Do dogs have dewclaws

Answer 1

A dewclaw is a vestigial digit of the paw. It grows higher on the leg so that in digitigrade species, when the animal is standing, it does not make contact with the ground.Dogs almost always have dewclaws on the inside of the front legs and occasionally on the hind legs. Unlike the front dewclaws, the rear dewclaws tend to have little bone or muscle structure in most breeds. There is some debate about whether the dewclaw helps dogs to gain traction when they run because, in some dogs, the dewclaw makes contact when they are running and the nail on the dewclaw often wears down in the same way that the toenails on their other toes do, from friction with running surfaces. However, in many dogs, the dewclaws never make contact with the ground; in this case, the dewclaw's nail never wears away, and it must be trimmed to keep it at a safe length. It is notable that the dewclaws are not dead appendages. They can be used to lightly grip bones and other items that dogs hold with the paws.

Answer 2

Canine Dew Claws are a dog's "first toe", located above the paw toes on the outer part of the leg. Distance above varies with the species of dog, but typically it's 2-3" on most larger breeds.

Dew Claws, although similar to a toe in humans, aren't used anymore by today's canines. Most dog breeders will remove them during the first few days of a puppy's life, when it's soft and can easily be removed without requiring stitches or anesthesia. If an owner wished to have them removed later, then it's usually done when the dog is being spayed or neutered, as at that point anesthesia is required, as well as stitches and bandages.

Why have them removed at all?

Dew Claws tend to get in the way of a dog's normal activities, and can get caught easily if the dog puts its leg through something like a chain link fence. It can also get easily caught on something like a blanket with loose threading, a rug, anything with loose threads or stitching. Since it hangs freely, if caught it could easily tear loose, causing injury and bleeding. If the dog has a blood disorder like von Willebrand's Disease (Hemophelia), then it's not just a nuisance or minor injury - it could be potentially life threatening, especially if the dog is playing by itself in a yard when it happens and the owner might not notice the injury until a lot of blood has been lost.. Since vWD runs more commonly in certain breeds (Dobermans, for example), those breeders tend to remove them in their litters early on, as surgeries must be planned carefully for a dog with a high vW factor.

They are an extra nail on inner side of leg about 1 inch up from paw.

They are only found in certen breeds like the Great Peransse the Siberian Husky and hounds i think have FOUR there must be more but theese are all I can think of!And Oh Ya! My dog can't feel hers I pinched it the other day because I have just noticed it and it turns out she had FOUR!

Answer 3

Yes, almost all dogs are born with dewclaws on their forelegs. However, some breed standards require these be removed for the animal to compete in dog shows or be registered, so they are sometimes removed. This is not generally medically necessary, though.

Answer 4

The dewclaw just above the front paw of a dog or cat is the equivalent of the human thumb. It is often removed on hunting dogs because it can become torn or infected while the animal is running through brush and briars. However, the dewclaw does serve an important purpose for dogs: It allows them to hook onto ice at the edge of a partially frozen pond and pull themselves out of the water.

Answer 5

Nope. they don't affect them and it would be a waste of money to have them removed.