| Ask The Vet -
Q&A |
Question
Can and when should a pups dew claws be removed and where
exactly are they? I have seen adverts where people are selling pups
with dew claws removed but does it really matter if they are not?
Matthew Mills - Warwickshire, UK |
Answering questions:
Susie Samuel MA VetMB MRCVS from
Vet
Help Direct |
| Answer |
Hi
Matthew,
Dew claws are the first digit on a dogs paw. They are found on the
inner surface of the legs, just below the ‘wrist’ or
carpal area. They are the equivalent of our thumbs but serve no
purpose in dogs. The usual reason that front dew claws are removed
is to avoid the risk of them catching on something and tearing.
This is actually a fairly uncommon problem, especially for dogs
that live in towns and cities.
Removing
front dew claws is sometimes performed on puppies without anaesthetic.
This is not something that I think is very fair. I and many other
vets refuse to perform this operation. Dew claw removal can also
be performed under anaesthetic when the dog is older, often at the
same time as neutering. This is a significant procedure involving
removal of the small bones of the digit. It is not something that
I would recommend unless there was a particular risk of them catching
their dew claws due to the lifestyle of the dog.
Sometimes
dogs also have dew claws on their hind legs. These can be more pendulous
and catch more easily on things. Hind limb dew claws are much easier
to remove as there does not tend to be much bone associated with
them. I would usually recommend removing these at neutering.
I
hope that helps and please do not worry about getting a puppy with
its dew claws on. If you believe that the dog’s lifestyle
will lead to a particularly high risk of them catching, you can
get them removed under anaesthetic when the dog is older. If you
do not think that this is the case just keep the dew claws clipped
down short which will reduce the likelihood of them catching.
Kind regards,
Susie Samuel MA VetMB MRCVS www.vethelpdirect.com
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