Need advice on removing dew claws asap - thanks

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

I took Cali in this morning to get spayed. They asked me if I wanted her front dew claws removed. The back ones are already gone; apparently the breeder had them removed. Vet made it sound like no big deal, but when I was checking out, the girl told me if I have the front ones removed, Cali will have to stay the night. Otherwise, she could go home tonight.

Any advise one way or the other? Thanks!!

[GretaJack]

Um, if she is not a working dog, leave them, IMO. Greta still has hers with no problem at this point, but labs technically should have them removed especially if they are hunters since they are prone to ripping them off.

Since they were not done when she was only a few days old, it is much more invasive and painful now. We removed dews on a 8 month old lab last week and he is heavily bandaged and has to come in every 5 days for a recheck and bandage change for 15 days. But he did go home the same day as his neuter.

[Dax]

I would leave them too. The wounds can be quite painful and dogs tend to lick at them. There was a member last year (sambuca whiskey) who had them done if you want to check her posts on the matter.

[Dobified]

I tend to agree, leave them unless the dog is a working dog. Our Dobes have them removed but they were removed when they had their tails docked, so they were very young, I believe 10 days, and the bones and cartilage was still very soft. The breeder had all of that done, both breeder as a matter of fact.

It can be a very painful thing for a dog that is older then a few days old. It is a akin to declawing a cat.

[goldensammy]

Can someone help me out, I'm new with this: are the dew claws located on the front AND back legs? Or just the front? And if they're removed, what does it look like? I'm investigating whether Sammy has them or not...

Thanks!

[Dobified]

Both front and back. They are locted on the inside of the leg and about 2 inches up from the paw.

[Dobified]

Hmmm... I just check out Jenna and Rudy and they never had them on the back. BUT I have seen them on the back legs before on other dogs. Interesting. They did for sure have them of the front.

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

I just wrote to the breeder and she wrote back (I was afraid she wouldn't since it's so early there in California). She said she had the back ones removed since they tend to grow circular and get caught on things. Her advice, like most of yours, was to leave them alone and keep them trimmed short. I think that's what I'm going to do.

I love this forum. You can get near instant, highly informed advice!!

[goldensammy]

That's wierd... it seems that Sammy has dewclaws on his front legs, but none on his back. Do you think that's possible?

[Dobified]

Yup, GS, I do. I guess some breeds do not have them on the back to start becuase my dogs don't have them and never did. There is no scar where they would have been. There is in the front where both had them removed.