To Do the Dewclaw or Not to Do the Dewclaw…
Written by Pam on October 21, 2014
Dew or Not to Dew….This is the Question…
I am asked by many – “Why remove the little dewclaw? “– “What can that little claw do if left hanging-there on my puppy’s paws…?”
Well, many breeders, like me, choose to remove dewclaws on puppies in the first couple of days of life, because soon after birth the dewclaws are more like fingernails than appendages and the feeling to the pup is a pressure sensation rather than pain. At this young age, dewclaws can be removed relatively easily and no stitches are required. Our KokoBo puppies all have had their dewclaws removed and are doing just fine without them!
A few of the reasons why I think it is very important to remove the dewclaws are:
1) Grooming: As your puppy grows, this dewclaw grows too. Some groomers forget about the dewclaw and the dewclaw will continue to grow. It becomes problematic when the dewclaw grows because it grows in a circular pattern. So if it is not trimmed regularly it can become embedded into the pup’s leg. If this should happen, the end result is surgery for the correction.
2) Safety: Once your KokoBo puppy joins you on a walk, trail or a hunting event, the issue of health and safety is always my concern. Your puppy can get its dewclaw caught on a twig or even snag it on a carpet. Your dog can bleed heavily from the pull of this dewclaw – there has been many articles writing about dogs that have bleed-out because of the blood loss and the critical time it takes to try and stop the bleeding while not being near a vet.
3) Beauty: As the puppy grows, their legs will have an uninterrupted slenderness and a look of being well groomed rather than to have the dewclaw sticking out of the leg.
So to err on the side of precaution – coupled with the love that I have for my KokoBo’s …I remove the dewclaws. Enjoy the pictures of a dog’s leg …With the Dewclaw and one …Without the Dewclaw!
