Can you declaw a dog

In recent years, an increasing number of veterinarians have stopped performing the procedure. Research has shown that declawing your cat is like cutting off your fingers to the first knuckle, making it a painful and unnecessary procedure. However, some pet owners continue the practice because it keeps their cats from scratching people and clawing up the furniture. Dogs can scratch up the furniture just as well as cats— and their claws can be dangerous if they get aggressive.

Can you declaw a dog to make it easier on everybody? Technically, declawing a dog is possible for a veterinarian to do. Still, the procedure is painful, intrusive, and unnecessary unless your dog suffers from certain health conditions. Ultimately, removing the dewclaws is a personal decision that could help or hinder your dog.

Declawing cats is harmful enough, but some veterinarians try to remove as little bone as possible. Unlike human fingernails, dog claws are attached directly to the bone. However, there are a few rare exceptions where declawing your dog could save their life. Your vet might recommend declawing your dog as a last resort.

In some cases, it makes sense to remove these claws. For example, very active dogs particularly those involved in hunting or field work may accidentally injure these nails while running or working. Additionally, some breeds have historically had their dewclaws removed, although this practice is waning.

In fact, dewclaw removal is considered a fault for some breeds. You can usually move these types of dewclaws around with your fingers. Have you ever owned a dog who suffered from nail problems? How did your vet recommend you handle it?

Ben is the senior content editor for K9 of Mine and has spent most of his adult life working as a wildlife educator and animal-care professional. Is It Possible to Declaw a Dog? Should I Consider It? Like it? Share it! Written by Ben Team Ben is the senior content editor for K9 of Mine and has spent most of his adult life working as a wildlife educator and animal-care professional.

Join our pup pack! Get tons of great dog training advice and tips about gear! Thank you! You have successfully joined our pup pack. When cats are declawed, they have their first knuckle bones completely removed from their feet.

This is what makes the procedure so controversial among pet owners and even veterinary professionals. Your dog uses their nails for scratching, playing, and digging, all of which are important aspects of daily doggy routines.

Nails should never be trimmed shorter than the quick the blood supply in the nail. Trimming is easy if you know where to find the quick it appears as a dark spot in the middle of the nail. Soft Paws are silicone sleeves that fit over nails. SDO started way back in on a whim. Then suddenly it hit me, hey, I can do this too! Without even knowing what a blog was or how it makes money. I jumped right in to share the years of knowledge I have of dogs with the world.