There may be some exceptions where the dewclaws are very ‘loose’. The general consensus nowadays is to leave dew claws intact. However, in certain cases it may be in the interests of canine welfare for them to be surgically removed by a vet. There is no breed standard that requires their removal. The Kennel Club’s stance is that they do not support the removal of dew claws for aesthetic reasons. Show dogs, for example, often routinely have them removed.
There are several reasons why some people advocate the removal of these claws. This suggests the the claw functions in a way which prevents twisting of the leg when the dog is turning, (particularly at speed).Ī dog without dewclaws is at higher risk of the leg twisting and therefore developing carpal arthritis, or other injuries at the shoulder, or elbow. There are five tendons attached to the claw. Because these toes are ‘articulated’, they are capable of gripping the ground. Dogs also use their feet to dig and manipulate objects.ĭew claws still have a function in the modern pet dog. Hooves, however, would not be advantageous to the dog. Species that have honed this ability to run fast and efficiently are animals such as horses and deer, whose feet have evolved into hooves. The dew claw makes contact with the ground and helps the dog to maintain traction and balance. Many people – perhaps even readers themselves – have observed how the dew claw is utilised while the dog is running and when making a turn. The fifth toe, the dew claw, is a left over remnant of the dog’s evolutionary history. The modern dog has four toes which touch the ground. This change in their physiology allowed them to move on their ‘tiptoes’, without their heels touching the ground. Over time, these animals developed the ability to move swiftly. The animals later evolved into a ground dwelling species, (the cynodictus), from which the dog then subsequently developed.īecause these animals became hunters of prey on the ground, they needed to have the ability to move at speed. They had fifth toe similar function to the human thumb. The Miacis were cat like creatures that lived in trees. In the modern dog, many people believe these dewclaws serve no real function, but to understand what these small appendages once were we need to go back some 40 million years, to the early ancestors of the dog called the Miacis.
Read on to find out all about canine dew claws. However, sometimes they can cause problems. Usually, dew claws don’t need any attention. It is more common for dogs have dew claws on their front legs, but some have them on the back legs. The dewclaw on a dog is situated on the side of the foot where it doesn’t touch the ground.
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