- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Every dog is born with dewclaws on their front legs. A dewclaw is a fifth digit, complete with a nail, that sits a few inches above a dog’s paw. It’s sometimes called a dog’s “thumb” due to its position on the paw.
Dewclaws may look like an evolutionary leftover, but they’re actually important for a dog’s balance when they run. However, dewclaws need regular care, and if they get injured, your dog may need to have them removed.
Read on to learn more about your dog’s dewclaws and how to maintain them.
Why Do Dogs Need ‘Thumbs’?
Dewclaws aren’t exactly thumbs, since they aren’t opposable like human thumbs. But they can move independently!
These claws help your dog keep their balance when they’re racing around. If your dog is sprinting through a tight turn, their dewclaws dig into the ground for extra traction. This helps stabilize their legs so they don’t spin out of control.
For dogs who spend a lot of time outdoors, dewclaws can be especially helpful. For example, if your dog falls on a frozen pond, dewclaws can work as little ice picks to help them climb up again. An extra claw can also be helpful when climbing over rocky, unstable terrain.
Do All Dogs Have A Dewclaw?
All dogs have dewclaws on their front legs. These are attached to the dog’s muscles and bones.
Some breeds also have detached dewclaws on their back legs. A detached dewclaw has no tendons. It’s basically a loose nail hanging off the skin. Sometimes these are called dangling dewclaws.
A few breeds, like the Great Pyrenees or Norwegian Lundehund, have double dewclaws. That means they have not one, but two dewclaws on each back leg. Double dewclaws are attached and help a dog balance, just like the front dewclaws.
Trimming and Maintaining Your Dog’s Dewclaw
“All dogs should have regular nail trims approximately once monthly, and it’s a good idea to check their dewclaws a bit more frequently,” says Cathy Barnette, DVM, consulting veterinarian at HealthyPaws Pet Insurance.
Your dog’s regular nails scrape the ground when they walk, and this friction wears them down, slowing how fast they grow. Dewclaws don’t touch the ground nearly as much, so they grow a lot faster and can snag on carpet or bedding.
How to care for dewclaws at home
You can trim your dog’s dewclaws as part of their regular pawdicure.
First, make sure your dog is alert but relaxed. Hold their paw gently but firmly so they can’t wiggle around.
Next, get the nail clippers ready. Put the tip of your dog’s dewclaw in between the clipper blades, then squeeze the handles like a pair of scissors. If you do it right, the dewclaw’s tip should pop right off.
Be careful not to cut too far up the nail. Much like regular claws, dewclaws have a quick, or bundle of nerves and blood vessels inside. If you nick this, you’ll have a bloody paw and a very unhappy dog. You may want to have some styptic powder on hand, which can help stop the bleeding if you make a mistake.
When to get routine dewclaw care from a vet
If you’ve never trimmed a dog’s nails before, you can ask your vet to show you how. They can recommend the right size of clippers for your dog.
Of course, trimming a dog’s nails is often easier said than done! You may want to let your vet handle routine dewclaw care if your dog:
- Has black nails, which can make it hard to find the quick
- Refuses to let you touch their paws
- Has a dewclaw that has curled in on itself, since this can make it difficult to cut
What Can Go Wrong With A Dewclaw?
So long as you care for the dewclaw properly, it’s actually less likely to get injured than your dog’s other nails. But sometimes accidents happen.
Since dewclaws are often hidden under your dog’s fur, it’s easy to forget about them until they become overgrown.
“An ingrown dewclaw is easy to identify if your pet will allow you to examine the area. Your pet’s nail will be grown into a spiral shape, with the point embedded in your pet’s skin or paw pad,” Dr. Barnette says.
Long dewclaws are also prone to catching on objects, and a bad snag can end up tearing the nail. “The claw may be broken along its length, or the entire claw may detach from the nail bed,” Dr. Barnette says.
Snagging is most common among active dogs, since detached dewclaws can easily catch on heavy brush or thickets.
When To Ask A Vet About A Dewclaw Problem
According to Dr. Barnette, common signs your dog has a torn or ingrown dewclaw include:
- Limping
- Licking the affected paw
- Visible saliva staining on the paw
In most cases, a damaged dewclaw is easily treated, Dr. Barnette says. Your vet will trim away the damaged nail and remove any fragments stuck in your dog’s skin.
They may bandage the area or give your dog a cone to prevent them from chewing their leg. Your dog will likely need pain medication and antibiotics to prevent infection.
Removing an adult dog’s dewclaws is rare and usually not necessary. “If a dog has detached dewclaws that are repeatedly injured and repeatedly need treatment, then removal may start to make sense,” Dr. Barnette says.
Vets generally don’t recommend amputating attached dewclaws on the front legs, since they are attached to the bone. “This surgery is comparable to amputating a person’s thumb,” Dr. Barnette says. The pain and risk of complications makes that kind of surgery a last resort.
Should People Have Puppies’ Dewclaws Removed?
Some breeders have puppies’ front dewclaws removed in the first three days of life. Much like tail docking, this procedure is surrounded by controversy.
Some breeders remove the dewclaws because it makes the dog’s front legs look straighter. They may also remove dewclaws in order to prevent the dog from tearing their nails and getting injured.
Others argue that surgery isn’t medically necessary, since there is little research to suggest severe dewclaw tearing is a common issue.
What’s more, removing a puppy’s front dewclaws can put them at risk for injuries in adulthood. According to some research, dogs who had their front dewclaws removed had nearly twice the odds of getting injured of those who still had their dewclaws.
Because dewclaws are important for your dog’s mobility, the decision to remove them deserves a lot of consideration. Your vet can offer more guidance on the best way to address your dog’s unique situation.