Does anyone on here have experiance with removing of dew claws ( don't worry vet is doing it not me )
But what age is it normally done?

Sam

Normaly at a few days old! 3 to 5 I beleive! Of course it can be older if they are causing problems, but then it is an operation requiring anasthetic, as the pups nervous system is fully matured.

I am lucky as in my breed we dont have a problem with back dew claws, but any front ones are removed at two days old

We don't get back ones on ours, and front ones are left on. they never seem to cause problems, as they don't seem over developed and blend in with the lag hair, just need to remeber to trim them from time to time!

I had a Beardie/Border X who had back dew claws, I originally intended to have them removed at the same time he was castrated but my unspayed bitch was put down so he was never castrated. He never had any problems with them and he was the kind of dog who went everywhere at 100 miles an hour. That's my experience anyway Anne

What bred do you have? my vet removes hind dewclaws, but says that front dew claws don't cause any more problems than any of the normal claws, so leaves them on.

I have Newfys, never known them to have them on the hind before but they have to be removed for the show ring.
Please no comments about cosmetics thankyou, or you will probaly get all the docked breeds people on your back.
In the breed books is states they they should be removed but like i said this is the first one i have come across.

Sam

My breed doesn't have hind dew claws either:) My friend with Rotties has her's removed- apparently that's what happens with that breed She does say though that if you've ever seen a dog that's ripped the dew claw it's a horrific site:o It does have to be done as early as possible I'm told- otherwise it develops into a bone and an operation is required? Like I say though I'm just going on second hand info- I don't really know much other than GSD's don't have back one's and you leave the front one's on?

Stacey x x x

My breed (Briard) has double hind dew claws which are required by the breed standard. I dread the day if anything happens to them as I have heard it can be quite nasty.

Fiona and Saffy

hi,
had my sisters dane for a while,when she came she had the full set,as sister had not taken her out much on the lead she was a real hanfull and had to use a halty,wich she tryed her hardest to get off, her dew claws were begining to damage her face and the back ones were horendous things i had them all removed, it was a two hour op as someone else said they go to bone, she was o.k thank god she came home looking like a horse about to go racing with these coloured bandages on she was also on antibiotics, it took a long time to heal when i had a look it was not very nice, and not nice for a adult dog to go through, please get them done after a few days of birth regards tina

Our dogs have front and either 1 or both back present at birth. Any present are removed at about 3 days old. As a heavily coated breed, which can knot easily, it is all too easy to catch coat on a dew claw when moving fast, and the resulting damage and blood loss can be dramatic and dangerous.
Gwen

That is a funny thing I always keep meaning to ask as one of my dogs 12 months has hers and one aat 6 months doesn't It isn't something mention in the Westie breed standard or not that I have found.

Pam :-)

One of my breeds have back dew claws and are required to have them. Infact, in europe they must have them. I was worried sick about them, but to be honest, they have been no trouble at all :-) Apart from the fact that they grow at a staggering rate and you need to cut them at least once a week :rolleyes:

I think it all depends on the type of dew claw. The bracchi have very loose, 'floppy' back dews. You can waggle them around and move them very freely. If they were hard and rigid to the leg, then I can see how they could cause problems. I have yet to see or hear of a bracchi that has had problems with them :-) Some UK breeders remove them for cosmetic reasons.