| Dew Claw Removal A Photographic Essay I am not a licensed veterinarian, this is simply how I dock my own puppies. |
| Last Updated 07.20.2007 Copyright: Genji Bailey |
The metal Housekeeper's box
on the left is my favorite dog
supply find. It is easy to clean
and holds everything!
I have found that the gray/ash
colored styptic powder, such
as the brand Durvet does not
work as well as the tan colored,
such as the brand Kwik Stop.
Just a personal preference.
The Kwik Stop powder also
does not seem as messy on
light colored puppies.
on the left is my favorite dog
supply find. It is easy to clean
and holds everything!
I have found that the gray/ash
colored styptic powder, such
as the brand Durvet does not
work as well as the tan colored,
such as the brand Kwik Stop.
Just a personal preference.
The Kwik Stop powder also
does not seem as messy on
light colored puppies.
Before I begin, I need to understand where I
am going to cut. Dew Claws are the "thumb"
of the dog, and only occur on the inside of
the front paws. I know that I will need to get
as close to the skin of the paw as possible
without nicking the paw. Dew claws are
actually MUCH easier to do than tails, and
rarely bleed. In a litter of five pups, each
with two dew claws to be removed, I usually
only have one that bleeds out of 10 that I do.
am going to cut. Dew Claws are the "thumb"
of the dog, and only occur on the inside of
the front paws. I know that I will need to get
as close to the skin of the paw as possible
without nicking the paw. Dew claws are
actually MUCH easier to do than tails, and
rarely bleed. In a litter of five pups, each
with two dew claws to be removed, I usually
only have one that bleeds out of 10 that I do.
These are the two tools I use for docking and
dew claws. They are both large-breed dog
toenail clippers. I prefer the orange handled
one for tails because it give me more strength,
and the silver handled one for dew claws
because it allows me to get closer to the paw
without cutting anything that doesn't need to be
cut. (The liquid on them is rubbing alcohol.)
dew claws. They are both large-breed dog
toenail clippers. I prefer the orange handled
one for tails because it give me more strength,
and the silver handled one for dew claws
because it allows me to get closer to the paw
without cutting anything that doesn't need to be
cut. (The liquid on them is rubbing alcohol.)
These are the products and tools I have on-hand
for docking. I also have a generous supply of
clean rags and towels nearby before I begin.
for docking. I also have a generous supply of
clean rags and towels nearby before I begin.
When I began removing dew claws, I place the curved large-breed dog toenail clippers
on either side of the dew claw and push into the fur to make sure I am as close to
where the thumb bone comes off the main bone in the forepaw as possible. I do this to
avoid the chance of the dew claw regenerating, which has been known to happen. I
pinch my position around the dew claw without cutting th skin. When I do this, the dew
claw pops up and I can get closer to the paw without cutting it.
on either side of the dew claw and push into the fur to make sure I am as close to
where the thumb bone comes off the main bone in the forepaw as possible. I do this to
avoid the chance of the dew claw regenerating, which has been known to happen. I
pinch my position around the dew claw without cutting th skin. When I do this, the dew
claw pops up and I can get closer to the paw without cutting it.
After soaking the large-breed toenail
clippers in alcohol for several minutes,
I hold the squirmy puppy's paw still and
push against the puppy's paw on either
side of the dew claw, which makes it
pop up some so I can get a good
position, and I clamp the clippers just
enough to keep my spot. I then brace
the puppy so it does not wiggle when I
cut - this is MUCH easier said than
done, be forewarned.
After I get a good position and the
puppy is braced, I simply clip and pull
the dew claw off. The clipping cuts
through the skin and bone (in 3 day old
puppies the bones are still soft, so
there is no crunching sound or
resistance), but I have to pull because
it does not always slice through all the
hair surrounding the claw.
clippers in alcohol for several minutes,
I hold the squirmy puppy's paw still and
push against the puppy's paw on either
side of the dew claw, which makes it
pop up some so I can get a good
position, and I clamp the clippers just
enough to keep my spot. I then brace
the puppy so it does not wiggle when I
cut - this is MUCH easier said than
done, be forewarned.
After I get a good position and the
puppy is braced, I simply clip and pull
the dew claw off. The clipping cuts
through the skin and bone (in 3 day old
puppies the bones are still soft, so
there is no crunching sound or
resistance), but I have to pull because
it does not always slice through all the
hair surrounding the claw.
| WARNING!!! DO NOT GO FURTHER IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH!!! THERE IS BLOOD IN THE FOLLOWING PHOTOGRAPHS!!! |
The dew claw will usually stay in the
clipper until I tap it off because of the
hairs that it didn't cut through that I
pulled. I just tap the claw off onto my
rag.
In the photo to the right, I you will
note that the place where the dew
claw was removed is not bleeding.
They usually do not. You can also
see the white bone inside the red
ring of neatly sliced skin. Even
though they do not usually bleed, I
still put styptic powder on them
because it not only clots blood, but
eases pain, has an antibiotic, and
keeps the wound clean.
clipper until I tap it off because of the
hairs that it didn't cut through that I
pulled. I just tap the claw off onto my
rag.
In the photo to the right, I you will
note that the place where the dew
claw was removed is not bleeding.
They usually do not. You can also
see the white bone inside the red
ring of neatly sliced skin. Even
though they do not usually bleed, I
still put styptic powder on them
because it not only clots blood, but
eases pain, has an antibiotic, and
keeps the wound clean.
Every so often,
one bleeds, but
you can see that
it is nothing like
the tail.
Once I cut the
dew claw off, I
take a pinch of
styptic powder
and sprinkle it on
the area, forming
a small pile.
one bleeds, but
you can see that
it is nothing like
the tail.
Once I cut the
dew claw off, I
take a pinch of
styptic powder
and sprinkle it on
the area, forming
a small pile.
After making
a pile of
powder on
the open
wound, I rub,
with my
thumb, the
powder
down into
the wound.
When I am
done, note
that you can
barely even
see the
place where
the claw was
removed.
a pile of
powder on
the open
wound, I rub,
with my
thumb, the
powder
down into
the wound.
When I am
done, note
that you can
barely even
see the
place where
the claw was
removed.
