Declawed dog

[pony_baloney]

I’ve been browsing Petfinder and found a lovely 7 yr. old female Rat Terrier. She’s in a foster home, trained, spends time around horses. Her post has a little “heart”, indicating special needs. She was declawed in front at some point in her life.

Why would a dog need this? Or, why would someone do this to a dog? And what kind of vet would do it? It doesn’t mention that she’s crippled in any way, but I’m assuming that something is wrong. Poor little thing—she looks so sweet and gentle.

If I can get everyone on board, I’ll hopefully be adopting a dog, preferably between 5-10 yrs. old, small and gentle to live with seniors but with some pep when with me. She just caught my attention because I’ve never heard of declawing a dog.

[Bluey]

Our vet declawed our puppy mill toy poodle when he spayed her, because her floppy front declaws kept getting hung and torn on all kinds of things she ran into and thru as a farm, tracking and obedience dog.

Some dogs do have problems with those, others don’t, many breeders just do it as puppies, so they don’t have problems later.

Some conformation dog standards call for declaws on dogs of that breed.

I expect her special needs may be something else, find out before assuming what it may be?

[cnigh]

It is common to remove dew claws. If they get too long they can get ripped out by playing and running. It doesn’t effect how the dog walks. I’d doubt any vet would do a full declaw on a dog unless there was some sort of infection or problem with the nails.

[StGermain]

Are you talking about her dew claws, or all her front nails?

I have a doberman who’s missing several toenails. From what I’ve learned about her since I got her, it was probably the result of her doing bad stuff and tearing them out.

StG

[Jhein12]

I don’t think that the OP is referring to the dew claws. It is pretty common to remove those because they pose a hazard. Vets will do a full declaw on a dog and it’s just as inhumane as with cats.

[pony_baloney]

Yes, claws, not dewclaws.

Since dogs’ claws don’t retract like a cat, is it more debilitating? I’d never declaw a cat, but what damage can a dog do? And then you get rid of the poor thing?

Here she is: https://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/34538628

A cutie, right? Love the widow’s peak marking. I blew up the photo of her facing the camera and her front feet are missing claws.

[Bluey]

I also have never heard of taking the nails out of a dog’s paws, if that is what you mean?

I don’t think any vet would do that, most won’t even declaw cats.

[Horsegal984]

I would wonder if maybe she spent a lot of time trying to dig out of an enclosure and ripped them off. I can’t think of any reason why a vet would do this.

[TheUnderstudy]

I would agree thinking maybe she did the damage herself by trying to dig out of an enclosure, maybe a vet then thought best to remove them for medical issues. Otherwise I have no idea why a vet would do this! She’s a cutie though!!

[RoyalRain42]

You also have to think that maybe a vet didnt do this.

Could be she was in a puppy mill, and the “breeder” removed her claws to ensure she didnt hurt the pups.

Sad fact is there is a lot of “Home made” removals done by sick people.

[Bluey]

Or she froze them and had to be amputated?

[Altermyne]

Also could be she has SLO, not actual “declawing”. SLO would absolutely be special needs

[Nezzy]

OMG that sounds horrible. i don’t think a vet would do this unless it was bc the dog injured itself badly and it was the only course of action.

[hoopoe]

[QUOTE=Bluey;8584066]
I also have never heard of taking the nails out of a dog’s paws, if that is what you mean?

I don’t think any vet would do that, most won’t even declaw cats.[/QUOTE]

yes some do and will

people will seek to declaw a dog because the nails mar the hard wood floors or the dog has an issue with digging at doors or walls

believe me, spend some time in vet med and you will eventually get the request.

[Bicoastal]

Look at this photo, guys. It does appears the claws are cleanly and uniformly removed from the front paws. Weird!

[Draftygirl]

[QUOTE=pony baloney;8584004]
Yes, claws, not dewclaws.

Since dogs’ claws don’t retract like a cat, is it more debilitating? I’d never declaw a cat, but what damage can a dog do? And then you get rid of the poor thing?

Here she is: https://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/34538628

A cutie, right? Love the widow’s peak marking. I blew up the photo of her facing the camera and her front feet are missing claws.[/QUOTE]
I don’t see anything about special needs. Don’t see a heart, either.

[vxf111]

I think it had to have been SLO…

http://www.grassmere-animal-hospital.com/SLO.htm
(warning, graphic photos)

I can’t imagine any other legitimate reason for a vet to take the front claws and at least from the photos it looks like a neat, vet-done job.

[Canaqua]

[QUOTE=hoopoe;8584240]
yes some do and will

people will seek to declaw a dog because the nails mar the hard wood floors or the dog has an issue with digging at doors or walls

believe me, spend some time in vet med and you will eventually get the request.[/QUOTE]

Eeek! I’ve never heard of that! If scratched floors are such a problem, keep the dog’s nails trimmed short and filed smooth, or better yet, get a fish instead.

Our BC mix came with dew claws all around, I had the back ones removed when she was spayed, as they were attached only by skin, very floppy and ripe for getting torn off by accident. We left the, well attached and close to the leg, front dew claws alone.

[pony_baloney]

[QUOTE=Draftygirl;8584502]
I don’t see anything about special needs. Don’t see a heart, either.[/QUOTE]

Oops, my mistake. She has a paw symbol, which means declawed, usually used for cats. I knew I saw something but assumed it was a heart.

There are a lot of negative reviews about the rescue; seems they don’t want to adopt their dogs out to anyone. When the time comes, I’ll check her out if she’s still available though.

[hoopoe]

[QUOTE=Bicoastal;8584417]
Look at this photo, guys. It does appears the claws are cleanly and uniformly removed from the front paws. Weird![/QUOTE]
it is hard to tell with that grainy photo. I see at least 2 pale pink / white nails on the right paw.