Dog is missing front dewclaw?

As some of you know, I adopted a 6(ish) month old pug puppy from a pug rescue organization last month. I have always noticed that her paws looked funny but not until last night did it dawn on me exactly why. She is missing her dewclaw on both of her front paws! I can see teeny tiny scars where they used to be and of course, I can still feel the bone structure underneath the skin.


Why would these have been taken off? I don't have a whole lot of history on this dog - the rescue organization got her from a shelter where they think a BYB dropped her off because she had Demodex and they didn't want to deal with it. Do you think the breeder removed them or the shelter? I know the rescue didn't. Why would they have removed them? Will this cause any problems later on? Do you think it hurts her? She licks at her paws all the time, and I could never figure out why.


Now that I've noticed this, I wonder if she does it self-consciously from when she had them removed or something.

Dog is missing front dewclaw?
Dewclaws are (as many have already said) removed to keep from catching on things and causing problems later. They are essentially 'thumbs' that dogs don't actually need.


So far as the licking, next time you visit the vet talk to him/her about it. It could be allergies of some kind. I have a mixed breed whose allergies often cause the same reaction. Sometimes all over itching is part of it as well. Sometimes just the paws. There is a thing called lick granulation (I think) where the animal will lick continually all the way through skin. It's a psychological stress thing, but it can be dealt with. I would check with the vet. My feeling is probably allergies since it's already had skin problems it may be more sensitive.
Reply:alot of breeders remove the declaws off of hunting dogs because thet can get caught when hunting and get torn, sometimes all the way off. it is more preventive than anything. it is done withig 5 days of birth, when the tissue is not fully "developed"
Reply:Because the nail will curl under and grow into the skin of the dog in certain breeds of dogs. To prevent this from happening, some will have them removed, when they are puppies, so the dog isn't bothered by inverted dewclaws. It is a normal procedure. The dogs do not miss them. Some dogs lick their feet out of habit and boredom, not the removal of their dewclaws. The reason I state that is I have seen several breeds with and without dewclaws who lick their feet. Ourdog has her's and is constantly licking her paws.
Reply:there is really no need for them so some breeders have them removed so that they won't injure themselves later by snagging something with them.
Reply:Yes when dogs are first born owners may "dock" there tails into which are called "Nubed or Nubs" And than owners may also pull out a dogs "Dewclaw" Most owners do that so when they are older when they jump up onto u or something like furniture like that he/she doesn't hurt you or rip through things.
Reply:mabye she just misses them, psychological issues... I once had a dog that was bipolar...


They remove them when there young to avoid them getting ripped off when there older.


Also , less pain when there pups
Reply:don't worry if it was removed in the past then the dog may often lick it either as a psychological thing (but some people dont believe that dogs have the as sensitive phsychological make up as humans) but it may just b tht the scar tissure is slightyl uncomfortable.in any case my dog does the same to his tail (the end was docked off)((he's not lke a cocker or anything but he got it caught n it got infected and so on)) nd he often lickes it for no reason.
Reply:You sound like a wonderful pet owner!


The main reason that they are removed, is that they tend to snag on things and will bleed. Also,if your dog is purebred and has puppies, they are usually removed and buyers will expect it. Show dogs have to have them removed for show acceptance. I think it's a good idea simply because it keeps them from being torn off when they are older when they get snagged. My dog is now 9 and when he gets off the bed he snags them quite a bit
Reply:It is wonderful you have so much insight and love for your pooch. Lucky dog he is.





It is a common practice to remove the dewclaws, it is a simple procedure and shouldn't cause him any pain any longer. My dog licks his feet all the time too and he has his dew claws. It was a bacterial infection.





If this was a cat it would be different because declawing a cat is a brutal and painful procedure. But the removing of dewclaws is much, much less so and it also avoids the possiblity of the dog accidently ripping them off during play.





I would for sure bet that the breeder did it. Very common practice for them to do so.
Reply:Dew claws are not connected very well so they are often removed as a small puppy, the danger in leaving them is that they can get caught on things and be ripped off.


