Whether or not you should remove a dog’s dew claws depends on who you ask.
I personally believe it’s best to leave a dog’s paws natural, but most dogs seem to do fine with or without their dew.
I have been involved in sports all my life. Some were declawed as puppies and some were not. It didn’t seem to matter much either way, with my small sample of dogs.
What are dog dew claws?
Dogs have four toes on each front paw that touch the ground when standing, and a large pad in the center of the paw.
Many dogs also have “dew claws” on the top of their front claws that do not touch the ground when standing. Claws are often attached to the foot by bone and tendon and can help the dog grip.
Above even the dewclaw is the “carpal pad” on the dog’s wrist.
Here is a picture of my Labrador’s front paw:
As you can see, he has his dew claw in front. This is located above the four common toes and below the carpal pad.
You can think of a dewclaw as a dog’s “thumb,” although it’s not as functional as our thumbs.
Back dewclaws in dogs
On the hind feet, most dogs do not have dew, but some do. The rear dew claws do not even touch the ground.
Rear dewclaws are more common in certain breeds, such as herding and herding breeds such as briards, Beaucerons and Great Pyrenees. Sometimes German shepherds have dew drops, too.
Back dewclaws are usually attached by skin only – not by bone and tendon.
The dew is the dew on the back
Some species have double dew claws. For example, the American Kennel Club lists dewlap as the standard for the Beaucerons breed. The Beauceron is a guard dog and a caring breed.
If a Beauceron does not have dew claws on each hind leg, then the dog is not eligible to compete in Conformation. Conformity is where dogs are judged according to their breed standard.
How many dew claws does a dog have?
Almost all dogs have two dew claws – one on their front paws. Some dogs also have one or two dew claws on their back paws. So a dog can have up to six dew claws.
Why do dogs have dew claws?
Front dewclaws can help a dog with running and balancing at high speeds and can also help it hold ground when climbing.
My yellow Lab Rip has his front dew claws and can grab his toys with his paws more easily than my other dog Remy, who does not have dew claws.
I notice that my Lab’s dew claws also help him to “perch” or hold onto something like a rock or log when he’s lying down.
Reasons to remove a puppy’s front dewclaws
1. Removing the puppy’s dew claws helps prevent injury.
In some hunting breeds, it is still common to have the dewclaws removed from young puppies.
When removing a puppy’s ingrown toenails, there is less chance of injury when the nail catches on something and is pulled out.
For hunting dogs, there is a small risk of a dew claw getting caught in some brush while the dog is running through the fields or woods. This is why some breeders prefer to have the dewclaws removed.
Removing dewclaws in puppies is more common in high hunting breeds such as weimaraners, English setters and Brittany spaniels.
That being said, I am part of a few hunting groups and forums and it is becoming clear that it is more popular now to leave dewclaws on than to remove them.
It is less common to remove dew claws from waterfowl hunting dogs such as Labradors and golden retrievers.
Risks associated with dew damage to hunting dogs:
- pain
- bleeding (and dirt)
- possible infection (potential)
- a visit to the vet
- a few days off to recover with a bandaged paw
- which may require dew removal
Because the risk of this type of injury is very low, I don’t see it as a reason to remove your puppy’s dew claws.
It’s definitely something to ask your vet about if you’re concerned, but almost all dogs have dew claws and you just don’t hear about many injuries.
Dogs can injure any of their nails, of course.
A dog can injure any of its nails, obviously. Not just dew.
I accidentally broke one of my Lab’s Ace nails at one point while trimming. I felt great pain. The clip was very dull, and the nail split in half! This wasn’t his dew claw, it was one of his normal claws.
I ended up taking him to the vet because his skin was infected. The vet removed the entire nail and bandaged Ace’s paw. He recovered and the nail grew back, so no big deal, really.
My parents had a springer spaniel that also damaged one of his normal nails when it somehow got caught in the door frame as it ran through the front door.
Check out our article: What to do when a dog breaks a nail.
2. Following AKC breed standards
The AKC “breed standard” states that dew claws should be removed in some breeds, such as the weimaraner.
If you are a breeder, you may understandably want to follow the AKC standards for your breed even if you see no other reason to remove dew claws.
And if you want to compete in AKC Conformation, you’ll also want to follow the “breeding standard” as much as possible. For example, front dew claws are considered a “fault” or withdrawal in weimaraners.
Why do weimaraners not have dew?
