Sudden growth of an elderly dogs dewclaw?

Jinxi

I went home to my parents today. They have two aging dogs, one a springer spaniel who has multiple dewclaws on his back legs(2 on one leg 3 on the other??he was a stray). They always grow, so I always check them and cut them when I'm home.

Anyway, their other dog some sort of alsation breed. He is 11 and looks 16. He has bad back legs and I have noticed recenty that he isn't wearing his claws down as he doesn't move much anymore. So I have been checking them over the last few months. He has normal dewclaws, they don't grow and he has only the normal amount. But today one of the dewclaws on his front leg had grown about an inch in a curve in a month.

Anyone know if I should be worried about anything.

Jinxi

Anyone?

anniehoo

If it was me, i wouldnt be worried. For whatever reason its a faster growing (or least worn down of them all) nail so i wouldnt be concerned.

Sigma Force

It's just one of those things just a matter of keeping an eye on them them we all go a bit wonky and out of sync in our old age lol.
As long as the claw area doesn't look sore or anything shouldn't be worried about it.

kaiser sauze

You do need to keep an eye on this, as you well know that claw will grow into the skin and is very prone to infection if allowed to pierce the skin. Dogs' lower legs are on the ground picking up every type of infection possible, distemper is a real danger, even with a vaccinated dog.

This is why I am a proponent of removal of these at puppy stage, the claw is difficult to clip if it ever reaches a stage like this and normal weardown, like for other nails, cannot be relied upon.