My dog is missing a dew claw. Is it a problem? Do dogs need them?

Yes. Back dewclaws do not serve a purpose anymore and tend to get caught and torn from their angle and never hitting the ground. They cause more damage than they are worth. The front dewclaws are personal preference as they do not have as many problems.

Poor Molly!! It sounds like she may have ripped it off somehow. Dogs don't need their dew claws; in fact, some breeders have them removed them from their puppies. If it is not bleeding, I recommend monitoring Molly's toe for now. You can gently clean it with warm warm and antibacterial soap. Keep it clean and dry, and keep her from licking the area. Use an Ecollar if necessary. Monitor the area for redness, swelling, and heat, which are signs of infection. If you see any of those signs, she has an infection, and she will need to see a vet right away for antibiotics.

Tidus might have had them removed after he was born. Breeders will sometimes remove a newborn's dewclaws a few days after being born, around 2-5 days of age. Dewclaws are occasionally found on the hindlimbs.

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.

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.

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

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.