There are many dog breeds that have rear dew claws. These are the five most popular:
Rottweilers: Rottweiler puppies can be born with dew claws, but they usually get removed at a young age.
Dachshunds: Dachshunds have their dew claws removed when they’re young because they’re prone to injury and infection.
German Shepherds: German Shepherds often have rear dew claws, but they’re sometimes removed when the puppy is young.
Chihuahuas: Chihuahua puppies are born with dew claws, and they’re usually removed by the time they’re 8 weeks old.
Pit Bulls: Pit bulls have rear dew claws, but unlike some other dog breeds, their dew claws don’t need to be removed unless there’s an issue with them or if you want your dog to look like another breed
Dog Breeds With Rear Dew Claws
There are many dog breeds that have rear dewclaws. In fact, most of the larger breeds have them!
Dewclaws are the small claws on the inside of a dog’s leg, above the paw pad. These extra claws are found in many large-breed dogs, including:
Cavalier King Charles spaniel
Dachshund
Great Dane
Irish wolfhound
Mastiff
Rottweiler
A rear dewclaw is a toe on the inside of a dog’s hind leg. Some people believe that these dewclaws came from the dog’s ancestors, but this is not true. A dewclaw is an extra toe that has no function in walking or running, but it may help with digging.
The term “dewclaw” comes from the fact that it’s found on the inside of the foot and is often hidden by fur.
Rear Dewclaws: Why They Exist
Rear dewclaws are vestigial structures that continue to grow after other toes have been removed by breeders. These extra digits can be removed surgically without any harm to your pup or his ability to walk comfortably and run normally.
Dogs With Rear Dewclaws
Some breeds are known for having rear dewclaws while others do not have them at all. Dogs with rear dewclaws include:
The rear dewclaws are the vestigial rear toes found on many dog breeds, such as the Dachshund and Great Dane. While they can be removed, there are benefits to leaving them intact.
Benefits of Leaving Dewclaws Intact
Removing dewclaws can be painful for your dog and can result in scarring and infection, especially if it’s done by a veterinarian who isn’t experienced with performing this procedure.
Dogs who have their dewclaws removed are more likely to get infections around the area where they were operated on. Infections can also occur if the wound doesn’t heal properly or if the stitches come loose before they’re supposed to.
Dogs with rear dewclaws may have a higher risk of developing painful arthritis than dogs without them because they have extra bone weight on their joints when they run or jump off of things.
Rear Dew Claw Removal Surgery
If you decide that removing your dog’s rear dew claws is necessary, it’s best to do so at eight weeks old when the bones are still soft enough for this type of surgery. The veterinarian will make an incision along each side of the top of their foot (where their toes meet their paw), wrap each toe