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I would like to learn to do the dew claws myself. I have Pugs. The desire for learning how to do them myself is simply to avoid taking the 2-3 day old puppies to the Vet office where possibly sick dogs can be. I just hate taking them in for that even though I know in the back of my mind they probably have good immunity from their dam, but still you never know.

Is there any websites that explain how to do the dew claws? Maybe with diagrams. Also what type of trimmer would I need. The flat side load time of nail trimmer? What type of anticeptic dressing do you apply afterwards? I've heard you clip them at a certain joint. Which joint, closest to the foot?

Hi,

I'm totally confused at this. I don't breed, so I cannot answer your question, but hopefully you can answer mine. Is it common to remove dew claws? I've never heard of this before. Wouldn't this hurt the puppies? Or would you use a local? What about pain killers for later?

I can't imagine any reason to do this. I don't mean to be disrespectful. I just don't understand.

Min

>>Hi,
>>
>>I'm totally confused at this. I don't breed, so I cannot answer your question, but hopefully you can answer mine. Is it common to remove dew claws? I've never heard of this before. Wouldn't this hurt the puppies? Or would you use a local? What about pain killers for later?
>>
>>I can't imagine any reason to do this. I don't mean to be disrespectful. I just don't understand.
>>
>>Min

Boy, this can open a huge can of worms Removing the dew claws is mostly for looks, I believe the AKC requires this in different breeds. However, there was a very heated discussion on another list that I belong too. It was regarding hunting dogs and the removal of their dew claws. Some argued that it doesn't have to be done and the dogs actually use them like another finger (so-to-speak) to help them grab and hold the game they were fetching up. Others argued that their dogs, while running through heavy brush, tore their dew claw off and it wouldn't stop bleeding for a very long time.

It is a painful thing for dogs to go through and I highly recommend that unless you are trained to do so, continue to take your puppies to your vet. I know you would hate to loose one because the procedure was done incorrectly Vets are trained for this and their offices should be steril. If you do not think your vet's office is clean enough, maybe you should try another vet? Good luck.
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Charlene

My Email

Adopt the pace of Nature
Her secret is patience

-Ralph Waldo Emerson-

Thank you for your explaination. I guess I could see if a dog does some type of work that could cause the dew claw to be ripped off, having it removed. However, that is the only reason I can understand. To do it just for looks is a terrible reason, just like cutting ears and docking tails.

Just my opinion.

I've known quite a few dogs who got their dewclaws stuck on something in their own home or backyard-with disastrous results.

Dewclaw removal is done at around 3 days of age-at that time the nervous system isn't fully developed. Most of the time the puppies protest being held tightly far more than they do the actual procedure.

This is so interesting. I didn't know there was so many problems with dewclaws. It's just that I have owned several dogs, as an kid at home and as an adult, other family members have had alot of dogs and I've never seen dewclaws removed. All the dogs have had them and there was never any problems. Not that I think they use them for anything, but it's just interesting to note so many people remove them.

Thanks for the information.

Haven't visited this board in a long time

I dont do dewclaws. Sighthounds use them in running, turning, gripping. I've seen my dogs use them to hold things to chew on. I also had an awful experience with the first litter, and dew claws came back. Since I don't believe, and won't unless there's no other way(for health reasons), in taking puppies to vets before their first shots (mom goes in for a checkup of course), and I've had absolutely no probles with dew claws, I leave them on. But then, my guys also have close to the leg dew claws, not big hunky icky looking ones.
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PHBorzoi

Mielikki's Hunt Borzoi
http://www.mielikkishunt.com

Treasure the past, don't mourn it.
A balanced dog has a title on both ends.

Actually, dew claws SHOULD be removed if for no other reason than to prevent injury. Ever seen one pulled off by catching it in carpet?

I remove mine when I do tails.
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Joan
Responsible Breeders spay/neuter Pet puppies.
Statistically, the average breeder remains in a breed for five years. The mark you leave on that breed, good or bad, is entirely up to YOU!

>>Actually, dew claws SHOULD be removed if for no other reason than to prevent injury. Ever seen one pulled off by catching it in carpet?
>>
>>I remove mine when I do tails.
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>>Joan
>>Responsible Breeders spay/neuter Pet puppies.
>>Statistically, the average breeder remains in a breed for five years. The mark you leave on that breed, good or bad, is entirely up to YOU!

Years and years ago, my parents bred Dobermans. When the tiny puppies were just a few days old they used to dock their tails and the dew claws themselves. I have no idea how they did it. If anyone tries to say that just because a puppy is just a few days old and they cannot feel anything is not telling you the truth. These poor lil things screemed and the mother went crazy. Not to mention the blood and her trying to clean them. Nope, never will I ever go through that. I have owned dogs all my life and never have any of my dogs had problems with their dew claws. Yup, I knew this was going to be a controversially topic!
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Charlene

My Email

Adopt the pace of Nature
Her secret is patience

-Ralph Waldo Emerson-

Actually, mine hate being held on their backs. They don't cry after they're done. And they don't get shocky like when the vet last did them.

Also, we don't have bleeding as I take measures to control that, so moms don't have to keep licking them. Once placed back with mom's they go right back to their routine.

I do find it interseting that people have no problem with circumcising male children (according to a peditrician I know they don't use anesthesia for that either), but to each his own.
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Joan
Responsible Breeders spay/neuter Pet puppies.
Statistically, the average breeder remains in a breed for five years. The mark you leave on that breed, good or bad, is entirely up to YOU!