PETS: Have vet decide on removing dog's dewclaws

Todd is the proud owner of a 16-week-old black Labrador retriever.

He is eventually planning to hunt with Pepper, which prompts his question about dewclaws.

Dewclaws are analogous to our thumbs and are found on a dog's forelimbs just up and on the inner side of the leg from the foot. They can occur on all four legs or just on the front.

Pepper has dewclaws on all four legs. Todd wants to have the dewclaws removed to prevent potential damage to them when Pepper is hunting.


Removal of dewclaws is a fairly common procedure. Still, it should not be made lightly. Dewclaws should be removed if there is a significant chance for injury as a result of their location on the dog and how each individual dewclaw is attached to the leg.

Rear dewclaws are often attached loosely to the legs and are not under muscle and nerve control. This means the dog cannot pull them tight to the leg and instead they simply flop around, making them more prone to being torn when the dog is running through brush or other types of debris.

Because of this, I will often recommend removal of the rear dewclaws, especially in a dog like Pepper, who is likely to encounter areas where her dewclaws might become hung up on something.

Contrast this with the front dewclaws, which are usually attached, as are the other digits of the foot, with ligaments and are under some muscle and nerve control. This allows the dog to pull them in tight to the leg, thus reducing the chance of injury when encountering areas of heavy brush. This reduced risk of injury may make it unnecessary to have them removed.

Realize I wrote "reduced risk" not "no risk."

Dewclaw removal surgery is not a high-risk procedure. But it is very important that the dog not be allowed to lick the area after surgery, because just a few minutes of diligent licking will destroy the incision repairs.

Todd should have Pepper's dewclaws evaluated by a veterinarian, then decide on a course of action. He might want to consider having Pepper spayed at the same, because it makes sense to have both procedures done in one anesthetic procedure.

Jeff Kahler is a veterinarian in Modesto, Calif. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.