Dew claws

spottydog

It's always struck me as odd that people can become very heated over the docking debate but there is no mention of dewclaw removal.
For the sake of those who haven't come across it.......
This is done to many Dalmatians, they have dewclaws on the front legs only and there is very little hair on the legs to offer protection when they are running madly through the undergrowth, as they do at top speed. Many owners do not keep the dewclaws trimmed but even if they do, there have been many cases of the dewclaw becoming caught on brambles for example and this can cause a very bad injury that takes months to heal. In one case, it was ripped right up the leg leaving a strip of raw flesh all the way up. This is the justification for having the dewclaws removed on this breed although vets officially won't do it as they classify it as "mutilation" and there is pressure to do it from show exhibitors as it does give the leg a good clean look and this is not seen to be a good enough reason. However, to prevent future injury many vets WILL do it as long as it is done at the right time and for the "right" reason, ie prevention of future injury on a dog where this is a high risk.
You may or not be aware that puppies are born an a very immature state and it had been shown that up to three days after the birth, the nerve endings have not formed completely in the feet and lower part of the legs. I had all my puppies "de-clawed" at 2-3 days of age (averaged age two and a half days, bearing in mind that the whelping went on for 24 hours). This is a simple procedure and by the time the last one was done, the first one was asleep. The bitch was kept away during the procedure but on her return, was fully content that the litter were fine and the puppies had already forgotten about it. I witnessed it several times and was reassured that any squeaks from the puppy being "done" was due to being picked up out of the comfort of the litter, not a reaction of the tiny nail being snipped off at the joint.
However, in a couple of cases over the years, one would grow back as the vet hadn't done a proper job and it had to be redone under a general anaesthetic, not ideal at any age but partularly for a puppy, so that is a risk of the procedure and a decision has to be made at the time. For adult dogs it amounts to an full amputation and unless there is already an injury, I would think twice about doing it on any dog over three days old.
Hope this helps people to understand what it is about.....

Spottydog

Lu-1

That happened to one of our staffies when i was little, he got it caught on a branch, and it tore all up the leg, as it was a sunny day he and the other dogsa, were in the garden, where he had done the injuryh, and he must have been running around like this for a few hours, he ended up losing his leg, due to a mild infection, but mainly a torn muscle.
Poor baby
Best wishes