When vets remove a dog's dew claw, do they always remove the paw pad?

Question

I recently adopted a rott/dobie mix. It looks like the breeder might have removed the dew claws at home instead of having it done by a vet. Do vets normally leave the paw pad to the dew claw or do they remove all of It? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | unneutered | 1 month and 8 days old

Andrea M. Brodie, DVM · Accepted Answer

Usually, when removing a dew claw (dew claws are only on the rear legs, the ones breeders want to remove in the front are the thumbs of the dog, and enable the dog to hold on to something rather than to just hold it down), we amputate the whole claw, ie all the bone. Sometimes this involves the pad (not all dogs have a pad there) and sometimes not. If the pad is to be removed then this needs to be done under anesthesia and the pad will be excised. If the breeder did that without anesthesia it would be cruel. There is no medical indication to remove dew claws and thumbs. This is a rule breed organisations require, so depending on where the dog is registered, a pad may have to be removed or not.

When vets remove a dog's dew claw, do they always remove the paw pad?

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