Dew claw removal at 4 months old??

[Chewy's Mom]

I am feeling really awful right now for poor little Gretta. She's my foster pup, and she's maybe 4 months old - and very tiny - a whopping 16 pounds. Well, she's getting adopted tomorrow, and so she was spayed today. Her dew claws were never removed as a baby so her new family asked about having them removed during the spay surgery. I asked our rescue gal about it, and she said that it's really fine to leave them because they rarely get snagged unless the dog is a hunting dog out in the fields all the time. So I told the owner-to-be, and they decided they would just like to get it done and would pay the difference. They had heard that boxers dew claws get snagged all the time because of the way they play, and that it's very painful if that happens. When I took Gretta in to the vet this morning, I asked the vet if it's a big deal to remove them, and she said it's no problem - not a big deal at all. So they did it. When I picked her up tonight they told me that Gretta's dew claws were very attached, and that it was more like an amputation. :( Poor thing! I feel really horrible that I let them do that to her. And I still dont know how neccessary it really was! Anybody know??

Monique

 

[EMWAZ]

dew claws

Don't beat yourself up about it. I have heard of bad accidents and injuries with dew claws but my boxer mix still has hers, and they get really sharp, she has black nails so they are a little more difficult to trim.

You may have prevented an accident in the future so I wouldn't worry. Its probably about the same as de-clawing a cat and the good thing about the dew claws is they don't use them so I don't think the dog will miss them.

 

[Scrapper's Mom]

Don't second guess yourself. You acted on the best information you had at the time. One time our little dachsie did snag his dewclaw, but it healed eventually. I'd just make sure Gretta has plenty of pain meds for the next day or so. She will be fine and she is a lucky girl that you are fostering her.

 

[Jeanne]

It's best to have had them removed. Along with snagging them, boxers also use their paws to grab and the sharp dew claws can cause some painful scratches to the *grabbie*. This is also the reason they snag and break or tear.

 

[Chewy's Mom]

Thanks, guys. I feel much better about the decision now. I'm sure Gretta doesn't feel any better about it though. Hope she'll forgive me someday!

Monique

 

[myrocky]

aaaawww Monique I am sure she is thanking you now If I got a foster in or even adopted and the baby (regardless of age) still had dew claws I would get them removed. That is way to big of a chance to keep them IMO. Boxers do get them snagged because of the way that they play. If the dew claw gets ripped that is pretty painful and will end up getting removed anyway. I think you did the best thing and Gretta will be just fine

 

[Chewy's Mom]

Ok, well I WAS feeling better about this until a few minutes ago. I got a call from one of the main volunteers with the rescue group I work with, and she was kind of upset that Gretta's new family had her dew claws removed. She said that in the future they just may not adopt out to "people like that" who are going to do such cosmetic amputations which are very painful and unneccessary. I told her that this family was just looking out for Gretta's future well-being, and that even the doc told me it was no big deal to remove them. I also told her that I did some research (this thread ), and that many people share the same opinion that it's best to remove them. I told her that there are always two opinions on an issue like this, and that they really are an awesome family, and that Gretta is doing just fine and walking around and even wanting to play! Anyway, I hate causing ripples, and I hope nobody is really too upset about this whole thing.

 

[Scrapper's Mom]

Hmmm, "cosmetic amputations" - does that include tail docking and ear cropping as well? It's customary to remove dew claws from Boxers. I don't see why she got upset - it was done humanely, by a veterinarian with anesthesia, and it will avoid a painful tear in the future. I think that woman's opinion is a bit extreme.

 

[myrocky]

I guess I wouldn't be an approved home then cause I would get them removed ASAP :p No worries Monique, maybe the person you talked to was just having a bad day and she took it out on you.

Let's say that you didn't go ahead and have them done. The family said they were going to do it anyway. So if they did does that mean the rescue would take Gretta back? If the family is totally awesome in every way and just what Gretta needs then that should be the focus. You have all of us standing behind you and Gretta's new family :D

 

[None-removed]

They and you did the right thing by preventing a possibly serious injury in the future. Tell the rescue Coordinator that dewclaws have been known to catch in everyday items like loose woven upholstery fabric and crate wires, and that is far more painful than a removal. I would consider dewclaw removal to be the most necessary of all of the "cosmetic" alterations, in fact I don't really consider it cosmetic.

Don't worry, the pupster will be fine.