some of my puppies have rear dew claws this time. they are usually removed as they are large and floppy and get caught on things and tear. I just called  my vet to book them in for removal and they have refused to do it. the vet I spoke to said it was cruel and unethical to remove the dew claws at this age. When I asked further he said he would happily remove them when the dog was older and it would need to be done under a general anesthetic.

I know there is controversy surrounding dew claw removal by cutting them off young pups with no anesthetic. I am sure it is painful for a few seconds but then it is over.

It seems to me that taking a dog that is old enough to know what is going on, subjecting it to a GA (and that is not risk free procedure), keeping at the vets surgery for the day and then cutting off the toes, resulting in a larger wound and longer term soreness is far more likely to have an adverse effect on a pup than removal at 2 days old? I really don't understand the logic.  Or is it that they can make far more money from an op?

That's ridiculous!  Can't you do it yourself, or know a breeder that will do it? It IS legal for you yourself to do it. I am capable of dong it myself but don't like to unless I have no choice, and thankfully my vet considers it to be so important he does it for FREE! I have had them in both my breeds and it's never been a problem even in tiny toy pups. Like you say, far easier at this age than later on.

My mentor in Malinois told me she once left the rear ones on a dog, and they kept getting tangled up in each other when he was adult, so he'd almost trip over.

It is only illegal to remove tails yourself, there is no mention about dew claws. I would definately do it myself if my vet refused. The big floppy ones at the back are nasty things and catch on lots of things. I think your vet is just looking for somepoor person to take his or her dog round at a later date and pay for a general operation.
While the puppies are very young (just days old) it is just a quick snip !! there must be someone who will do it for you.
Whereabouts are you ??

I would then consider changing my vet before I had a next litter too ! 

posted in error !

I agree the vet is out to make money,ring other vets in the area, as I have never seen it done I wouldn't be happy to attempt it myself, implements would need to be sterile and some way of stopping the bleeding available stypic/silver nitrate stick.

I have rung around local vets and found another one who will remove them for me. I know I could do it myself and it looks like it shouldn't be to difficult but I am a bit of a  wimp. :(

I don't want to change vets totally as I am generally happy with them and Most of the other vets in the area don't do their own out of hours where this one does. Maybe I should have a go at it just to learn in case I can't find a vet another time.

You can make sure you're watching closely while the vet does it so you can learn for another time perhaps. I don't think I'd be brave enough to do it myself!

I would change your vet ! My line regularly produce rear dew claws and they are hideous , floppy things that would most certainly get damaged and cause problems if left. I tried removing myself with one litter but did not enjoy the experience and I left a small piece behind which then had to be removed under anaesthetic at a later date by the new owner ( at the time of hip scoring ). With subsequent litters, I have gone to my excellent vet when the puppies are 48 hours old. They have been removed 'swiftly and with style' and no apparent distress to puppies. I have had no concerns re.exposure to infection during the procedure as puppies have remained in the box I brought them in.

I've removed them myself on guinea pigs, but never had the nerve to do it on a pup for some silly reason.  I have them done around 48 hours old, and hold them myself for the vet.

I'm talking pups that weigh 3 or 4 ounces on average.  You can imagine how little room there is, with me holding a miniscule paw, while the vet removes the dew claw.  I get charged a basic consult fee for a litter, whether that be 1 pup or 5.

Many years ago with a Toy Poodle litter, the breeder of my bitch removed the pups dew claws. They grew back!  My vet has never, ever left anything in, and uses a caustic pencil for blood flow.  As do I if I am cutting nails and go too far.

Most vets in my area refuse to remove them as well.
I had to call around quite a bit to find one that would do it if needed...

Well they have been done now. By another vet at the same practice!. We had a discussion and this vet was of the opinion that it was much more humane to do them at this age as they were much harder and more problematic to do when older. The pups whined more about being picked up out of the nest than the actual removal of the toe. All snoozing away quietly now and hardly a mark to be seen where the toe even was.

That's very good to hear!

Quite shocked by this.  Is it a new directive for vets?  Just that whenever I was due a litte I always used ot get are you going to have their dew claws done and I'd say no.  If my dogs had rear ones I definitely would want them doing within 3 days of their birth as I do not want my dogs going through an unecessary anaesthetic!

I had these on my last but one litter. The day after whelping the vet came round to give pups and mum a clean bill of health, (pallettes, hearts etc) and when he saw the rear dew claws he removed them . The pups did squeal but it was over in an instant.

I think many breeders do them themselves. Front & rear. Because I am a dog groomer there is nothing worse than clipping a poodles feet and finding dew claws which it is easy to catch during the grooming process. Long haired dogs I have found the coat wrapped round the nail, they sometimes curl right round into the pad I could go on.....
More and more dogs are having the dew claws left on as they used to be done alongside the tail being docked. When I find a dog with a long tail that would have been docked and dew claws left on I am  not impressed.
The process of ( in the past ) tails and dew claws being dealt with caused no more or less squeaking than being stepped on by Mum and when put back in the box they just go back to feeding on Mum.

(The process of (in the past) tails and dew claws being dealt with caused no more or less squeaking than being stepped on by mum, and when put back in the box they just got back to feeding on mum.

Hazenaide: Well said I totally agree!!