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Subject: Dew Claw issue

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vespagirl

Ratterific

05/03/2007 3:14 PM
One of Rox's dew claws seems to have grown back. Is this something that I should be concerned about? It is kind of curved and mishappen. I am not sure if it matters because some dogs never have them removed. Does it affect the ability to show them? Because it is misshaped will that cause health issues?

Michelle / Rox's Mommy

mario07

Bratty Ratty

05/03/2007 7:13 PM
Michelle, I don't know. Not a lot of help, am I?? Mario still has his dew claws and I haven't heard of them growing back. I'd call the vet... Hopefully someone can help you on here. Wish I had something for you!

~~Shannon, Mario and Pepper's mom!~~

smoore

Ratastic

05/03/2007 7:20 PM
Posted By vespagirl on 05/03/2007 3:14 PM One of Rox's dew claws seems to have grown back. Is this something that I should be concerned about? It is kind of curved and mishappen. I am not sure if it matters because some dogs never have them removed. Does it affect the ability to show them? Because it is misshaped will that cause health issues? Sometimes when the dew claw root isn't pulled out all the way with removal, it causes it to grow back. My dog buffy has one that grew back too. It wont cause any problems, just make sure to keep the nail cut short, so it doesn't catch on anything.

-Sara

Apollo's Mommy

Feisty

05/03/2007 7:28 PM
Sorry I can't be of much help either but thankfully both my doggies have had their removed.

"You can't fix stupid." - Ron White ~ Jolene ~ Mommy to Apollo, Emma, & Indie

Susan

Terrier Terror

05/03/2007 9:09 PM
You can still show, but it might be a good idea to ask your vet about removing it. It is a more serious surgery than with tiny puppies but not too bad usually. Mis-shapen dew claws sometimes get caught on things worse than the regular ones, and they are bad enough. Will you be showing AKC or UKC? There should be a breed club in your state that you can consult also.

ANYTHING WORTH DOING IS WORTH OVERDOING Mom of eight, only three left at home! Pack leader to ten ratties: Maggie, Mysty, Berry, Simon, Ceecee and five puppies, Star,Sari, Bluebelle, Double stuf,and Snortie. As well as Ginger the Border Collie and a herd of turkeys!

BonitaKaz

Bratty Ratty

05/03/2007 9:13 PM
why are dew claws removed?

Bonita Mom to Nibbler & Laika!

Caesar & Julia's mom

Alpha Feist

05/03/2007 9:52 PM
Caesar had his removed when we got him, but Julia still has hers. I really don't know the reason why they are removed except that maybe they can get caught on things while running around?? I don't know yet if we will have Julia's removed when we get her spayed next month or not...

Diane~ loved by Caesar and Julia "Don't count the days, make the days count..."

Alpha Rattie

Ratastic

05/03/2007 10:33 PM
it not considered a FAULT but its frowned apon in shows. gracie never had em to begin with or the breeder had em removed before we got her

JRT_Rattie_Mom

Rat-A-Tat-Tat

05/04/2007 12:33 AM
Holly still had her dew claws when we adopted her. Since she is a real prancer, she was always getting them caught on something, even if they were trimmed nice and short. The 4th time she tore one it ripped a big hunk of skin on her leg, and she was going to need almost $300.00 worth of stitches. I told the vet I'd had enough of this (I'd wanted to take them off before, but they don't like to do it when they are older) so she had them removed when she was a little over 2 years old. She did just fine with the surgery and had a quick recovery.. she just hated having her legs bandaged up, and walking on her little club feet.. and putting baggies on them to go outside! I've never been sorry that I had them removed because it was going to be an ongoing problem for her all of her life.

Karen G. Lucy (JRT) & Holly (Rat Terrier) Blind Dog Resources & Adoptions

Susan

Terrier Terror

05/04/2007 1:09 AM
This is the real reason for removing them, they often get ripped off when dogs are playing or running in the brush. It is easier on the dog and the human to have them removed young before it takes a regular surgery to get them off.

ANYTHING WORTH DOING IS WORTH OVERDOING Mom of eight, only three left at home! Pack leader to ten ratties: Maggie, Mysty, Berry, Simon, Ceecee and five puppies, Star,Sari, Bluebelle, Double stuf,and Snortie. As well as Ginger the Border Collie and a herd of turkeys!

Paul

Feisty

05/04/2007 5:25 AM
Do you mean the dew claw nail, or the little "toe" grew back? I can understand how a nail could grow back if the entire nail bed wasn't removed, but I don't think I ever heard of the entire dew claw toe itself growing back. I suppose it could happen, though. Most breeders that choose to have dew claws (the entire 'toe' and nail) removed have it done when the pups are just 2 - 3 days old, and often the scar is so small that it's barely noticeable. They are present on almost all breeds, and removed for the same reason---they are not necessary for the dog to have them, and if left intact, later on they can easily get caught on things and ripped off, causing pain and discomfort to the dog. We used to raise dobies many years ago, and had the entire litter's dew claws removed and tails docked by the vet when the pups were 3 days old. Dew claw removal was nothing more than taking a small pr of scissors and snipping them off very close to the leg, then applying an antibiotic with a Q-Tip--no stitches required. To have them removed after a dog is older would be considered a surgery that would require anesthetics and possibly stitches, I'm sure.

"Train now, or forever hold your leash" http://www.flickr.com/photos/doberdad/

vespagirl

Ratterific

05/04/2007 11:25 AM
The nail has grown back. It is curved and misshapen and catches on everything. It is very small and I am not sure where to trim it. I am going to ask the vet about it when we go in for next round of shots. I would post a picture but I can't remember how to do that and I don't see a button to upload it. I guess I have CRS.

Michelle / Rox's Mommy

Apollo's Mommy

Feisty

05/04/2007 11:32 AM
Posted By JRT_Rattie_Mom on 05/04/2007 12:33 AM Holly still had her dew claws when we adopted her. Since she is a real prancer, she was always getting them caught on something, even if they were trimmed nice and short. The 4th time she tore one it ripped a big hunk of skin on her leg, and she was going to need almost $300.00 worth of stitches. I told the vet I'd had enough of this (I'd wanted to take them off before, but they don't like to do it when they are older) so she had them removed when she was a little over 2 years old. She did just fine with the surgery and had a quick recovery.. she just hated having her legs bandaged up, and walking on her little club feet.. and putting baggies on them to go outside! I've never been sorry that I had them removed because it was going to be an ongoing problem for her all of her life. Hearing things like this is why I'm soooo thankful both of my pups had their removed. Whew!

"You can't fix stupid." - Ron White ~ Jolene ~ Mommy to Apollo, Emma, & Indie

swatson6

Attention Starved

05/04/2007 12:10 PM
Hope you get it all figured out!! Did you talk with the vet?

Sarah Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan

vespagirl

Ratterific

06/05/2007 6:39 PM
Okay, I finally had a chance to get back on here! I talked to my vet about Rox's dew claw and he said that it is not likely to change much more than what it is right now. It is not catching on things anymore and is kind of rounded out but he said that if it starts giving him any trouble then we will have to have it removed. All good for now though. He is up to 7lbs and 6 ozs at 15 weeks!

Michelle / Rox's Mommy

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