Has anyone any concrete evidence of the risks inherent in leaving dew claws on the whippet? We all know that it can lead to injuries, but has anyone any evidence, eg case histories, photos etc.? Needed for someone abroad who is trying to convince people of the risks, we may need it here too if the government tries to extend the anti docking Bill to include the removal of dew claws. It could be useful to gather evidence like this just in case.
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Injuries To Dew Claws
- Thread starter Liz Third
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This is a difficult one, as I was to be honest, gutted that the first pup we fell in love with came from a breeder who had not removed the dew claws 
I have said on this post before that I would consider having them removed if he had to go under for any reason, but bearing in mind the first (and hopefully only) anaesthetic he has encountered was to repair a broken toe on his hind leg, I didn't think it would be fair to leave him with only one "good" leg (w00t)
He is 16 months and had not previously caught either, but I was using vet wrap when racing or coursing just in case. I just hope that you are able to convince the person as I think that they are much better off without them bearing in mind the nature of the breed. The relief that the breeder of my second pup had had them removed was huge.
It doesn't bear thinking about the removal being added to the legislation. As a vet nurse, I have done many dew claw removals and dockings. I know people don't believe you, but it really is a simple procedure done at the right age. Having seen many, many damaged dew claws over the years I can't advocate it enough, just have no personal evidence to share with you, sorry.
Good luck in your quest :luck:
I have said on this post before that I would consider having them removed if he had to go under for any reason, but bearing in mind the first (and hopefully only) anaesthetic he has encountered was to repair a broken toe on his hind leg, I didn't think it would be fair to leave him with only one "good" leg (w00t)
He is 16 months and had not previously caught either, but I was using vet wrap when racing or coursing just in case. I just hope that you are able to convince the person as I think that they are much better off without them bearing in mind the nature of the breed. The relief that the breeder of my second pup had had them removed was huge.
It doesn't bear thinking about the removal being added to the legislation. As a vet nurse, I have done many dew claw removals and dockings. I know people don't believe you, but it really is a simple procedure done at the right age. Having seen many, many damaged dew claws over the years I can't advocate it enough, just have no personal evidence to share with you, sorry.
Good luck in your quest :luck:
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Nana snapped her dew claw lure coursing about 2 months ago, just where the claw enters the skin and it bled and bled and bled. I will take a photo of it growing back later.
I worry about them alot, but she hates having them strapped and runs badly if I do. I strap Jo's as she doesn't mind.
Interestingly they both use them to hold things that they are eating or chewing- it is fascinating to watch.
I worry about them alot, but she hates having them strapped and runs badly if I do. I strap Jo's as she doesn't mind.
Interestingly they both use them to hold things that they are eating or chewing- it is fascinating to watch.
Milo had his removed on the advice of our vet when he was 18mnths. He was forever injuring them running through the wood (not working etc) during his daily walks. The vet said he hadn't seen dew claws as large as his for the size of dog he is. Unfortuantly no pictures etc.....
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I have just recently taken my 18 month old dog to have his dew claws removed. He was forever injuring himself when he was on the park playing with the other dogs (he was making a right mess of them too). After the third time of hurting himself I decided enough is enough. I don't want to see my poor little lad in pain all the time.
The annoying part is that if the local vets around here had taken them off when they were asked to at a few days old, he need not have suffered at all.
The annoying part is that if the local vets around here had taken them off when they were asked to at a few days old, he need not have suffered at all.
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Toby my 8 month old whippet still has his dew claws and so far has not yet injured himself although he does use them to climb.
I also go on a site called Greyhound Fun were a lot of the greyhounds are rescues or retired racers and there does seem to be a lot of injures to dew claws amongst these. I f it is of any use to you I could poat on there to get any information of them or is it just injuries to whippets you are interested in?
I also go on a site called Greyhound Fun were a lot of the greyhounds are rescues or retired racers and there does seem to be a lot of injures to dew claws amongst these. I f it is of any use to you I could poat on there to get any information of them or is it just injuries to whippets you are interested in?
I can't add anything here to Whippet dewclaws as I haven't enough experience (my boys have both had theirs removed), but I can add something about Tibetan Terriers.
TTs can have their front dew claws left on, they don't appear to cause a problem as long as owners remember to trim the nail at the same time as they do the rest of the dog's nails (because of course being on a dew claw they won't wear down at all, no contact with ground etc).
However I was once grooming a TT for someone at a show and came across what I thought was a mat of hair on one of the rear legs - I was only combing gently and carefully but the dog yelped! I immediately told his owner who was grooming another of her dogs, and she said her dog had a very floppy dew claw on that back leg (which probably should have been removed when he was a newborn pup). She said she was considering having it removed because it was always getting caught and she feared one day he could catch it so badly while galloping about, that it may get ripped off (a horrible thought).
It was extremely floppy and it was the first time I had encountered something like that. I made sure when I had some pups born with rear dew claws, that they were also removed by the vet.
So the thought that legislation might be brought in that may prevent the timely removal of dewclaws from puppies, fills me with horror.
Gill
TTs can have their front dew claws left on, they don't appear to cause a problem as long as owners remember to trim the nail at the same time as they do the rest of the dog's nails (because of course being on a dew claw they won't wear down at all, no contact with ground etc).
However I was once grooming a TT for someone at a show and came across what I thought was a mat of hair on one of the rear legs - I was only combing gently and carefully but the dog yelped! I immediately told his owner who was grooming another of her dogs, and she said her dog had a very floppy dew claw on that back leg (which probably should have been removed when he was a newborn pup). She said she was considering having it removed because it was always getting caught and she feared one day he could catch it so badly while galloping about, that it may get ripped off (a horrible thought).
It was extremely floppy and it was the first time I had encountered something like that. I made sure when I had some pups born with rear dew claws, that they were also removed by the vet.
So the thought that legislation might be brought in that may prevent the timely removal of dewclaws from puppies, fills me with horror.
Gill
I have a big whippet cross and he half tore one off while runnning in the woods.
The vet removed both of them, it needed only one anaesthetic and saved the worry of
having the other ripped off and saved having another op and anaesthetic.
Whippy says he notices no difference without them.
The vet removed both of them, it needed only one anaesthetic and saved the worry of
having the other ripped off and saved having another op and anaesthetic.
Whippy says he notices no difference without them.
Haven't got any Whippies with dew claws, apart from Ronan had one grow back but when he had a GA for something I got my Vet to remove it.
However, our ESS bitch has a full dewclaw that re-grew after being supposedly removed as a baby puppy and she has ripped it off numerous times in her youth. Very painful, bled like a stuck pig and took ages to heal.
I have seen ESS and Cockers with dewclaws growing right round into the leg because the owners did not know they had them or that they should be cut regularly!!
My Vets will not dock but they do remove dew claws because they see so many injuries.
However, our ESS bitch has a full dewclaw that re-grew after being supposedly removed as a baby puppy and she has ripped it off numerous times in her youth. Very painful, bled like a stuck pig and took ages to heal.
I have seen ESS and Cockers with dewclaws growing right round into the leg because the owners did not know they had them or that they should be cut regularly!!
My Vets will not dock but they do remove dew claws because they see so many injuries.
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Angel has still got her Dewclaws,but no problems yet and she nearly 2
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I've got 3 whips all age 2 with dewclaws, none have been injured to date although they do wear vetwrap for racing and coursing. Their Mum has had hers removed though and I have seen grass stains on these areas when she's been running (usually coursing) which makes me suspect that the others would probably be likely to injury if I didn't protect them?
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