All About Dog Dewclaws: What You Should Know
Ever looked closely at your dog’s feet? Most dogs have four nails on each back paw and five on each front paw. That extra nail on the upper inner part of a dog’s front foot is called the dewclaw.
Did you notice a different number of nails?
Don’t worry!
Some dogs have dewclaws on their back feet or even double dewclaws. So, what exactly is a dewclaw, and is it something to be concerned about?
What Are Dewclaws?
Dewclaws are like a dog’s version of thumbs and big toes!
They’re not exactly like human fingers, but they serve a similar purpose. The main four toes on a dog’s front foot, which make contact with the ground, correspond to our pinky, ring, middle, and index fingers. The dewclaw, positioned a bit higher, acts as the “thumb.” If a dog has a dewclaw on its back foot, it would be like the “big toe.”
An important thing to check is how firmly the dewclaws are attached. If your dog has a single front dewclaw, it’s usually connected to the leg by bones and ligaments, allowing slight movement. Rear and double dewclaws are often just attached by skin, making them more flexible.
Do Dewclaws Have a Purpose?
For dogs with front dewclaws firmly connected by bone, these nails serve useful functions. When running, a dog’s front feet may bend enough for the dewclaws to touch the ground, providing extra traction on sharp turns or slippery surfaces. Dewclaws can also help dogs grip items to chew or even climb.
Dewclaws only connected by skin don’t seem to offer the same level of utility.
Should Dewclaws Be Removed?
Since front dewclaws are functional, they generally shouldn’t be removed unless there’s a compelling medical reason, like an injury or a tumor. Injuries to dewclaws are uncommon enough that removing healthy dewclaws as a preventative measure isn’t usually necessary.
For rear or double dewclaws, veterinarians sometimes recommend removal if they’re loosely attached to avoid injuries, but this surgery is debated. In show dogs, dewclaws are sometimes removed for appearance, but this should only be done by a veterinarian within the first few days of a puppy’s life, using local anesthesia.
Dewclaw Injuries and Treatment
While rare, dewclaw injuries can happen.
Dewclaws, like other nails, can become torn, broken, infected, or ingrown.
Since nail injuries are quite painful and prone to infection, it’s best to have a veterinarian check them. They can remove damaged nails, trim ingrown ones, and provide any needed treatment.
Caring for Dewclaws
Dewclaws need the same care as any other nail. While highly active dogs may wear down their nails naturally, most pets need regular trims.
Because dewclaws don’t touch the ground as often, they can grow longer between trims and may need extra attention to prevent them from becoming overgrown.
Comments