just attached by skin & muscle = easy to take off, others seem to have a wee digit bone still present in them which means they are more attached. Still easy enough to remove, just need a bit more TLC & sardines after......

how many times has she done her dew claw in now?? - can you face going through all the upset several times a year if she is that prone to it? or just get it over & done with....

chrissy j · Old Hand

I have to say 3 out of 4 of my hounds have had their dew claws removed so I have never had problems with them Gilly on the other hand still has hers and sometimes they can be a bit of a nuisence. In my opinion it might be worth thinking about it it's a lot less pain for pearly in the end.

sha · Master

Hi Fiona

When we breed Whippets we ALWAYS get the dew claws removed by the vet when the pups are 2-5 days old. It`s a very simple opp for a vet at this age. I know lots of older dogs who have had dew claws removed without any probs at all. Dew claws can cause real probs and i think are better removed - but hey each to their own. Evolution eh!!!

I`m not sure but do GH trainers leave em on for balance (dunno why?) do they believe its like a "thumb"? Enlighten moi please

Best of luck Pearly

Sha

max · Enlightened One

Poor Pearly, I am going to get Sasha, s done as soon as I can afford it, she keeps catching them and it is not nice, she is also going to get speyed at the same time. Saves a lot of pain and upset for her. Nora.

Hope Pearly back to norm soon.

greyluvver · GAL Membership Co-Ordinator

Just last Saturday Tyler caught her dew claw too, and it was half hanging off. The vet decided to cut it to make it shorter, but whilst cutting, the whole thing came away (and she squealed!!) We were glad though that it had came off, as we could imagine the bother a half hanging claw would cause! Tyler still has a small 'digit bone' (as Suzanne calls it) there, so we think it might grow back but not sure.

P.S. Dave, I remembered your experience & surprise when a vet suddenly yanked your hound's dew claw off.

Steve, sounds like a good idea to get them totally removed if Pearly's had so much bother.

Would be interesting to know what purpose the pesky things ever had!!?

-- Edited by greyluvver at 16:57, 2006-03-28

Siouxsie · Enlightened One

greyluvver wrote:

Would be interesting to know what purpose the pesky things ever had!!?

Hello Lita,

I might be wrong, but I am sure dew claws are left over from dogs wild ancestors, used to hold prey down as they ate. Anatomically they are like a thumb, but the domesticated dogs have no use for them. I have even heard of some dogs have rear ones too.

Does this make sense? - hope so

greyluvver · GAL Membership Co-Ordinator

Thanks, Siouxsie that makes sense.

Might have to give them an occasional very large juicy steak, so they can hold it with all claws whilst eating

FAJ · Enlightened One

Just to let you know that Pearly is back to normal, and is all fine and dandy now. She had to have the claw yanked off in the end. After having been softened up under a dressing for a few days, it was clear that it was hanging on from the top and had to come off. She perked up a treat after that, which is great.

Pearly sends special thanks to her Auntie Nicki, who gave her such a nice pressie of some tasty treats to munch on the way home to recover from the trauma of being in the vet. I'd have posted a piccie but the wee minx (Pearly, that is, not Nicki!) and her partner in crime managed to sneak into my bag and scoff the last two before I had a chance to take a foatie.

greyluvver · GAL Membership Co-Ordinator

Fiona, glad to hear Pearly got the claw sorted at the vets and she's on the mend.

I am surprised how quickly Tyler's is healing.

Nicki · Big Cheese

So glad your feeling better and enjoyed your treats Pearly, you deserved them for being so brave.

Love and hugs from Auntie nicki and wee Janie.x