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Swollen dew claw dog9/21/2023 ![]() ![]() “Trim it just enough so your finger does not get hooked and slides easily off the nail. The more that you notice these problems, the more severe your dog’s health situation might be. “Since dewclaws may be hidden under your dog’s coat and be hard to see, you can run your finger under the nail to test if it catches on your finger,” says Dr. There is any number of signs that your dog’s dew claw is giving them problems, and the most common ones to look for include: Limping. And since dewclaws don’t regularly touch the ground and get worn down, they may grow faster than a dog’s other nails. If dewclaws do get snagged, it can be quite painful for the dog. R egular trimming prevents snagging and breaking, also preventing nails from curling around and growing into the foot. Like toenails, dewclaws should be trimmed periodically. The rule of thumb is to care for your dog’s dewclaws the way you would for any other nail. Becker says that breeds like Whippets and Border Collies, who are known for being particularly fast, use their dewclaws to help them quickly navigate corners. “Dogs doing agility may grasp the sides of the teeter with their dewclaws to steady themselves,” says Dr. Interestingly, wolves and other wild canids do not normally have these extra digits unless their ancestors were cross-bred with dogs.ĭewclaws are also convenient in dog sports. The Briard and the Beauceron are known for their dual herding and guarding purposes, so the double dewclaws might also help them chase sheep-steeling predators over rough terrain. ![]() In the Great Pyrenees, these may function as a brake of sorts since they often raced down mountainsides chasing wolves away from flocks of livestock. Some herding breeds or guarding breeds have double dewclaws on their hind legs. Cracks in the nail are harder to spot than a clean break, and if not managed properly, the dewclaw can become infected, either from chewing or by your dog licking a sore dewclaw. Helping a dog scramble up or down rocky, steep terrain A dog’s broken dew claw can leave the quick exposed and bleeding, but sometimes even a tiny crack can cause significant issues.Adding grip and stability on slippery surfaces such as ice or when climbing out of water.Providing extra traction and stabilizing the (carpal) wrist joint when dogs turn at high speeds.Helping a dog grip a bone or toy between their front legs.Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer for the AKC. “There are a variety of ways dewclaws may help a dog accomplish different tasks,” says Dr. Some experts differentiate between dewclaws attached by bone versus floppier ones attached only by loose skin to try to distinguish why they’re there in the first place. Why Do Dogs Have Dewclaws?Įxperts have disagreed about the exact purpose of dewclaws on dogs. Depending on the breed, the double dewclaw may even be considered part of the breed standard. Certain breeds, such as the Great Pyrenees, Briard, Beauceron, and Icelandic Sheepdog, are known for having these rear double dewclaws.
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