In rare cases, a dog's dewclaw may be severely injured or develop a disease (such as a cancerous tumor) and removal under those circumstances would be in the dog's best interests. But these problems occur so infrequently that removing healthy front dewclaws as a preventative measure makes little sense.
It is not recommended to remove dewclaws unless there is a medical reason to do so, such as severe injury (a partially torn-off dewclaw) or disease (i.e., cancer).
On the other hand, most dew claws attach to muscle, ligament, and bone and can function similarly to other toes. They cannot move forward and back and retract much, but they can hook and hold, helping dogs grip. These toes come into play with rapid changes in direction and can even help with grip and climbing.
Dew claws can be permantly removed. This involves surgical amputation of the digit that the claw grows from. The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) does not promote removal unless required because of a legitimate medical reason.
Front Dewclaws vs.
Therefore, they are not routinely removed—especially not for preventive reasons. However, a vet may suggest removing them in certain scenarios (e.g., if they are severely injured, if a cancerous tumor is growing on them, or if an ingrown nail caused an infection that cannot be otherwise managed).
"Although this is painful and unnecessary for the puppy, it is fast and heals quickly. Adult dewclaw removal requires surgical amputation under general anesthesia. This is because the vet must carefully detach bone, nerve, muscle, and blood vessels," Stregowski says.
Some dog owners request the removal of dewclaws on their older puppies and/or adult dogs. Veterinarians will usually provide this service for puppies at the time they are spayed or neutered. In adult dogs it can be performed at any time.
Dew claw removal costs in Australia
The extra amount that you would pay for the actual dew claw removal procedure is usually around AUD $70 or more, depending on your vet and your location.
Vets usually charge a puppy exam fee and a dewclaw removal fee for each puppy. Depending on the practice, this cost is around $30–$40 per puppy and up. People sometimes ask, “Can you remove dewclaws on an older dog?” Dewclaw removal done at a later age is a surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia.
3-5 days of age is the ideal time for a dewclaw removal procedure because the nervous system of the puppy is not yet fully developed, although the procedure is still possible with older puppies and dogs as well.
Although your pet doesn't walk on the dewclaws, it is often recommended to minimize jumping and running for a few days after surgery. Most pets eat, drink, and behave normally after surgery.
All dog breeds are born with front dewclaws. Only a handful of breeds, such as the Icelandic sheepdog and Saint Bernard, have them on their back paws as well. If you don't see any dewclaws on your pooch, it's probably because the breeder had them removed shortly after birth, says Marks.
The name refers to the dewclaw's alleged tendency to brush dew away from the grass. On dogs and cats the dewclaws are on the inside of the front legs, similarly to a human's thumb, which shares evolutionary homology.
Do dewclaws grow back? If the nail has been broken or split a dew claw will grow back in most cases. However, if the actual claw itself has been surgically removed and the germinal epithelium in the nail base is completely removed then it will not grow back.
Do All Dogs Have Dewclaws? All dogs are born with a front dewclaw on each paw, and some of them have more: The breed standard for Great Pyrenees dogs is to have double dewclaws on each hind leg!
A claw can snag something or even crack in some cases, resulting in a very painful wound. Dogs need their nails clipped and filed on a regular basis, usually every 3 to 4 weeks. It is not uncommon for dog owners to wait too long between nail clipping.
Onychectomy (declaw) is an elective surgery that requires removal of the third phalanx that renders cats unable to scratch. The most common method of onychectomy is disarticulation and removal of the third phalanx (P3) by laser, scalpel, or nail trimmer.
The cost of desexing can vary depending on several factors, such as the size and age of the dog, the type of procedure, and the veterinarian performing the surgery. On average, the cost of desexing a male dog can range from $410 to $770, while desexing a female dog can range from $485 to $810.
If the dew claw is ignored, it can grow so long that it begins to circle around itself. Some dogs have had dew claws that grew back into their skin because they were ignored and grew so long that they formed a circle growing into the leg.
All pet insurance companies differ, but Paw Protect doesn't cover ear-cropping and only covers dewclaw removal if it's deemed medically necessary by a licensed vet.
Dewclaw injuries can require a vets attention and be deemed as an emergency. For example, a broken dewclaw can repair itself with some rest and healing, but if there is blood, and your dog shows signs of discomfort, repetitive licking, and you see any signs of infection. An emergency visit to the vet is required.
No one is sure what purpose this toe might have once served, though it has been suggested it may have helped early dogs to climb, and in some breeds that are specifically bred to have rear dewclaws, they are still considered to serve this purpose.
Dew Claws Can Become Ingrown
For this reason, they can be ignored for so long that they become overgrown or ingrown, meaning that they can curl back toward the dog's leg and grow into their skin. This is a painful situation for your dog and can lead to infections easily as well.