Dew claws

[Michen]

Does anyone have any experience with issues with a dogs dew claws? My young, very active springer spaniel seems to be constantly getting hers caught or irritated somehow and she spends a lot of time licking them I will have a chat with my vet but wondered if anyone had any suggestions in the mean time.

The nails aren’t too long though that would have been a simple solution!

Pic of the girl in question!

 

[splashgirl45]

my old lurcher was always ripping hers and i ended up having them removed completely. the front ones are deeper set than the back ones so the vet only did it as a last resort as i was there with her torn dew claws so often he said there was no other option.. this was about 30 years ago and vets may be more willing to do it now..

 

[Blazingsaddles]

All my lurchers had the front ones removed when newborn. My Whippet had his surgically removed because of the aggravation they caused. Straightforward, no issues afterwards.

 

[Michen]

my old lurcher was always ripping hers and i ended up having them removed completely. the front ones are deeper set than the back ones so the vet only did it as a last resort as i was there with her torn dew claws so often he said there was no other option.. this was about 30 years ago and vets may be more willing to do it now..

Oh gosh I hope it doesn’t come to that. I really wished they had been removed when her tail was docked

 

[splashgirl45]

from what i can remember the recovery wasnt too bad, she had bandages on both front legs for a while and it didnt stop her running about, its usual for the back ones to be removed when they are puppies as they are easy to snip off but they dont do the front ones unless there is a big problem...i must admit it was a relief when hers were done, no more emergency vet visits

 

[PapaverFollis]

You can get brushing boots for dogs.... kind of...

https://forestfleece.co.uk/products/neoprene-stopper-carpal-pad-dew-claw-protectors

No idea if any good, not had this problem.

Your puppy is all grown up and beautiful ?

 

[Clodagh]

There are studies (I've no idea how right they are) showing that the removal of front dew claws effects a lot of ligaments and it is not a good thing for them to have them removed at docking. So maybe she is better off with them.
Saying that I rehomed a lurcher, she was about 2 years old, and she ripped hers off completely and did end up having both removed.
So no help at all but your pup is very beautiful.

 

[Stiff Knees]

Spot had very large, flappy dew claws on her front legs. we resorted to Vet wrapping them each time she was exercised but despite that she still injured herself around the house. She had them removed in the end, but the Vet only did that as a last resort because the surgery is quite complex, not just a simple matter of nipping them off. She recovered quickly though with no issues.

 

[BallyJ]

Lulu my JRT has had hers taken off. After having 3 ripped out the vets and I decided enough was enough - she hated the vets because every time we'd go it would be for another claw issue.

They're gone now and we've had no issues

 

[skinnydipper]

There are studies (I've no idea how right they are) showing that the removal of front dew claws effects a lot of ligaments and it is not a good thing for them to have them removed

https://sugarfactoryvetclinicmt.com/resources/medical-articles/do-the-dew-claws/#:~:text=That function is to prevent,lower leg and prevent torque.

 

[Stiff Knees]

https://sugarfactoryvetclinicmt.com/resources/medical-articles/do-the-dew-claws/#:~:text=That function is to prevent,lower leg and prevent torque.

Fascinating. ?Who knew? Peril accumulates lots of mud in her dew claws, she definitely uses them when cornering at highspeed, but I didn't realise that they prevented the leg from twisting.

 

[KEK]

Yeah wouldn’t recommend removing them if possible as it can cause carpal arthritis, especially not in a sporting dog (which I think she is?)
Do you file the tips down? Either sandpaper or dremel.

 

[splashgirl45]

interesting article, my lurcher didnt ever show signs of front leg pain and i would have noticed if she had been even slightly lame on one of them, i suppose she could have had a problem but i normally would know immediately if she had a cut or similar..,wonder if the article had accounted for lurcher hysterics whenever they hurt themselves? or where they talking about normal dogs