How Do You Remove The Dew Claws In A Newborn Puppy?

Please consult a vet regarding this issue.  People are giving their opinion, instead of giving you an educated answer.  Dew claws are VERY prone to getting caught or snagged on fences, couches, even transitions from flooring to flooring.  It is always BEST to get them removed.  And if you know anything about newborn pups you would know that the nervous system is not complete until about a week old.  So basically they "cry" because they are away from mom, not due to the pain.  They can't feel it cause the nerves are not yet connected to the brain.  If you choose to amputate the dew claws, please do so before they are a week old.  You can do it yourself, snip snip, or go to a vet, typically about 20-60 dollars PER PUP.
Dew claws are removed in a vet office, in no way similar to de clawing a CAT!!!
Cats claws are removed at the source, and glued or sewn back together.  Dew claws are removing the claw from the JOINT of the 1st finger of the paw.  There is no "procedure" they are only simply CUT OFF at the Joint.  Doing this at home tho, must be done quickly and sterile, as infection can occur, as well as scaring.

Please look into and ask question prior to giving 'advise' and EDUCATE yourself people.  Opinions don't matter when it comes to a living BEING!!!

Wow what a array of answers!  I am a PROFESSIONAL Lab breeder, NOT a backyard breeder, and we do it ourselves.  It's a very simple procedure, takes about ten minutes to do a whole litter of 8-10 pups.  We use cauterizing sticks right after cutting them off to stop the bleeding, most never bleed at all.  They let out a quick yelp, then fall asleep seconds later.  Back to their mom within ten minutes, rather than having to wait till they come home from a vet.  Who would do exactly the same thing.  Truthfully, we do many more dew claw removals every year than any vet!

You can take a pair of shears and cut them off as this is how it is done. You can get some neosporan or similar topical treatment to put on the area where the dew claws were removed. The younger they are the better for them and you. Or you can take them to the Vet but it can be costly.

I have hunted Labs and German Shorthairs for several years and won't even look at pups without dewclaws removed. They catch on a branch or something and tear off, leaving you with a huge mess. You can easily remove them yourself on pups 3-5 days old with a hemostat clamp and some clipper shears or even a pair of fingernail clippers, then coat the spot in superglue. The whole litter in 10-15 minutes and back with their mom. Most vets will also do it for cheap when they're this age because it's so easy. To have it done later is a big deal since the dog has to be anaesthetized.

You don't necessarily need to take the puppies to a vet. Buy a certain powder that stops the bleeding and take regular scissors and snip off where you feel the joint end inside. We had chocolate lab puppies and had to do this. It's really sad because they cry, but it's definitely a money saver

Dew claw removal is a simple minor surgical procedure that most experienced breeders can handle with some proper training. The procedure should be completed by 3 days of age

We use a kelly hemostat to this joint the claw and removal with a 10 blade scalpel cut flush to the paw. We then control the bleeding and seal the incision with surgical adhesive or super glue. Our Danes never seem to be bothered by the procedure.

Please check state and local laws where you live to see if you are able to perform the procedure yourself some places do require the procedure be performed by a licensed vet

Good luck

Rear dew claws need removing at less than a week old, tails and front dew claws is purely cosmetic. Rear dew claws are fleshy deformed digits, that when the pup ages, catch and cause discomfort, later resulting in a very painful operation to remove. At less than a week old its a simple snip and stitch, problem solved.

I have two rotts and a litter of pups and I don't care what any of you say but both my dogs tails are docked and the puppies hav it done, as far as the dew claws any vet in his right mind knows that it's better to remove then because as they get older it catches easily and if it getS pulled or hurt they likely will bleed to death. As for the tails, all of you bashing it and saying nasty things, do you have a daughter with her ears pierced? If so your just as cruel then because them getting tails done is pretty much the same as ear piercing, and my dogs too love wagging there nub and it makes no difference. But my first two litter they did in thefirst three days, last litter was 5 but they usually won't do it after 5 which after that I do believe it to be cruel because then it's not just cartilage like someone else said, then it's considered amputating

I would not consider purchasing a hunting dog if it had its dew claws.  They should be removed within a few days of the pup being born.  I had one Labrador (shelter save) who caught her dew claw several times while hiking and finally had to have it removed, that is very painful!!  If you are a hunter, do not consider a dog from a breeder who did not remove them (or have them removed) shortly after birth.

As far as the person above who thinks breeders only care about their wallets, I think you are confusing the word breeder with a "puppy mill".  Any REAL breeder knows there is no money in selling puppies .  Breeders breed to "better" the breed.  The amount of money spent on testing the parents, stud fees, vet bills and puppy care eat most if not all of the costs.  It takes many many litters from one female to ever "make money" on the deal.

You take them to vet.  I am a breeder and seen it done many times, as I have all my litters done, but would not attempt to do it myself.  They wriggle, and I have seen inexperienced person causing huge scars.  They can also bleed.  It is just not worth the risk.  Leave it to the professional.

