Removing a dog's dew claws? Why?

WIth Labs, a breeder will removed the dew claws at a few days old. The reason is this is a dog that is supposed to jump into a pond or out of a boat to retrieve fowl. Dew claws that are still on a dog will often be torn or ripped with the dog goes into the water and through the brush.

It's much easier with labs to remove their dew claws as puppies.

Now with other breeds, the dew claw often serves a purpose so they are left on. For example with Great Pyrs, they have a double dew claw on their back feet. This is to help them stand on top of deep snow.... like built in snow shoes.

It really depends on the breed.

Removing Dogs Dew Claws

This is done to prevent injury, its not about cosmetics.

In working breeds expecially.. the dew claw could get caught on something while the dog is working.. its very painful when a dew claw tears, and puts a risk for infection.

Even housepets can get the claws caught on carpeting and upholstry.

Its better and easier to remove dews as a puppy.. the dews are just pretty much hanging there.. a claw and a flap of skin, as the dog grows they form cartilidge and is more painful to remove them later in life.

It is not necessary to remove the dewclaw. Many times hunting breeds have dewclaws removed shortly after birth as a dog in the brush can tear the dewclaw off it is very painful and dogs can get horrible infections from a torn dewclaw. There is also an artery that runs under the dew claw if the dog tears off the dewclaw there can be excessive bleeding and even death from blood loss. It is a personal choice. Some people have it done for safety reasons. I had a friend who had a dog who ripped off the dewclaw an it was a nightmare. It got infected and was really hard to treat.

All working dogs usually have their dew claws removed at 48 hours old. This is done so the dog won't rip or snag it on something in the field (i.e. hunting, tracking, rescue, sled pulling, etc.). It is not necessary for an everyday house pet, but the dew claw is functionally useless to all modern dogs so it never hurts to take the precaution. Done early enough it is a relatively painless and simple procedure.

Its definately NOT a cosmetic procedure-- it is a matter of preventing an injury. As a breeder I do not know which of my pups at 3 days of age are going to be the "working" dogs and which are going to be pets. I was ambivalent about dew claw removal until I experienced first hand what can happen when one rips. Out on the trail sledding a b*tch I had purchased (not bred) ripped her dewclaw-- white screaming dog, white snow--- it looked like a blood bath... and sounded worse. 10 miles back to my vehicle with a screaming dog- luckily I had some vetwrap on hand in my sled bag to put a pressure bandage on- the vet said she could have bled to death otherwise. Major surgery to take the ripped claw off- she'd done terrible damage to her leg- like ripping your thumb out by the roots.

Dewclaws at 3 days of age are little more than cartilage. Its a quick procedure and the pups whine MORE about being held and away from mom than they do about having the claws snipped off.

I still have nightmares about the dew claw incident. I will NEVER not remove dewclaws unless I have a breed that requires they remain.

The dew claws are often removed as young puppies. Many folks will do this as the claws can easily get caught on fabric. This will cause the dog to pull, destroying the fabric and also tearing the skin around the dew claw.

Funny you should ask this question. I just asked my vet about it this morning. She told me that it is mostly done for hunting dogs that may get the claw caught in brush or bushes. Otherwise, she does not recommend it because it involves the removal of some amount of bone.

It's not a cosmetic procedure. They're removed to prevent injury. Dogs, especially working dogs, the terriers, and other very active dogs, can get them caught on things and rip them partially or completely off, causing a lot of pain, infection, etc. Removed at a very young age, it causes very minimal discomfort and the benefits far outweigh that.