Breeder Removing Dew Claw's

2TONE · Post by **2TONE** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 6:53 am

I have a litter due next saturday, what is a hemostat and where can I get them? Is this something that a first time novice like me can do and will I need a helping hand with the little wigglers? Any advice appreciated.....

S.R.Patch · Post by **S.R.Patch** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 9:19 am

We try to nip them off within the first week, if one pup is small we may do that one in the 2nd week.
To me, it has mostly to do with the soft bone of the claw turning to hard bone with time & age.
I have been told by pack masters that they would take off the claws before the pups were sent out to walk, this would be somewhere between 6-9 weeks old.
The main point is, the younger it's done, the less bleeding and traumatic for the pups...to me, 3-5 day old is a good rule of thumb...

I have gotten my wife or daughter to help hold pups but it was no help as I usually had to deal with them squirming & crying along with the pups...

I use to watch Red Green on TV and they always said, all a man needs is a dull pair of toenail nippers and a roll of duct tape to get through life...

backyard beagler · Post by **backyard beagler** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 9:34 am

I done the last litter I had and I used scissors and as she was having them I was snipping them off no blood or any reaction of any sort, the best I could tell any scissors would work you don't have to get to technical with it.

SouthernBeagles · Post by **SouthernBeagles** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 9:44 am

2TONE wrote: what is a hemostat and where can I get them?

oakhill · Post by **oakhill** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 10:33 am

Nothing much techical bout hemostats. They are cheap and can usually get them at most flea markets.

Windkist · Post by **Windkist** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 10:35 am

I use a curved hemostat. You can find them at most fishing stores or places you get fly tying stuff or do an ebay search and there are plenty.

Next litter I have I'm going to make a video of how to remove dewclaws to share with everyone.

Leah

TomMN · Post by **TomMN** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 12:47 pm

We used to remove the dew claws on all our pups. I always hated putting them through more trauma at that age, figured they had enough of a battle just trying to survive the first three days. I have hunted with every kind of hound going on 30 years now, most of them still had their dew claws. Seen almost every kind of injury you can imagine including several that ripped toenails off. Just had one into the vet yesterday to remove a three inch piece of stick from her throat. In all this time I have never had any trouble with dew claws. We don't remove the front ones any more.

Chuck Terry · Post by **Chuck Terry** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 3:12 pm

I always remove the rear ones and sometimes the front. I just removed front and rear on a litter of six this past Sunday. They were only 24 hours old but were all very healthy and hardy in appearance and I had more time and better light than I anticipated having after work on Monday. It took me only a few minutes and I only had one bleed enough to concern me. It is not a bad idea to have a tube of super glue handy - one tiny drop (do not put too much) will seal the wound and stop the bleeding.

zambron · Post by **zambron** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 9:17 pm

we do ours in the 1st day or 2 we just use apair of to nail clippers make sre tou get to the 2nd rib on the nail or it will grow back deformed and you have to goto the vet and get it removed

2TONE · Post by **2TONE** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 7:49 pm

Thanks for all the advice............I got a a set of hemostats today and am ready to go. I'm only going to remove the back ones this time and see how things go. My wife is there for most things reguarding the dogs, kennel cleaning, running, feeding, hauling dogs across the country, and trialing, but I'll have to do this by myself.

beaglesmom · Post by **beaglesmom** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 8:30 pm

I'm a fairly "new" breeder and don't do them myself, but take them to my vet who only charges a few $$ per pup - plus an office visit. This is done when they're 3-4 days old - waiting too long makes it a much more serious "operation". My vet DID tape them with adhesive tape (which was a real PAIN to remove), but I asked him about the liquid bandage - which he did use with great success on last two litters, and it's MUCH easier on both the pups and ME (try to hold wiggling puppies to remove adhesive tape from 2-4 feet WITHOUT cutting the pups). They whimper a bit when it's done, but as soon as they're put back with "mom", they are fine. Most of my pups ONLY have front dewclaws, but there have been a few that had them front and back. I always have it done as a precautionary measure - doesn't cost that much and can save a lot of problems in the future.

beaglesmom · Post by **beaglesmom** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 8:30 pm

I'm a fairly "new" breeder and don't do them myself, but take them to my vet who only charges a few $$ per pup - plus an office visit. This is done when they're 3-4 days old - waiting too long makes it a much more serious "operation". My vet DID tape them with adhesive tape (which was a real PAIN to remove), but I asked him about the liquid bandage - which he did use with great success on last two litters, and it's MUCH easier on both the pups and ME (try to hold wiggling puppies to remove adhesive tape from 2-4 feet WITHOUT cutting the pups). They whimper a bit when it's done, but as soon as they're put back with "mom", they are fine. Most of my pups ONLY have front dewclaws, but there have been a few that had them front and back. I always have it done as a precautionary measure - doesn't cost that much and can save a lot of problems in the future.