I've never done my own puppies...yet, but I have assisted with them. If you don't know what you're doing, DON'T DO IT! I cannot stress this enough. Other advises state that you cut through the joint. I'm assuming this is on big dogs. I have toy dogs. The procedure we use is to snip them off with a pair of clippers, but then the remaining bone has to be removed, otherwise the bone will jut out under the skin making an unsightly lump and an area with a potential for injury. I have also had complications happen. The seemingly "easy" removal of rear dew claws that were formed without bones apparently had a great blood supply which no amount of Quick Stop could quell. I had to heat a metal instrument and burn, or cauterize, the areas. This pup bled so much that his mucus membranes were pale and I had to get some goat milk to give him to supplement his decrease in fluids. Do you people know how to supplement a newborn puppy? Are any of you prepared for this? He was weak, but we cared for him carefully and he made it with no scarring. If you are prepared then realize that if the pups are strong enough, it is best to remove the claws closer to the 3 day mark. In the several litters we have done, I have found that the older the pup, the more it bleeds.

We adopted a dog from our local animal shelter.  His dew claws were never removed.  When he was an adult, he had to be taken to the vet for stitches because he snagged and broke is off while playing outside.  Not only was it costly to us, but painful for our dog. 

We recently had a litter of Cavaliers.  They were taken to our vet at 4 days and had their dew claws removed.  The whole proceedure took less than 10 minutes for 4 puppies.  My vet only charged me $18.00!

Leave it to the professionals!!

Dewclaws off boston terrier pups

Is it still legal over there as it is very illegal over in England unless you own a working dog and can prove you work them and even then vets that dock are hard come by we also have to have a certificate to prove its been done legally not advised to do it yourself though

Some of you guys need to shut up because no one's whining and you shouldn't judge people because they love their animals and want to do the best for them. I believe removing dew claws is good because they can cause more pain later in life then just getting them removed. Removing tails, however, is just cruel. Tails give dogs a way to express themselves and without a tail they have no way to do that. Let the dog have a tail, Jesus!

A vet has to surgically remove them.  It is the same procedure as declawing a cat.  We got our dog from the pound and she was already 8 months old and still had her dew claws so we had to keep them.  They are really a pain - better to get them removed.

Wow, I'm civilized and don't require a dog to teach me life lessons. Wow, I am so insulted. NOT.

The puppy has to be between 3-5 days old, otherwise it has to be done later on when the puppy is older.

I feel that it is unnecessary to remove dogs dew claws. Because they may need to use them for when running at high speed and changing directions, e.g. Agility. What is the point in putting dogs through unnecessary pain.

My corsos and my rottie love to wave there nubs! My corso's have natural ears though.  When they are new born the tails and the dew claws don't hurt them but the ears after cartiledge has formed prob going to hurt your pup!   FEED RAW OUT!

Why is your vet so keen on having you mutilate and inflict pain on the pups?  get a different vet!  I never understood this practice!

A lot of people consider tail docking a cruel procedure and if done later than 10 days of age it is then considered amputation. I would not do it yourself. Removing dewclaws is also done 5-10 days of age and can be done as an adult as well... If not done properly the puppies can bleed to death. www.wsava.org He probably insisted you do it now because of their age, but you could try another vet.

Please do not remove or snip snip anything yourself! Thats crazy, if you havent been trained to do so and are asking on the internet you should NOT do this!!!!

I can't begin to understand why people chop off parts of their dog without first finding out if it's actually causing the dog discomfort.  My dogs have their front dew claws (no rear ones) and they use them to better pin objects, scratch and groom, and even for a bit of traction on steep or rough slopes.  In effect, they use them as the digit seems meant; as a rudimentary thumb.  They've never had any difficulty, and neither have I: I keep the nail trimmed the same way I keep the other four trimmed, so this ridiculous "It will grow in a complete circle and embed in the pad" situation has never materialized.

The excuses people come up with are as lame as they seem to want the dogs to be.  "Oh, the bones are soft, so it's not an important body part."  "Oh, the puppy never notices."  Picture routinely doing this to a human baby.  Then try to come up with an excuse for what is, in effect, senseless mutilation.

When I see these poor animals with chopped off digits, hacked tails, and mutilated ears, it makes me feel absolutely sickened.  I saw a picture of some newborn pups, freshly mutilated, and I nearly vomited.  Have a good look: www.angelfire.com

Is that what you want for man's best friend?  Would you ever consider it for a child?  (I guess we're in a culture where parents are funding breast implants for teenagers, so maybe you would.)

I wouldnt do it yourself you just never what might happen and I definately wouldnt take advice from people who you don't know their educational back ground. If their not a vet don't listen to them. Also if they say their a breeder I wouldnt listen to them, the only person breeders tend to care about is their wallets not the dogs safety.

Leave them there.... They serve no purpose but I wouldn't take off your thumb if it was of no use. Ouch  be nice and put yourself in the puppies place