Most weimaraners are born with dewclaws on the front like other dogs, but they are usually removed when they are a few days old for the two reasons mentioned above – to prevent injury and to follow the breed standard.
Breeders of some high-quality hunting breeds may choose to remove dewclaws from their puppies, even if it is not selected according to their “AKC breed standard.”
Some of these breeds include German shorthaired pointers, English pointers, vizslas, Brittany spaniels and English setters.
3. Apart from dew claws, there are several clipper claws.
I don’t see this as a reason to remove dewclaws, but I think it can be a benefit.
Nail clipping is stressful for many dogs and their owners. If you have fewer nails to trim, this makes life easier.
Check out our article: Teach your dog to tolerate nail trimming
Best age to remove dog’s dew claws
If your dog does not have frostbite, it was probably removed when he was a puppy. This is the best time to remove the dog’s dew claws, if they are to be removed at all.
Some breeders trim the dewclaws themselves when the puppies are just days old. Since puppies do not yet have a fully developed nervous system, breeders say that anesthesia is not necessary. Puppies may fuss for a moment and then go back to sleep.
For older dogs, I would not recommend removing the dewclaw unless there is a medical reason to do so. For example, if the dog continues to damage the nail bed.
If you choose to remove your puppy or dog’s dewclaws, it must be done under anesthesia by a veterinarian. This is because ingrown toenails tend to stick to skin, bones and tendons.
Why not remove the dog’s dew claws
1. Dew claws help the dog to hold, balance and ride.
When you remove a dog’s toenail, you remove the nail that helps it hold and balance.
A dog’s dew claws come in handy in a variety of life situations such as competing in sledding or climbing in a pond or simply holding on to logs in the forest.
Dew claws make it easier for some dogs to grab toys with their paws.
2. Dew claws help dogs that are fast and other dogs that run.
If you plan to compete in dog agility or do other types of sports with your dog such as dock diving, it is beneficial for him to keep his dewclaws on to help with his natural grip and gait, getting himself out of water, etc.
3. Removing a toenail may cause arthritis later.
A dog’s front dewclaws are attached by bone and tendon to the front paws and have a specific purpose. When you remove the dew claw, you change their front foot and some vets say this increases the dog’s chances of developing arthritis or pain later in life.
Of course, this does not guarantee anything in any way.
Some dogs who have their dewclaws removed will never develop arthritis. And some dogs with dew claws will still have painful joints as adults. Dew nails are just one more factor than genetics, weight, health, breed and lifestyle.
My weimaraner is 7 years old and has lived a very active life without his dew claws. He is healthy and soft and shows no signs of arthritis or pain anywhere in his body.
On the other hand, my Lab mix Ace had dew claws before and he had joint pain when he was 5 or 6 and it got worse as he got older.
How to take care of your dog’s dew claws
You should regularly check and trim your dog’s dewclaws. As with the rest of their nails, you don’t want dew claws to be too long.
If you have a puppy, spend some time each day lightly touching and holding their paws and claws so they get used to touching their feet. This will usually make it easier to trim the nails.
My experience
I have had dogs with dew claws and dogs without dew claws.
In this limited sample of dogs, I did not notice a significant difference between dogs with dew claws and dogs without.
My two current dogs both run long distances, hike, train for agility and hunt at high altitudes. One has dew claws and the other does not.
Should you remove dog’s dew claws?
Sometimes, for a dog behind Dew nails are connected by skin only, not by bone and muscle. If so, some vets recommend removing the hind dewclaws.
This is because the dewclaws are just “hanging there” not serving any real purpose, and are more likely to get caught on something and be “pulled out” or injured.
If your dog is going to be put under anesthesia for another reason such as dental surgery or spay/neuter surgery, it may make sense to have the rear dewclaws removed at that time.
I personally would not plan a separate procedure for the removal of rear dew claws. I would just leave them and “take my chances” with a low risk of potential nail damage.
So… what should you do?
Generally, there is no strong reason to remove a puppy’s dew claws. But it’s your choice. Even if you plan to hunt uphill with your sports species, the chance of damaging a dew claw is very small.
If your breeder usually removes the dewclaws when the puppies are a few days old, that’s probably fine. If the breeder leaves dew claws, that’s fine.
Let us know your experience!
In the comments, let me know if your dog has front or rear dew claws. Do you have a hunting dog? Were the dewclaws removed when he was a puppy? Do you have a caring type with dew on the back?