You may have noticed a small rudimentary toe that does not reach the ground on the inside of your dog’s foot.Do you ever wonder why do dogs have dewclaws? Read on to learn more about the dewclaws, which breeds have dewclaws, and if you should have them removed!Ever noticed the dog’s front legs closely? Although the feet and claws of dogs differ from one breed to another, they share several similarities too. You may notice that while some breeds of dogs have four nails, others have five nails on each front leg. Often the fifth nail on the feet of the dog is referred to as the extra nail. It is commonly noticed either on the upper inner part of the dog’s foot. The extra nail is called the dewclaw. It is known to grow higher on the front leg and hardly makes any contact with the ground.Dewclaws are pretty common in various animals, especially mammals, like cats. They are pretty similar to the human thumb or big toe. Also, few dog breed standards are known to be double dew-clawed, meaning having two dewclaws. Species of dogs from Canidae, a family of dogs, have four claws on each foot, whereas domestic breeds, like the Beauceron, have an additional claw called dewclaw, rarely two. Certain breeds of dogs, like Briards and Great Pyrenees, also have rear dewclaws. The rear dewclaws have a little bone or muscle structure but do not have phalanx bones and are often attached by the skin.If the dewclaw is poorly connected to the leg, only attached by skin, and does not touch the ground, why do the dogs have a dewclaw or two? Though dewclaws are not biologically necessary, they may be considered a necessity for some breeds. For instance, a Beauceron uses the double dewclaws for sheep herding and moving through the rough snowy terrain. Likewise, five claws are advantageous while the dogs climb trees or run at high speeds.Certain breeders remove the dewclaws. For example, a Rottweiler puppy will usually have its dewclaws removed at a young age. Although the dewclaws are no different than other nails, they are often mistaken as dead appendages, but this is a myth.If your pet is a dog or puppy, you need to look after its dewclaws just like other nails by grooming your dog with canine nail trimming. The dewclaws are comparatively weaker and are barely attached by the skin. Therefore, they can easily rip off or break if caught on something causing pain and, at worse, can lead to severe infection. Thus, there is no strong argument justifying the necessity of dewclaw removal. Therefore, whether the dewclaws are to be removed or not remains a debatable concern. For a fact, dewclaw removal is speculated to be easily performed on a pup of around two to five days of age.If you enjoyed this article, why not also read about why do dogs paw at you and why do dogs shake here on Kidadl?What are dewclaws?Dewclaws are the inner toes attached to the legs of various mammals, reptiles, birds, and even extinct theropods. Dewclaws are more common on the front legs rather than the rear legs. A dog’s dewclaw is referred to as the thumb or big toe in the dog world as it is similar to the human thumb. It is often attached to the skin and lacks phalanx bones.Unlike the dewclaw on the front feet, the rear dewclaw is reported to have either a little bone or a muscle structure. Few breeds of the dog are double dew-clawed with an additional dewclaw on the same paw. Since the dewclaw is often poorly connected to the dog’s leg, surgical removal becomes necessary to avoid injuries and infections. It is known that dewclaw removal is to be performed by a veterinarian or expert breeders. The dewclaw can be easily removed when the animal is young. Dog owners are regularly advised to take appropriate care of their dog’s dewclaws since they are prone to injuries and infections as they are poorly connected to the dog’s leg.While various animal species are known to have dewclaws, several animals like horses, giraffes, and American wild dogs do not have dewclaws, whereas some species have double dewclaws. A pup or a puppy is often noticed to have its dewclaws removed by breeders, specifically a veterinarian, and are often called dew-clawed. The dew-claws grow higher on the dog’s leg compared to other claws. The dewclaw does not touch the ground. Although its biological necessity is questioned, its removal is highly debated with no strong arguments.Which dog breeds have dewclaws?While a dog naturally has dewclaws on its forelegs, some breeds also have rear dewclaws. Likewise, individual dewclaw on a paw is common, whereas others are recorded to have two dewclaws on the same feet. Also, a dog with polydactyl paws having two dewclaws is often called double dew-clawed. Some breeds with double dewclaws include Briards, Saint Bernards, Portuguese Sheepdogs, Great Pyrenees, Norwegian Lundehund, and Icelandic Sheepdogs. These are some of the breeds listed that have six toes on each foot.The number of toes or claws may vary from three to six in a dog. Concluding, all breeds have a dewclaw; while some have on their forelegs, others have on rear paws too. Similarly, dogs often have one dewclaw and rarely two.Why do some dogs have dewclaws but others don’t?Almost all breeds sport dewclaws. If your pet dog lacks front dewclaws, it is likely because it is surgically removed by breeders, specifically, a veterinarian. Since a dewclaw is poorly attached by the skin and does not touch the ground, it is prone to injuries by either breaking by being caught to something or ripping off easily. Thus, a vet removes the dewclaws at a young age to avoid unnecessary damage or risk of infection. If the dewclaw is not removed, the dog owners are advised to groom the dog regularly with canine nail trimming to avoid painful nail injury or unnecessary risk of infection caused by the nail catching something. However, dewclaws are often removed, though they can be a necessity, as in the case of a Beauceron. A Beauceron uses its dewclaws for sheep herding and moving around in the snow.The dewclaw helps the dog while running and prevents twisting of legs by digging into the ground. It is used to get a better grip and maintain a stable balance. Also, the dewclaw is not unique to dogs but is also found in various animals, including the family of the cat and hoofed animals except giraffe and modern horse.Do dewclaws bother dogs?The answer is no! The dewclaw does not bother dogs unless it becomes ingrown or injured. Instead, a dewclaw keeps the dog mobile for a little longer as it helps the dog maintain a steady balance and get a better grip. Although the dewclaw is often referred to as an extra claw, it does not bother the dog if it receives regular attention and maintenance.Sometimes, a dewclaw can lead to a serious injury. As it is weak and poorly attached, the dewclaw can easily rip off or break by catching on to something. Often these are pretty painful and can also instigate serious infections. Thus, the dogs are declawed to avoid injury and infection, meaning that their dewclaw is removed. While it is harder to remove the dewclaw of an older dog surgically, the dewclaw is often removed at a pretty young age of around two to five days.Is removing dewclaws cruel?Since removing the dewclaws is often painful, it is considered cruel by some. Judging it from a pet owner’s perspective might bring up a different opinion. Removing dewclaws is easy at a young age, while it is considerably more painful for older or elderly dogs. Thus, removing dewclaws at a young age is relatively safer and less painful than accidentally ripping off the poorly attached dewclaws causing injury. Also, ripping off or breaking of dewclaws can cause serious infections. Although the dewclaws removal is questioned, the vet carrying out the surgical removal knows it causes less pain if done at a young age.Also, the act of removing dewclaws is legal until it is performed on a pup that hasn’t opened its eyes.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for why do dogs have dewclaws, then why not take a look at why do dogs like stick or Grayhound dog facts?
You may have noticed a small rudimentary toe that does not reach the ground on the inside of your dog’s foot.
