Gun Dog Forum

I would like some advice on when I should have the DEW CLAWS on my new pup removed, he is presently only 8 weeks old. should I do it myself or take him to a vet? Thanks for you input I respect your comments

Leave them on, unless they stick out too far. Be sure to keep the nail well trimmed to lesson the chance it will hang up on something. The only convincing argument for me to remove dew claws is if you hunt your dog where boots would be required.

Generally breeders remove the dew claws at one day of age, with a simple snip using a sharp scissors. By 8 weeks, you are talking a much bigger procedure that requires anesthesia and veterinary expertise. Since the risk of injury is not that great, why bother at this point. I have several dogs with intact dew claws and haven't had any problems and they get run in the woods every day. My vet says she rarely sees a dew claw injury. Yes, they do happen and then you would need a vet to fix the injury. There is also the argument that the dew claw has function and removing them affects the muscular control of the limb.

I wouldn't remove them from our pups, except that a lot of pup buyers want them gone.

Solon

I called my vet yesterday and she told me 5-6 months. Depends on the kind of terrain you hunt in if they need to be removed. Boots are required where I hunt, and I also hunt a lot of wheat stubble fields, so I have no choice. If your dog does any waterfowl hunting, a muddy weedy marsh is also a bad place for dewclaws.

I would not remove them at this point, Dew claws are typically removed by AKC folks much more so than AF folks, I guess due to the breed standards for the breeds, but I have had dogs with and without dewclaws. At his age I would not put him through the trouble.

Most vets take them off at 1-3 days old. At the age your pup is, you'll need to take him to the vet to get his dew claws removed.

I would not remove dew claws on a 8 week old puppy. I have had dogs with dew claws and had no problem. Dew claws are removed when the puppy is less than 5 days and it is no problem at that time.

At that age, it is an amputation that involves bone and nerves. Don't do it. I know plenty of dogs that boot up with dewclaws. They just get their ankle taped first with VetWrap. Your vet sounds like a piece of work, sorry. That age is an arbitrary coincidence with neutering, which isn't a great idea, either. I'd be shopping for a new vet.

Dr. Chris Zink on carpal integrity and dewclaws:
http://jandemellobordercollie.com/DewClaws.htm

Dr. Zink on altering the atheletic dog:
http://www.alabamacaninecoalition.org/e ... ations.pdf

Cajun Casey wrote:At that age, it is an amputation that involves bone and nerves. Don't do it. I know plenty of dogs that boot up with dewclaws. They just get their ankle taped first with VetWrap. Your vet sounds like a piece of work, sorry. That age is an arbitrary coincidence with neutering, which isn't a great idea, either. I'd be shopping for a new vet.

Dr. Chris Zink on carpal integrity and dewclaws:
http://jandemellobordercollie.com/DewClaws.htm

Dr. Zink on altering the atheletic dog:
http://www.alabamacaninecoalition.org/e ... ations.pdf

DITTO

John,
I agree with Solon on this one, keep them and cut them short.
RGD/Dave

At this age, I don't know if I'd do it, either. We got the dewclaws removed at 2-3 days old. At that age, it's a very minor deal.

Its a little more complicated at an older age than a couple days old and should be done by a Vet. with the dog put under sedation. But its not a big ordeal . they amputate the toe and put in a couple stiches , you probably shouldnt run the dog for two weeks until the stiches come out...
My suggestion Talk to your Vet. and see what they recommend ..

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