Getting dew claws removed on a dog?

Karma1969

What is the general feeling on this?  Vet suggested we do this for my Basset-ish dog because his dew claws (is that even the right word?) grow very funky and there is a high chance of him breaking that area if he gets stuck on something.  This is the most loveable but not the brightest dog.  I can't picture him having to wear a cone.  He knocks into walls every day even without something on his head.  He is a great protector of my DS though. 

 

KatiesCats

Is he neutered?  If he's not, I might get it done at the same time.  I wouldn't do it just to do it though...that is to say that I wouldn't put the dog under just to do that.  Perhaps if there's a neuter or dental coming up, you could add it on to that.

I have a ridiculously active dog and in 5 years he's never injured his dew claws.  I know it happens, but it hasn't happened to him yet, which is saying a lot.

Karma1969

He is neutered but we have never had his teeth cleaned.  He's from a rescue and about 2.  Maybe I should see about a dental visit at the same time or just not do it right now.  My H set this up so I wasn't there to find out the details,

MaddysMum

I wouldn't do it routinely, but would if it were a genuine risk.

Mostly because my cousin's adorable pittie had very prominent dew claws and ripped one off once and I still cringe and want to cry thinking about it.

And because I don't think that it's really that common to NEED it done, so I wouldn't worry about running into it as an issue with many or even most dogs. 

Mrs.Hizzo

My last dog ripped off one of his dew claws, and it was awful. It only ever happened one time in the 14 years he was alive, and it's not like it was life-threatening, but it still was no fun for him at all. I agree with the other posters, if something comes up where he has to be sedated anyway, it wouldn't be a bad idea to get them removed.

ADWCal

Our dog had all 4 dew claws and we had the back 2 removed when she was spayed.  The ones on her back legs stuck out and we were worried that they might catch on something.  They were wrapped up pretty good afterwards, so I don't know if you would need a cone just for that - although she had to wear one when we weren't around to make sure she left the stitches from being spayed alone.

doglove

Unless they are really floppy and you think they might catch on something, I'd also leave them alone. I had a pup who had floppy ones, but they were never an issue.

aggiebug

What I usually tell owners about dewclaws.

 I highly recommend them being removed in the first few days of life as it is easy, they recover in a matter of minutes and it eliminates the risks later on in life. As a juvenile dog (less than about 18months) getting it done with a spay or neuter isn't usually that big of a deal for them and I leave that choice up to the owner.  After about 2 the surgery tends to be very irritating to them and they have a HIGH tendency to chew at the area afterwards.   So usually once they are an adult I tend not to recommend the surgery unless they are having problems with them.  Is it a bad idea to get them removed? no, and I don't think your vet is giving you bad advice, I just tend to be conservative and wait until THAT dog has problems.