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Can my dog's floppy rear dew claws be removed with local anesthesia?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Female | unspayed | 5 months and 10 days old | 38 lbs

Can rear floppy dew claws be removed with a local anesthetic rather than full blown surgery?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on June 27th, 2018

Just because the rear dew claws are floppy is not a good enough reason to remove them. Should your dog hurt them frequently they can be removed when needed. Dew claws can be removed under local anesthetic provided the dog is quiet enough to hold still during the procedure. Most vets will not do this procedure unless general anesthesia is applied.

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    Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on February 24th, 2018

    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.

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