Allergies and other skin problems can cause a dog to lick their paws obsessively.
Reply:There is no use for dew claws and often become torn and then infected.


as for the neuroses ??


the dog has nothing better to do..!
Reply:Dewclaws are oftentimes removed right after the puppies are born. It's a simple procedure and prevents them from ripping off later and getting infected, especially if they are not "attached" dewclaws. Some dewclaws are attached to the bone structure and some are not. I just had my sheltie's rear dewclaws removed when he was neutered because they were not attached. They snagged on everything no matter how well I kept them clipped. If the spots are scarred over, she is most likely not licking because of them being gone. It might just be nervous behavior or could be signs of a skin problem.





As for your dog with the dewclaws, don't bother to get them removed unless they are not attached to the skeletal structure. You can tell by feeling them.
Reply:The breeder may have done something to her paws, typically a shelter will not unless absolutely medically necessary.





As for problems, should not be any. Many folks will remove dew claws at a young age so they do not get hooked or caught as the dog is playing/running.
Reply:With some breeders this is done with every litter at about 3 days. I have never had any of my pups done and none of my dogs have ever had a problem with their dewclaws.
Reply:Hi Ladypug, hope you're enjoying your new pup. The dewclaws can be removed before a puppy is 4 days old without sedation. They are removed to prevent them from catching on things and tearing, they really don't serve a purpose to the modern house pet. However, if not done correctly is can cause nerve damage, and if it's suspected she has come from a BYB this might be the case. She might have had them removed too late, when the breeder thought it could still be done without anesthetic. I doubt they are hurting her, but of course that's just my opinion. Good luck with your new friend!


ADD: As for your current dog, don't stress. Most dogs never have any issues. To get them removed now would call for anesthesia and an uncomfortable recovery. If you just make sure to keep them trimmed they won't be a problem.
Reply:Most AKC breeders remove the dewclaws from their puppy litters within the first week. Just something humans decided was a good thing to do to dogs.





Dogs do just fine with the dewclaws. If they have been removed that is fine too.
Reply:Breeders remove the front dewclaws for many reasons -- it's a very easy thing to do when the puppies are newborn.





It's usually done with working dogs, as others have mentioned, to prevent injury in the field...in the case of a Toy breed, however, it's not generally necessary unless the breeder feels compelled to do it, or the dog is not going to get regular grooming/care (i.e. in a puppymill) and the nails might curl in and pierce the skin.





No, show dogs DO NOT "have to have" their front dewclaws removed.





The reason your other Pug has theirs is because that breeder didn't remove them. That's all.





If the scars are small and neat, the dewclaws were done early -- a snip with human nail clippers. If the scars are large and involved, then it was probably done later, which would necessarily cause pain.





The licking may be an obsessive-compulsive behavior completely unrelated to the removal of the dewclaws -- if the removal happened in the first 3 days of life, so the dog would not really "remember" it. For this same reason, I also doubt that they hurt. In the first few days of life, a puppy's nervous system is not fully developed, which is part of the reason it's easier to remove dewclaws and dock tails at this time.
Reply:The lab I purchased from a breeder removed her front dew claws. My other labs that I adopted from rescue still have theirs (even though 2 of the 3 are purebred - and fairly well bred at that). Her scars are hardly noticable. You really have to search for them, part the hair and look.





I think everyone else explained it rather well.





My Kelsey girl - the breeder one is from a working stock. She is meant to be a hunter so I expected this from her breeder.





As for your little pugsly... I'm sure it's fine. It certainly not going to harm her.





=)
Reply:Dewclaws are the equivalent of a human thumb. Wolves use them to grasp prey. Dogs don't need them. They are just an evolutionary left over. Some people remove them so they don't snag and get ripped off. They are supposed to be removed when the dog is just a small puppy. If they were removed too late then it is sort of like de-clawing a cat. It can cause pain and the dog might have psychological problems.
Reply:I'm not sure about other breeds...but in cockers, we always removed the dew claws the same time we had the tails docked at around 3 days old. Dew claws really serve no purpose and can get caught on things. Maybe at one time they were necessary...but in modern days they can be more of a nuisance, so breeders have them removed. I don't think it will cause any problems to have them there, however, so you don't need to worry or have them removed. If you were to have them removed now, she would need to have them surgically removed and she would need to be under anesthesia and I don't really think that is necessary unless they are causing a problem.
Reply:I think someone was bored...Licking paws is a slight mental disorder. can't think of what is at the moment
Reply:dog missing front dewclaw.... theres only one solution... SHOOT IT .... its a terrible thing for a dog to be missing a dewclaw, specially a pug... prevents one from getting a good grip whilst playing foot ball.

bougainvillea