GAH - dew claw pointing the wrong way!!

tk123

Just being drying my retriever off (after a swim) and noticed that his dew claw is sticking out at a right angle :eek: I can feel and edge where it should be attached if that makes sense and it's painful for him when I touch it. Our vet is closed but open tomorrow so I'll be calling first thing. In the meantime I'm going to bandage it up and try and cushion a bit for fear of him tearing it. For anyone who's had this happen what will happen at the vets - do they just clip it off there and then?! God I feel like a tool now celebrating his one year post-OP birthday this week! The vet we normally see doesn't work weekends so he's going to be terrified!

SillyMangoX

tk123 wrote: »

Just being drying my retriever off (after a swim) and noticed that his dew claw is sticking out at a right angle :eek: I can feel and edge where it should be attached if that makes sense and it's painful for him when I touch it. Our vet is closed but open tomorrow so I'll be calling first thing. In the meantime I'm going to bandage it up and try and cushion a bit for fear of him tearing it. For anyone who's had this happen what will happen at the vets - do they just clip it off there and then?! God I feel like a tool now celebrating his one year post-OP birthday this week! The vet we normally see doesn't work weekends so he's going to be terrified!

It might just be dislocated, I've only ever seen a dewclaw snipped once because it was chronically getting stuck in stuff. They may just put on a bit of a splint and hope it heals. If you don't want them to take it off make sure you specify it though!

tk123

Thanks! It was painful for him when I bandaged it - fast asleep now though! Dreading going in because they're not all as understanding as our usual vet - he was treated roughly by a vet somewhere else so is very wary/frightened but she's very patient with him etc.

boomerang

They might remove the dew claw altogether TK if the nail is broken through the quick. It only takes a few seconds and one or two stitches. Poor laddy but if they go down that road they'll do it under anaesthetic.

ETA: My own lady had prominent dew claws so the vet whipped them off at the same she was being spayed. It didn't knock a bother out of her, she just had a little bandage and vet wrap on each lower leg. It really wasn't a big deal at all.

tk123

Well the nail was cracked so the vet cut it back! He has a bandage which should be ok to come off on Tues. So glad I spotted it before it managed to get caught in something at home and break. The vet said I did a great job bandaging it so if the one he got today gets wet she's happy for me to redress it myself. He cut himself when he was 1 and I bought booties on zooplus just to have in case - very funny watching him walking out doing a jig :pac::P

(watching TV:rolleyes:)

mymo

My fella did something to his a while ago, it was sticking out and he was whinging, I tried to feel it (he's very hairy so hard to see) and he pulled back and I pushed it back into place by accident.
He whinged for a sec, licked it, and off he went. Saw him lick it a couple of evenings but as there was no blood and he seemed fine with me looking at it, I figured it was ok.
No probs since then with it, I did ask vet and he said it seemed fine, just to keep it trimmed well.
Think that was the last bank hols, always the way:rolleyes:

tk123

mymo wrote: »

Think that was the last bank hols, always the way:rolleyes:

Yep and always when it's wet out!:rolleyes:

carav10

I'm feeling your frustration on this one. My 8mth pup is going through her bratty adolescence stage & got into a fight with my other dog last night. As a result, her dew claw appears to have come away from
the quick. Doesn't seem to be bothering her too much, a bit of a lick here & there. Considering a visit to the vet Tuesday morning but will see how she goes. I don't want it to remain sticking out as soon as she hits the heather etc. I've a funny feeling she snagged her dew claw first & blamed the other one who was close by!