Should all dogs have their dew claws removed? My dog had them when we got her as a puppy and as shes grown her front dew claws seem strong but her back dew claws are very thin and very loose. I am worried about her catching them (the back ones in particular) but am reluctant for her to have an op as shes had 3 already and is still only a pup. any suggestions?

Not all dogs have rear dewclaws. Some breeds have it called for in the breed standard, so a lot depends on what breed you have. I have had a few pups born with rear dewclaws and I always remove them at 2 days of age, but always leave the front ones. My breed isn't meant to have rear ones and I feel they are safer without them, they do however use their front ones.

I had a rescued Border Collie once who had rear dewclaws, and I simply asked the vet to remove them at the same time as she was spayed. If I was you and your breed is one NOT meant to have them, it's probably easiest to ask for them to be removed when you have something else done rather then make it a separate thing. It's a quick job so shouldn't be a problem for the vet.

My dog only has one, right front, and its a weird one.  Grows really quickly but all twisted round.  I just get it clipped twice a year and it seems fine with the dog.  Neither vet nor groomer has suggested it be removed although I suspect the claws were all removed when he was a pup but this one wasn't done properly and its re-grown.  It absolutely doesn't bother the dog so I've just left it but clip it when need be.

CG

depends on the breed and the country. my breed traditionally have them removed in UK but not in most other countries. however after dispute with locum vet on duty when my last litter were whelped i left them on and at 18 weeks they are a bl***y nuisance! Also my import ed boy has them and they are a real nuisance....i look like i have been in a round with mac the knife!!

My breed are never born with rear dewclaws which are best removed unless part of the breed standard.  On the other hand Buhunds are born with horrible ones I am told.

Mine sure use their front ones and they have never given trouble even though they love charging through undergrowth up and down steep slopes etc.

My breed are never born with rear dew claws, only front ones which I have removed. My new puppy that I am getting in 7 weeks will have front ones as they don't remove them here in Germany and I have to say I do prefer them without.
Your right Barbara the Buhunds have very nasty double dew claws on the hind legs which are very floppy so we have always removed them also for the dogs sake.

I find it interesting because that must mean the ancestry of the two breeds (Norwegian Elkhounds and Norwegian Buhunds) must have been kept pretty separate for them to never occur in one and always in the other.

I had one puppy born with no dewclaws at all.  I was quite worried and researched about ti.  My Vet said, oh great one less set of nails for the owner to worry about cutting :D

Good point Barbara! I had never thought about Elkhounds not having them actually, I think I just presumed that they would also have them!

I have never had back ones on any pups bred myself and I always have the fronts removed at 3 days old.  

Never seen back ones on my Spanish but their front ones are kept on as they use them to turn, hold onto things etc.  I've never had any problems with any of my dogs. 

We've got two Pom's recently who have them on the back legs and they are awful, I hate them and it goes right through me when I try clipping them as they are so floppy.

One of my Cavs has front dewclaws, none of my dogs have rear ones though. I do a few Yorkies & Shih Tzus for grooming with rear ones. I even had a Yorkie once with DOUBLE rear dewclaws which really startled me, I thought that was just Briards and things!!