Dew Claws

[Olive's Mom]

I am getting a Saint Bernard Puppy. They haven't removed her Dew Claws yet and she is 8 wks old. Is this necessary?

[kinderwood]

Usually if breeders remove the dew claws they do it within the first few days after the puppies are whelped (born). There is only a very small window of time to remove them when they are pups before it becomes a surgery. At 8 weeks old, I would definately say it's way past that window. No, it's not necessary to remove them. Some breeders remove them because it gives the dog a cleaner looking leg and prevents dew tears. Beyond that, they get by just fine with them attached. You just need to be vigilant about keeping them clipped.

[Aztec]

My sheltie has all four dew claws, as the back ones would not even come off at the age of four days - as they were to strongly attached. We attempted to remove them again at the age of five months while he was getting neutered, but the surgery was going to be to extensive as he had bones in his dew claws.

As long as they aren't catching and tearing I wouldn't worry about it.