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Dew Claws--late removal

15K views 13 replies 12 participants last post by  ArreauStandardPoodle 
#1 ·
I know this was touched on in another thread, but I just discovered that Beledi has ONE dewclaw....o_O

(Maybe that isn't unusual, but it seems strange to me to not have one on one leg and have one on the other....perhaps one was attached and not removed and the other was not attached at birth and removed)....

I am going to ask my vet about her recommondation for removing it, or not, when we take her in for her spay. (I don't know if this one is attached, I will have to ask the vet that as well)

My main concern is a careless groomer at this point.* My mind isn't made up whether I will be attempting home grooming or will find a groomer who becomes like family to us.

*At this point we don't have a groomer who we love yet she has only had one clean face and feet cut and I didn't like the razor burn she got on her neck, especially since I told the groomer I wanted it cut long and was just interested in her having the experience of a grooming...I told them I wasn't looking for a short shave)...and now that I know about it, I can, of course, warn them....but man, I would hate to see it get ripped or anything.

Has anyone had a dewclaw removed at a late age (6 mos)? If so, how was the recovery for the dog?
 
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#2 ·
Yes I had my boy Eli's removed at 5 months. He was in a lot of pain but he did get through it. I had both dew's removed and his tail docked at once. I would never do that again but I think it will be easier on your girl since its just one. If you decide to remove it.

On another note, the male I previously owned Mikey, had a dew claw that grew back after being removed. It must not of been removed properly but his other leg was fine...no dew claw. I also worry about groomer's coming accross a unexpected dew claw. Thats why I had Eli's removed with his tail dock. It took about 1.5 weeks for it to heal after I started wrapping it because Eli would try to lick it constantly.
 
#3 ·
I have a Toy Poodle who has one dew claw its an odd thing to come across and my guess it it was not removed properly and just grew back.

If its attached I would just leave it and let groomers know she has one (most groomers should check before grooming) but if its unattached I would have it removed and she should heal quickly and painlessly. I had a Mini Dachshund who had unattached dews removed with her spay (at about 1 year old) and she did just fine. She just wanted to chew on the bandage haha
 
#5 ·
Interesting...well, I put a call into my vet..I talked to two different groomers this AM, and of course one (my Mom's who has 2 Spoos herself) said definitely remove it to keep her safe from injury and the other (local one whom I am trying out tomorrow) said, it's no biggie, she's used to all sorts of crazy configurations (one poodle she grooms has two on one leg) and wouldn't worry about it at all.

Now it sounds like even if I put her through the surgery it might come back! (I suspect it already came back once since I didn't notice it until a week, or so, ago)...I would be surprised if I just missed it before.

Thanks for all the imput!
 
#8 ·
Cardi's right dewclaw grew back after being removed at birth. I had it removed when he was 8 months old. After the first day, he didn't seem to notice it. He just wanted to jump around and play. He did try to lick it, but that is because he had staples put in. I would have it removed.
 
#9 ·
I just returned from the vet with Vale. Yesterday, I discovered his left front dew claw is growing back. Unless it causes him any problems he will just live with it. She told me to keep it very short, it was most likely not removed properly. His groomer has been notified to prevent an accident. It is odd to grow back now, especially since Valentin is turning three years this month. The vet jokingly called his new claw "the freak". Thankfully there is nothing to be concerned about.
:flypig:
 
#11 ·
My Aussie had one dewclaw. He had a few times he really got it caught on things and it would bleed profusely and I would see him fooling with it frequently because it was sore from injury. I wish I would have had it removed when I noticed it around 10 weeks. I would be guided by the vet. If tendons have already formed I would not remove it. Potential injuries vs. certain trauma of removing it. If at this point it is not that big a deal I would get it removed. With an active dog like a poodle it will get injured.
 
#12 ·
my 2 cents, if it is nice & tight then don't worry about it. I have dogs with none, just the front 2 & 1 with all 4 dewclaws. It has NEVER caused an issue with any of my dogs dead & alive. I though DID have 1 do that had his hind only dewclaws removed ONLY because one of them was just a nail that flopped about with no pad at all, the other had a nice pad BUT the claw whipped out at a 90 degree angle. So, yes I did have those hind ones removed & left the fronts which were nice & tight. I never had an issue with him & this was done when he was neutered at 7 months of age.
 
#13 ·
I would not remove a dewclaw unless it was causing a problem. Of all the broken/torn nails we see at the clinic, it never seems to be the dewclaw - it's always a "regular" nail.

Removing a dewclaw that is "normal" and "attached" on an adult (not a two day old puppy) is like removing a thumb - it's removing an appendage.
 
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