![]() ![]() Luckily dewclaw injuries are rare and most dogs don’t need them to be removed. These and dogs who repeatedly injure their front dewclaws are the patients for whom I recommend removal. Some breeds have rear dewclaws which can be less firmly attached and be prone to catching on things and causing injury. Lucas White, DVM, with Sunset Vet Clinic, says, “For dogs that still have their dewclaws I rarely recommend they be removed. The most common complications are surgical dehiscence (the surgery site opens up due to the dog moving around too much or chewing on the site), inflammation of the surgical site, or infection of the surgical site.”Ī. And keeping your dog quiet enough to heal and keeping an e-collar or other deterrent on your dog at all times to prevent chewing the surgery site. ![]() There are complications to be aware of – the surgery is painful and requires strict monitoring of your dog after surgery for 10-14 days until the sutures are removed. Sarah Wooten, a veterinarian for Pumpkin Pet Insurance says, “I wouldn’t recommend having them removed unless they were causing problems with the dog, i.e. If someone would adopt a dog that still has their dewclaws intact, in what circumstances would you recommend having them removed? Are the complications to be aware of before deciding to have them removed?Ī. “Trim it just enough so your finger does not get hooked and slides easily off the nail.Q. “Since dewclaws may be hidden under your dog’s coat and be hard to see, you can run your finger under the nail to test if it catches on your finger,” says Dr. And since dewclaws don’t regularly touch the ground and get worn down, they may grow faster than a dog’s other nails. If dewclaws do get snagged, it can be quite painful for the dog. R egular trimming prevents snagging and breaking, also preventing nails from curling around and growing into the foot. Like toenails, dewclaws should be trimmed periodically. The rule of thumb is to care for your dog’s dewclaws the way you would for any other nail. Becker says that breeds like Whippets and Border Collies, who are known for being particularly fast, use their dewclaws to help them quickly navigate corners. “Dogs doing agility may grasp the sides of the teeter with their dewclaws to steady themselves,” says Dr. Interestingly, wolves and other wild canids do not normally have these extra digits unless their ancestors were cross-bred with dogs.ĭewclaws are also convenient in dog sports. The Briard and the Beauceron are known for their dual herding and guarding purposes, so the double dewclaws might also help them chase sheep-steeling predators over rough terrain. In the Great Pyrenees, these may function as a brake of sorts since they often raced down mountainsides chasing wolves away from flocks of livestock. Some herding breeds or guarding breeds have double dewclaws on their hind legs. Helping a dog scramble up or down rocky, steep terrain.Adding grip and stability on slippery surfaces such as ice or when climbing out of water.Providing extra traction and stabilizing the (carpal) wrist joint when dogs turn at high speeds.Helping a dog grip a bone or toy between their front legs.Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer for the AKC. “There are a variety of ways dewclaws may help a dog accomplish different tasks,” says Dr. Some experts differentiate between dewclaws attached by bone versus floppier ones attached only by loose skin to try to distinguish why they’re there in the first place. Why Do Dogs Have Dewclaws?Įxperts have disagreed about the exact purpose of dewclaws on dogs. Depending on the breed, the double dewclaw may even be considered part of the breed standard. Certain breeds, such as the Great Pyrenees, Briard, Beauceron, and Icelandic Sheepdog, are known for having these rear double dewclaws. ![]()
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