What are the pros and cons of getting my dog's dew claws removed?

He can live with out and most people have them removed as puppies as they tend to cause problems for some. the nails never touch the ground so the nail can get ingrown and long and scratch easy or get caught in blankets and rugs when laying down. They serve no purpose to a domestic animal

Typically, dew claws are removed around 3-4 days of age. If the claws are not removed at this age, most experts suggest waiting until the dog is spayed/neutered to have them removed. Dew claws can be removed in older dogs but it is a more costly and painful procedure. Many vets will only remove dew claws in adult dogs for medical, rather than cosmetic, reasons. If you have an older dog, contact your veterinarian to discuss the reasons for or against removal of the dew claws and the cost of the procedure which must be done under anesthesia.

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If the dew claw has been pulled off from the nail bed, the nail will eventually fall off and a new nail may grow back. Declaws often get caught easily and injuries to decllaws are common so it is recommended they be removed to prevent this from happening. If the claw is not healing well or frequently becomes infected, the declaw can be surgically removed.

Just because the rear dew claws are floppy is not a good enough reason to remove them. Should your dog hurt them frequently they can be removed when needed. Dew claws can be removed under local anesthetic provided the dog is quiet enough to hold still during the procedure. Most vets will not do this procedure unless general anesthesia is applied.

This will depend on what organization's dog shows you are wanting to participate in, since each one has its own rules and regulations about what is acceptable. But in general, dew claws can be removed if they are a problem - this is very common with show dogs in the United States.

Removing the dew claw is not hard, but it is a surgical procedure requiring anesthesia. Costs of procedures vary between clinics and the area you live in, so I'd call local clinics to get an idea of the cost. I hope this helps!

Yes, I would leave this to see if he will remove it by himself over the next day or so. The risk is it may become snagged in bedding and be painful to untangle! Clipping the loose section of nail may be worthwhile if he is calm and not painful with it