dew claws

[tdavepat 8]

The earlier they are removed, the better it is for the dog. I had my brindle whippet's removed at 14 months old at the same time he went under GA for an eye op.

 

Very painful for him, it was like having his thumbs removed. It took him about 3 weeeks to get over it and he's still jumpy when you touch his feet, whereas he wasn't before it.

 

I would remove them everytime, they serve no purpose whatsoever. They are believed to be a rudimentary thumb and the people who say the dog uses them to dig in when turning are talking out their arse.

 

Dave

[shamo28 1]

i agree with you a dog uses its tail to turn and dew claws serve no purpose

 

i think they arre best done as pups i do mine at 3 days old very easy to do you just have to make sure you have whole claw

 

never tried in an older dog and it would be a job for the vet as may need a stitch ?

[Richie10 345]

I have a 4 month old which still has them, vet saying about going under a general for them. Sounds expensive.

[Penda 3,341]

Me personally i dont like to see any dew claws on lurchers or terriers iv seen them get ripped off when dogs are running its very sore for them and they bleed like hell, its a claw which the dog does really use any more any so i think theres no need for them!!!

[victor 10]

leave them on, if thay are troubel take them off, i know a mate who's dog has only 1, cus it was a problame it broke so he got it choped off

[Penda 3,341]

More hassle then what its worth mate trust me take em off when there pups

[wild rover 548]

what are the advantages of having dew claws removed or do people prefer to run dogs with them still atached

 

any comments

 

Should be removed at 3 days old, may cause problems in later life, lurchers that work a lot of cover often rip them, constantly causing problems, easier to remove as pups, all mine except the pup bought in had them off and never missed them at all, they serve no great purpose for a working dog.

[jack crowley 5]

DOES THE VET HAVE TO DO IT OR CAN YOU SNIP THEM OFF YOURSELF

[mick the fish 9]

my bitch has 1 dew claw facing completely the wrong way i posted about this when she was 8 wk old every 1 said you have no probs with it facing that way but she ripped it completely of 4 weeks ago so problem solved.be honest ive never had that much probs with the dew claw so id leave it be why have an op and have it removed when you can just take the chance coz chances are you will never get any probs

 

It will be back Valley Lad, unless all the root came out with it !

 

Mick

 

ps £10 for a litter of pups to be dew clawed, i cant see the over here

[shaddow 166]

my bitch has 1 dew claw facing completely the wrong way i posted about this when she was 8 wk old every 1 said you have no probs with it facing that way but she ripped it completely of 4 weeks ago so problem solved.be honest ive never had that much probs with the dew claw so id leave it be why have an op and have it removed when you can just take the chance coz chances are you will never get any probs

 

It will be back Valley Lad, unless all the root came out with it !

 

Mick

 

ps £10 for a litter of pups to be dew clawed, i cant see the over here

 

firth vetinary center in annan , 10 quid they harged me , 7 pups

[winter hare 2]

take them off much better.

[martync1967 64]

most of you agree that they are better of removed so im glad that my pup dont have any thanks for the comments lads alb martync

[skycat 6,173]

IMO it all depends on the angle and size of the dew claws: my lurchers traditionally only have very small dew claws with hardly any pad bit to it. In over 20 years I've never had a problem with leaving them on, though I've seen dogs with big sticking out dew claws get them damaged badly and have to be removed. If in doubt take them off, but I don't need to with mine.

 

And they do serve a useful purpose acting as props when turning at speed and they can also be moved independantly when the dog wants, such as when holding a bone they are chewing: fascinating to see a dog move its dew claw like a thumb to help hold a bone steady.

 

Wovles, coyotes etc all have dew claws: I guess its only the man made breeds that have problems in this department!

[Lola 0]

My rescue Lurcher has had his removed so I was wondering if this was a sign he was maybe bred for working?

 

He was around 6-8 months when the dogs home picked him up off the streets. He'd already had an op to plate a broken leg. I find it strange that no one went looking for him.

Edited February 27, 2009 by Lola