Re: [PyrNet-L] dewclaws

["Mitzi Potter" <Pyrs-R-Us@popline.com>]

On Mon, 22 Jun 1998 14:20:13 -0400, adyment wrote:

>I asked a long time Pyr breeder about dewclaw removal, She informed me that
>the dewclaws are actually a part of the foot and to remove them can cause
>serious problems. She cancels her health guarantee on the pup if the
>dewclaws are removed. She tells me the dewclaws are very similar to that of
>our thumbs.
>With the removal of the dewclaws it changes the positation of the foot from
>toed out to a more straight position which can cause wear on the hips and
>lead to H.D. I would think with 35 years in the breed she knows what she's
>talking about. I would never consider removing them.

I've never HEARD of that. Of course, I'm not a long time Pyr breeder
or anything, but it's obvious to me that those toes dangling off my
dogs rear legs aren't going to cause H.D. if they're removed. They're
so high up that they wouldn't interfere one bit with the way they
walk. I'm a bit surprised that she cancels her health guarantee based
on that. I wonder if she'd keep the guarantee if the pups were
allowed to become grossly overweight and run up and down steps and
play on slick floors, yet had their dewclaws............
I wouldn't remove my Pyr's dewclaws either. But because it's
unneccessary surgery, not because I was afraid of H.D.
Mitzi Potter   OKC  OK
Pyrs-R-Us@popline.com
http://www.popline.com/quinnz/dogs.htm