{"id":924,"date":"2020-08-27T16:03:54","date_gmt":"2020-08-27T16:03:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sbahvet.com\/?p=924"},"modified":"2020-08-27T16:03:54","modified_gmt":"2020-08-27T16:03:54","slug":"the-dewclaw-a-doggy-do-or-doggy-dont","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sbahvet.com\/blog\/the-dewclaw-a-doggy-do-or-doggy-dont\/","title":{"rendered":"The Dewclaw: A Doggy Do or Doggy Don\u2019t?\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most of our pet parents are familiar with the dewclaw as that extra nail on the inside of their dog\u2019s front feet. While many dogs have this extra appendage, a great many others do not because they have been removed either by the breeder or a veterinarian.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With many people removing dogs\u2019 dewclaws, our staff at <\/span>Sunrise Boulevard Animal Hospital<\/span><\/a> is often asked if it is best to remove them, or not.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Doggy dewclaws aren\u2019t without a purpose, and we are happy to share our knowledge about them with you.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Dynamic Dewclaw<\/span><\/h3>\n

When it comes to anatomy, you may not realize that a dog\u2019s paw has the same bone structure as your hand. A dog walks on the equivalent of your four fingers, with the thumb being the same digit as the dewclaw. Yes! Dogs do have thumbs!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A dog\u2019s dewclaw is typically attached by bone to the rest of the paw, though it does not usually bear weight. Some dogs may not have a dewclaw at all (although these typically have been removed by humans at some point in time). Other dogs may have detached dewclaws, more than one per paw, or declaws on the back paws.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Historically, we have considered dewclaws without purpose. Many breeders began to remove them to provide a more cosmetic look and to avoid them becoming snagged and injured. As with many things, though, the more we begin to investigate, the more we find out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We have begun to observe that normal, attached front dewclaw serve several purposes including:<\/span><\/p>\n