Dew Claws

[Dogsareme]

lol. I am going to sound really dumb, but I always thought the dogs dew claw was at the back of their paws. You know where they have that little pad before their 'wrist'.
I just found out it's more like a thumb . Boy do I feel stupid

Well once I found out what it was I went and checked out all my doggies. They all have the dew claw.
I figured my rescue would, as she was not taken very good care of in the beginning of her life. But I did not think my other two would.
Is it odd for a breeder not to get them removed before selling?? Or is it very usually for them to leave dogs with the dew claws??
Are they okay to keep in tact as long as I keep them trim?

lol. And here I thought all my dogs did not have them I only got curious when I could not find one on Mudd where I thought they were...

[Swiftwind]

I'm pretty sure dogs will only get their dew claws removed if they are 'hanging' dew claws and are not attached by bone (which they can be) because those which are attached by bone (most likely the front dew claws) are much harder to remove and are at less risk of being caught on anything, anyway. Most puppies get their dew claws removed when they are desexed.

Dogs can either have dew claws on their front paws or both paws (like my dog, who only got his back dew claws removed last year at the age of 9).

I'm not sure if it's odd for a breeder not to have the dew claws removed before selling.

It is alright to keep dew claws intact so long as you make sure they aren't getting caught on anything, and make sure the nails are trimmed. My dog only got his back dew claws caught on something twice in 9 years (and that was two times last year). Just keep an eye on them if you don't want to get them removed.

[mrsgrubby]

Some breeders remove them, other don't. Breeds with docked tails usually get them removed at a few days old when the tails are docked.

Just keep them nice and trimed and they should be fine.

[D.Schäferhund]

Hello
I don't remove them either, well whe had two pups with dew claws and two without, i found that was odd, but oh well.
Depending on the breeder it sometimes is "prohibited" to remove them. check the Briard, who suposed to have a double dewclaw in the back.....
It is a personal preferance if they stay or go.
As long as the dogs aren't bothered by them i on't mind.....

[elegy]

breeders who want them removed generally have them done at three or so days of age. it's not a big deal at that point- they're pinched off and glued. if done at six months, it's a much bigger deal with much higher incidence of infection/complications/etc.

both of my dogs have dewclaws. both of my dogs *use* their dewclaws. i think it's silly to remove them, especially once the dog is older, unless they're extremely floppy.

[Dogsareme]

Thanks everyone
Good to know. I don't think I will be getting them removed on any of them. Seems painful, and expecially at there ages.