Dexter Animal Clinic

These Puppies Had Their Dew Claws Removed

Dew Claw Removal

A dog’s dew claw is like a thumb or big toe except it has no purpose.  It typically grows a few inches up from the pad and does not touch the ground.  We see occasional problems with torn or infected dew claws, but technically you do not need to have dew claws removed. 

Breeders, especially of hunting dogs, often have dew claws removed within five – seven days of birth. At that young age, dew claws are more like fingernails than appendages and can be removed relatively easily with no stitches required. 

The reason breeders of hunting dogs have dew claws removed is to prevent tearing and injury when running through brush, woods, and rough terrain.

The litter of champion white labs in our picture had their dew claws removed at age 5 days.  We know at least one of these fine dogs loves to ram through the woods and has never missed his dew claws.

Call us at 800 204-8007 with questions about dew claw removal.     

Whether your pet is a couch potato or spends most of their time outside, they need to be treated monthly for heartworm. 

The weather has been unseasonably warm here in Michigan. If you choose to administer heartworm preventative only during mosquito season, you may want to start early this year.  We are already seeing mosquitoes in our area. 

We recommend using heartworm protection year round.  

Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease in dogs and cats. It is caused by a blood-borne parasite called Dirofilaria immitis. Although heartworm disease is more prevalent amongst dogs we also recommend you protect your cats as well.

If your pet should contract heartworm disease the treatment can be hard on the pet and pet owner. 

It’s much easier and less expensive to give your dog or cat a preventative than to have them treated for heartworm.  Call us today to schedule a blood test for your pet and to discuss which preventative would be best.