Dew C;aws

[lovemybaroo]

I didn't know removing them was an option. Baroo still has his, and a few months ago he came in the house with it bleeding because he had torn the nail almost all the way off. I don't know how he did it, because there is nothing in my backyard that he could hurt himself on, but I think it got caught in the fence somehow. Maybe I will look into having it done for him, considering it has already caused a problem.

[JazzysMom]

@lovemybaroo:

I didn't know removing them was an option. Baroo still has his, and a few months ago he came in the house with it bleeding because he had torn the nail almost all the way off. I don't know how he did it, because there is nothing in my backyard that he could hurt himself on, but I think it got caught in the fence somehow. Maybe I will look into having it done for him, considering it has already caused a problem.

Oh, ugh! That makes me cringe just thinking about it.:( Poor baby.

Bryan had both our B's removed when they were pups, but Gypsy still has hers and they are a pain. She has long hair on her legs and the dewclaws just disappear so sometimes dh forgets about them when he clips her nails {I won't do her nails; she has some that are black and I can't see a thing – too scary!} and they get long and start to curl under. THEN they are a serious PIA to take care of.
I hate 'em.

[tanza]

@lovemybaroo:

I didn't know removing them was an option. Baroo still has his, and a few months ago he came in the house with it bleeding because he had torn the nail almost all the way off. I don't know how he did it, because there is nothing in my backyard that he could hurt himself on, but I think it got caught in the fence somehow. Maybe I will look into having it done for him, considering it has already caused a problem.

It is a real long term project to do it after they are over a couple of days old… and loads of time to heal..... Unless totally ripped of, I would not put an adult through it....

[vstripe]

Does it hurt the pups when they are removed or is it just a little flap of skin that doesnt feel like much that young? I was just wondering if they cry.

[tanza]

When they are a couple of days old, the clipping off of the dew claws is easier because the bone is soft.. and yes it hurts for the first few minutes but within (at least with all my pups) 5 minutes they are happily nursing… as there are no stitches, just glue...

When they are older it is major surgery...

[Barklessdog]

Just like babies can't feel circumcisions- my son came back screaming!

They have to feel it and it has to hurt.

[basi]

They do feel it but it doesn't last long.
IMO it is much kinder for them at 3 days to have them removed rather them tear them while an adult and have them removed and try to heal.

[tanza]

@basi:

They do feel it but it doesn't last long.
IMO it is much kinder for them at 3 days to have them removed rather them tear them while an adult and have them removed and try to heal.

I totally agree, while in some countries you can't remove them.. it is a generally accepted procedure in most… and I think for the good of the dog. Of course, think about it... BYB's don't want to do it because it costs money...
But there are many breeders in the US that do their own (NOT me... I am a chicken) but one of my Basenji breeder friends is a Vet Tech and she has come to the house and done my pups...

[Beckis]

I don´t think that´s alloud in sweden (if I understands right). I never heard of it. Why are they doing that?

[basi]

It isn't allowed here in Germany either though both of mine have them removed as they were bred in the UK. I do my own only because I was brought up watching my mum do them. My new puppy is going to have them on so will be very strange as I have never had a dog with them left on before.
I actually think it will be banned in the UK soon also as people are finding it harder to find a vet that will remove them.

[JazzysMom]

@Barklessdog:

Just like babies can't feel circumcisions- my son came back screaming!

They have to feel it and it has to hurt.

Not saying it doesn't hurt, but all three of my sons {no, not all at the same time} came back sleeping!:D I was so relieved!

[JazzysMom]

@Beckis:

I don´t think that´s alloud in sweden (if I understands right). I never heard of it. Why are they doing that?

Because the dew claws are an unnecessary claw and can catch on other objects and tear, causing the dog great pain, risk of infection, etc.

It's a preventative measure.

[tanza]

Yes, and while they are easy to see and remember to trim on short haired dogs they are mostly forgotten on long haired dogs, don't know how many of you have seen dew claws that have completed grown around and back in the skin… pretty nasty....

[Beckis]

Ok, I see. Is it the little claw a bit up on the leg?

[tanza]

@Beckis:

Ok, I see. Is it the little claw a bit up on the leg?

Yes, it is like the "5th" toe… or we sometimes refer to it as "thumbs"....

[JazzysMom]

@tanza:

Yes, and while they are easy to see and remember to trim on short haired dogs they are mostly forgotten on long haired dogs, don't know how many of you have seen dew claws that have completed grown around and back in the skin… pretty nasty....

Yeah, like I said on Gypsy they are not visible at all so dh has to try to remember to cut them. When he doesn't, it doesn't take long at all for them to become a serious PIA to cut because they curl under so quickly.

[Barklessdog]

That is pretty odd, I think.. but I have known cases that the have grown back if not removed properly…. bottom line is however, in the US responsible breeders do remove them..

My dog's dew claw was bothering him tonight once again - It's obvious a source of pain/discomfort to him, 7 years later!

[tanza]

Looks to me like it was not totally removed or it partly grew back…..judging by the redness at that area... and like I said, if all the bone is not removed it can grow back...

[massagemom3]

Sally still has her's, she came w/them she is 2.5 yrs. old She already broke her 4th reg,nail. Should I get tehm removed? I think I should….

[renaultf1]

@massagemom3:

Sally still has her's, she came w/them she is 2.5 yrs. old She already broke her 4th reg,nail. Should I get tehm removed? I think I should….

I don't know…based on Pat (Tanza's response) it sounds like it is a big ordeal for anything other than a pup.

I took pet sat for of a Jack Russell for years who had his dew claws (lived to the age of 15). There were times they bothered him (when he caught them on something, but if you looked at them it didn't look like something that could be easily removed.