Dew Claws

[AlbertsDad]

Hello all I have a 14 week old EM Albert who is currently 27lbs and gaining about 3 kilos a week is this about right? Plus do I need to get his dew claws removed? I'm keen to keep him in as natural a state as possible but wondered if this really was advisable? I have included a couple of pics of him one at 11 weeks and the other at 14 weeks thanks

'Some days you eat the bear, and some days the bear eats you'

 

[Smokeycat]

Albert is a cutie. That weight gain sounds reasonable, my EM put on around 5 lbs a week at that age. Kryten still has his dew claws. They are loose but haven't caused a problem and I have never considered removing them. In fact my non mastiff also has his dew claws too.

 

[Jakesmum]

We didn't have the dew claws removed either. He chews on them if the nails get too long but we figure if they aren't bothering him then we aren't going to put him through that.
What a cutie pie you have!!!!

 

[musicdeb]

Albert has the cutest face! Personally, I've never removed the dew claws from any of my dogs and never had an issue.

 

[AlbertsDad]

Thanks for the replies it was just the vet seemed dead set on it so wondered if there was something to it I was missing

AlbertsDad

 

[ruthcatrin]

The rear dew claws are often "loose" meaning that they're only attached to the foot by skin, not muscle and bone. There are concerns about them getting caught on things and torn, and sometimes the claws can be harder to trim.

I've never had them removed either though!

 

[ruby55]

Dew claws are usually routinely removed on dogs that hunt, or work outside. It's too easy to get them torn when working the fields. But I don't know of many folks who remove them on non-hunting/field working dogs.

 

[Ehl]

Thanks for the replies it was just the vet seemed dead set on it so wondered if there was something to it I was missing


AlbertsDad

Fee's for an unneeded surgery. Would maybe find another vet. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Smokeycat]

Thanks for the replies it was just the vet seemed dead set on it so wondered if there was something to it I was missing

AlbertsDad

From what my vet said the only time that she would remove them on an older puppy/dog is of they get caught on things a lot. It would be done to prevent them tearing off. If they are tight she prefers to leave them alone.

 

[LLJohnson10]

I had a lab who had his dew claws removed, but it was done at less than a week old. I wish my other dogs did not have their dew claws, because they grow at a faster rate, and seem to get razor sharp.

If I could go back in time and have them removed at a very young age, (less than a week or 2) i'd definitely do it. But I wouldn't do it any later than that.

 

[Slinger-girl]

I do not remove dew claws, the Standard does not call for it either and I have not had an issue with any front dews..don't have rear ones.

For your consideration:

[video=youtube_share;r4XflsMEk-k]http://youtu.be/r4XflsMEk-k[/video]

 

[DennasMom]

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!

Denna only has dews on the front, we left them there. No sign she ever had back dews.

Our first dog had the double dews on the back (thus our guess as to some Great Pyrenees in his genes). One set was just attached with skin, so we had those taken off - too high of a potential for them ripping off (according to the vet)... the second set was a full toe, with bone, so that we left on (we were interested in keeping costs down at that point in life, too). We left his front dews on... they were also full toes with bone connections.