dewclaws

[WOTANSMUTTI]

I might of goofed just now, so if a double post pops up somewhere you all know why!

My question is about dewclaws. I noticed my big yellow lab Diva has really wierd toes on her back feet. Now Wotan and Sadie Mae don't. Does this mean that they got theirs clipped off at a tender age-or do some dogs come without?

[Wienergal]

Sonja, I have always wondered about dewclaws too! I have seen ads for dogs that say, "Dewclaws removed." Do they mean they have removed the claw itself? The whole...appendage? What's WITH those extra toes, anyway?

[Pam C]

I hate DEW CLAWS!!! Sorry had to say that!
Now back to sanity. Some breeds of dogs have dew claws on the back feet. In Great Pyranees (sp) it is a requirement, some even have double dewclaws. Most don't have them there.
I have had nothing but trouble with them. If the dog is active, there is always the danger they will get ripped off. Yes, I have had this happen to a few of my dogs. They are like our appendix, going away from non use. Although a lot of breeds swear the dogs use them for manuevering, but from the actual research they don't.
Most of my breeds have them removed at around 6 days before the bone develops. If they have to be removed as an adult it can be pretty painful, because the bone has developed. Like any other altering procedure there are people who are appalled by it. But they haven't had to bandage their loving pet's foot that has just had a toe ripped off!

[Mrs.F]

Yikes! The thought of a dog ripping his or her dewclaw right off is a pretty scary thought! Ignorance IS bliss, I thought all I had to worry about was keeping them clipped! Penny is a perfect angel when I clip the rest of her little nails, but as soon as I TOUCH her wobbly little dewclaw she starts to fidgit and wiggle...

[MaverickMom]

I'm glad you brought this up, Sonja. I have heard of dogs getting their dew claws ripped off also. Very scary. And I've also seen the adds that say that the dew claws have been removed.

I asked my vet about it when we first got Maverick and he didn't seem to think it was necessary to remove them but I still wonder....


Sonya

[This message has been edited by MaverickMom (edited April 18, 2000).]

[Penny's Aunt]

Most rear dewclaws are attached with just loose skin, not bone like the front ones are, & they're just sort of hanging there. Since they're not firmly attached, they're kind of floppy, & some of them stick out.

Then, when the dog is running through brush or debris, sometimes the claw catches & gets ripped. They can bleed quite a bit, but usually a firm bandage will take care of it until you can get them to a vet. Sometimes they need to be sewn, or just removed.

Most rear dewclaws are removed when the pup is only 3-4 days old; it's an easy, not-to-painful process with no anesthesia. If it isn't done then, you might as well wait until you have the dog spayed or some other surgery, & have it done then.

A lot of dogs go through their whole lives without a single incident involving their dewclaws.

[Wienergal]

I am still unclear on the concept. (Just call me "Homer." DOH!)

On my dogs, there are two sets of "thingys" that might or might not be dewclaws.

Thingy #1: On the backs of their front legs is a fleshy outgrowth that looks as if it might have had a claw on it at some point. Is that a dewclaw that has been removed?

Thingy #2: On the sides of their front legs are thumb-like appendages that still have the claws intact. Are THOSE the dewclaws?

Are these ALL dewclaws? How many dewclaws does a dog have?

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[Mickamack]

Wienergal, I think Thingy #1 is just an extended part of the the pads of their feet. At least that is what it looks like to me. I think from others have said the dewclaw is Thingy #2 you described.

If I'm wrong, I'll be Homer (Doh!) http://dachsie.org/ubb/eek.gif

[Penny's Aunt]

Dogs usually have 5 toes on the front feet & 4 OR 5 toes on the back feet. Sometimes all the dewclaws are removed, & sometimes just the rear ones, & sometimes none of them.

If it hasn't been removed, the front feet have little "thumbs" with a claw on it. This is the dewclaw. With some dogs, you have to watch it because the claw will curl around & start growing back into the toe (painful & starts an infection); other dogs never have that trouble. This dewclaw is attached to the leg by a little finger of bone.

The little pad higher up above the foot pads is just a little extra pad; dogs may have walked lower on their legs a few million years ago, & it's just a leftover.

On the back legs, your dog may have another extra "thumb" with a claw, but most of them are much looser than the front one; most are just attached with fairly loose skin. Occas. you may find one attached with bone, but is not very usual (except maybe in certain breeds). Sometimes these are "doubles", & have 2 claws.

It's always possible for a dog to injure the front dewclaw just like he could any of his toes, but the rear ones sometimes cause more trouble because they are loose, sometimes they have 2 claws to catch on stuff, & frequently they are floppy & stick out, making them more likely to catch on branches, etc.

If your pup has any/all dewclaws, don't worry about them except to check them occas. to see that none of the claws are curling back into the pad. If he is having trouble, your vet can always remove them.

[WOTANSMUTTI]

O-tay!
Now I get it. I knew from reading about ancient dogs they used to walk around "planigrad" which means like a bear on flat feet. I noticed that Wotan has the fronties but not the back "thingies" as Wienergal put it. He must have had them removed then,huh? Diva dog's back dewclaws are like her toes,but floppy. Luckily, though really active, she hasn't torn one off yet. Wotan , on the otherhand, ripped his "thumbnail" when he was younger. It did bleed a lot and the vet had to cut the nail completely off. Now it's crooked.

That's ok. With or without strange feet, I still love that frito-y smell http://dachsie.org/ubb/rolleyes.gif

[Wienergal]

I get it too! Another Dachsie BBoard Learning Experience! All my dachsies have had five toes on the front and four on the back, and there have never been any problems. On some bigger dogs, though, I've noticed that the dewclaws are much bigger than on the wieners.

Thanks for all the info!

[Krista]

Another thing about dewclaws -Many pups are born with dislocated dewclaws which is not a problem. Rudy was not, but once he jumped out of my arms and hit the ground funny. He started limping. I took him to the vet and the problem was that he had dislocated one of his dewclaws. After two days he was perfectly fine, but it must have felt really funny to him when he walked.